AIBU to ask for help with my 11 month old

[Readysetcake]

I probably am as DS is my
Second and I should have more of a clue. But I just don’t know what to do with him. He’s gone from chilled out sweetheart to screechy Nightmare.

I’m sure it’s because he’s frustrated. He is massive and can’t crawl or sit himself up. He’s can’t really support his own weight when I stand him up. All he can do is spin in a circle. He’s bored of everything and just wants to move but can’t and then screeches or topples over and it’s the end of the world with much screeching. He’s also doing this in the middle of the night.

How can I entertain him with out sitting with him 1 on 1 every minute of the day (which even then doesn’t help sometimes), as I just don’t have time to do it with my 3yo DD and general life duties. I can’t stick him in a sling to get stuff done as he is so massive and it would cripple me and he doesn’t like it anyway. It’s better when we’re out but we can’t be out of the house all the time. He’s driving me insane. I’m suffering with depression anyway and it’s starting to really get to me.

We have HV today so will talk to them about it. But have I months of this Ahead of me? I don’t think he’s going to be walking or crawling anytime soon

Have you tried him in a baby walker? Might help with the frustration if he can get himself about a bit. Can pick them up for about £30

One like this rather than the push along ones

www.argos.co.uk/product/6787138

Jumperoos were made for this!

OP no advice but solidarity. My 10 month old is exactly the same. He flops himself onto his belly to reach stuff then is stuck there 🙄 & howls in utter frustration. It's exhausting. He absolutely hates the jumperoo too 😫 I'm out of ideas as to how to entertain him.

Agree with evil dog !!

Second the idea of a baby walker! Ours was affection known as 'Davros' and both DC spent many happy hours bimbling around in it...

Is he happier in a jumparoo? Have you tried one of those inflatable rings that they sit in to help keep them upright? Or a bumbo and tray?

It's tough when they're at that age but it will pass!

He's definitely bored, I think it's the age for it. My DS is the same age and whilst he can crawl and stand/cruise, he's still massively put out that he can't walk! As others have said, a jumperoo or Walker would be a good way for him to feel more mobile.

He’s got a walker and can’t work out how to get himself about in it so gets frustrated in there. Gets bored of jumparoo very quickly. @tiggerybear it’s so bloody exhausting isn’t it. Thanks for the solidarity.

I’m wondering if he’s got a physical issue as he’s just so clueless And lacks any ability to get himself about.

Is he alright OP? Physically/mentally I mean. You say he's "massive". It's unusual in my experience for a baby not to be either walking or crawling at this stage. (Sorry, not wishing to be alarmist).

He’s just gone into 18-24 clothes at 11 months. He’s fine intellectually I think. He’s hit milestones for communication and is very happy when not frustrated, interacts well with people, good social skills etc. Has excellent fine motor skills, can feed himself, clap etc.
Just the gross motor skills where he lacks. So not massively worried, but do wonder if there is some issue?.

I disagree. I have 3 dc and none of them crawled but they were all walking by 13 months.

I disagree too. My first crawled at 12 months and walked at 13 months, she couldn't sit unsupported until 9 months. My second walked at 12 months but didn't crawl until she was 2.5yo although was sitting unsupported at 5 months!!! Both are fine physically. All babies are different and I'd say it's far too soon to be worrying about lack of walking/crawling.

Talk to the HV about his boredom. At that age I'd be planning my day so that I could rotate his activities as quickly as possible. Keep changing his scenery. If he's getting particularly bored and your busy can you put him in highchair/buggy with toys so he can sit watching and you can chat to him?

Aren't sit in baby walkers discouraged because they can cause physical issues and actually hinder rather than help a child learn to walk?

It's good that you're seeing the health visitor. How massive is massive? Clothes sizes aren't always that informative as babies in the same size can be very long and quite muscular/ solid or short/ average height but round and squidgy . Is he off the weight charts? Is he very long legged?

I do think not sitting unsupported at 11 mo the is becoming worth a chat about. Some babies don't crawl or crawl late and very long babies often struggle more with getting the hang of walking, but not so much crawling.

If he's very overweight that could be the problem, especially as he's got good fine motor skills so it doesn't sound like any kind of intellectual delay. How is he fed?

The baby walker thing depends on who/what you’re talking to/reading. All of mine have used them and my HV said as long as they’re not just stuck in one all day every day then they’re ok to use, somilarto the jumperoo/door bouncer.

I read it that he couldn’t get from laying to sitting by himself, not that he couldn’t sit unsupported. If he doesn’t sit unsupported Op then I agree it’s worth bringing it up with the HV

I don't have any relevant experience but until you hear from your HV, you might find some ideas on this blog: CanDo Kiddo. She's a paediatric occupational therapist in America and she has loads of tips (especially on her Instagram) for encouraging baby movement with household objects, like making a row of books standing up like dominos for them to knock over, surrounding with interesting objects just out of reach etc. Good luck, this too shall pass!

Also, that blogger's third child has hypotonia which is low muscle tone. You could have a look at her post about it here to see if your son has any similar issues?

He can sit unsupported and has done since 7 months, he just can’t get himself into the sitting position from laying on his back.
Other people have told me about their late walkers so I’m not so worried about lack of walking. It’s the screeching frustration that’s driving me mad and the lack of wanting to put any weight on his legs despite getting frustrated concerns me a bit.
He was 25 lbs six weeks ago. He is off the length chart and 97th percentile for weight. To look at him he’s big but not fat if that makes sense. He doesn’t have massive rolls but is just big everywhere.

I have a 7 month old who is very similar. He can spin in circles and drag himself along a little bit (ends up going backwards a lot!) but he is so angry and frustrated about not moving. He’s pretty much outgrown his jumperoo and gets bored in minutes. He’s a really happy little boy and great fun but he has to be entertained constantly! I will lose my mind if this goes on for another 4/5 months!

Can he roll from back to belly? Maybe you (or DD?) could teach him to do that when he gets stuck on his back, if that's what's bothering him, so he can get back to sitting independently when he falls over?

You could also try some things like this or this to try to get him pulling up a bit? Also if you have a nursing pillow would he sit in that so he doesn't fall all the way over?

You could be me op, massive 12 month old , 18-24 month clothes, hitting milestones but just doesn't move, can sit unsupported but can crawl, I take him out quite a lot as I find it worse when he's at home, we also go to geoups as they have different toys to the ones he's used to x

Can't **