To disregard the 12 month check list

[AwayAtSea]

According to the checklist my wonderful, funny, perfect 11 month old is classed as having global development delay. My HV has made me feel like she's not doing anything she should and now I'm terrified for her future.

She's 11 months old. Surely she's going to get there in her own time?

I always disregard any checklist. My Dd didn't walk until 20 months, which was 'bad'. But when she did walk, she walked. Never crawled or even tried to move until she wanted to.

Don't worry about it - I think no matter what they make you feel like your child is behind .

I had the 1 year check when DS was 9 months.

The HV asked if he'd had his 1 year Jabs- I said "er no not yet because he's 9 months"

She said Oooh so your going to wait till he's actually a year then and tutted - like I was doing a bad thing!

I think they have some kind of skill set that makes all parents feel shit even if there is no need!

Did your health visitor suggest a referral to a paediatrician? If there is global delay you might want early intervention.

DD didn't go to her 12 month check, there was no need, she was absolutely fine and 4 years later she's still fine!

What did they suggest as the next steps. Imo it is worth seeing an expert rather than just hoping for the best. There may be nothing at all to worry about but these checklists exist so that you can have an opportunity to be seen by someone with more specialist knowledge.

She's referring to physio and phoning me in 3 months. Threw around possible CP but told me not to think about it yet!

WHat and how do they test? At that age mine wouldn't have done anything with someone watching.

Do you feel she's delayed? Were you concerned before she saw the HV?

Is she not moving, crawling or sitting

I wouldn't disregard it. Taking note of my daughter's development checklists (there was a different system then) was how I got her autism diagnosed quickly.
People are always quick to tell you 'don't worry, they'll do it when they are ready' - well they don't always. Some babies need extra help so it's important to be aware of any potential problems as quickly as possible.
I know it's scary and worrying, but your HV may just be right, and to dismiss it out of hand isn't doing the best thing for your baby.

What do they test? My dd is 18 months and at her 1 year assessment they asked if she smiled, clapped, babbled and pointed, how she was eating and sleeping, weighed and measured her and asked about crawling/walking. Art- they just asked me about some of the things and I told them- dd didn't have to do all of it to order!

Sorry op but I think you would be unreasonable to disregard it. Your baby may absolutely get there, will most likely be absolutely fine but it's valuable to be 'on the radar' so to speak. My ds has speech delay and only started talking in the last 4 months (he's 3), we took him to SALT drop ins fairly early, got hearing tests etc, he's progressing very well but some of his pronunciation is still unclear. My friend was the opposite and refused to engage at all and is having to start from scratch now she has concerns about her son.

I wouldn't disregard it. Seems sensible not to panic but I would accept referrals. It's far easier to turn down appointment if your dd meets the criteria while you are on the waiting list than try and get a appointment quickly if things don't change and you are worried.

Not crawling at 11 months wouldn't worry me in the slightest. Not sitting would worry me though, is she weaned? Can she roll over?

I think it's a useful tool but not the be all and end all. DS had a low score for gross motor, which I was expecting as he didn't start to crawl until 9.5 months and is nowhere near walking. The HV is going to ring me in a month just to check he is continuing to make progress. I'm sure everything will be fine but I'd rather have someone impartial be on the look out for any potential issues and offer help early rather than bury my head in the sand about it!

It really depends what she can and can't do.
Mine couldn't do loads of the stuff on our 12 month leaflet, e.g. Pull up to stand, cruise. He could do it by about 14 months. But he was crawling, sitting etc.

Ours was a questionnaire that you fill in to say whether your baby is doing the tasks all the time, sometimes or never. Split into the usual gross motor, fine motor, communication etc.

I asked about this check last week when I took DS(11 months) to be weighed. HV looked a little embarrassed and said they didn't currently have resources to do this in our area. Asked if I had any concerns, said she wasn't worried that he isn't pulling himself up yet and has no teeth (nor am I) and said he was fine then!

My health visitor wanted to refer my Dd to physio at 12 months because she wasn't crawling or walking

She bum shuffled and got where she wanted pretty quickly

Refused the appointment and when the HV did it anyway, I cancelled and binned the letter

Dd then crawled at 13 months and at 18 months on the dot, got up and walked. No cruising, no practicing, just did and hasn't stopped since.

So now I don't listen to the HV.

My ds walked at 15 months and I STILL got an earful at 13 months because I wasn't helping him learn to walk.

I prefer to let them learn instead of forcing them

I would not ignore it. Some children are just late bloomers but some have some underlying issues which mean things won't just resolve (I have a DC with SN and she had delays at the 12 months check up).

What can/can't your DD do? I'd probably be tempted to go via GP to ask for a referral to a paed.

They have scrapped the one year review in my area, so I question how important they are...

It won't hurt to check.

Your DD is still the same lovely baby she was before the check. We are all individuals and yes babies do reach milestones at different ages. That said, referral to a specialist, ie a physiotherapist, for an opinion on gross motor development if required can only be positive.

My almost 6yo son.has Global Developmental Delay. At 12 months (10 months corrected) I knew something was wrong as he only JUST started sitting up and there were a few other things he couldn't do. He was diagnosed.at 15 months and has had loads of support since. I HATED it when people said "he will get there in his own time" even when he was diagnosed. Personally if I were you I would take any assessment given and get a referral to paediatrician from the Health Visitor. These days referrals and support take a VERY LONG time, so it's better if the referrals are in place and not need it than wait a couple of years for help. As it happens I know the phsyios will discharge as soon as child is walking.

Not sure where my post went - but posting again: my son had physio therapy at that age. its very play based and can't do any harm, so why not do it? it would bvu to reject it and a huge gamble!