AIBU to be worried about my 6 month old?

[Secretlifeofme]

My DD is six months old next week. She is happy and smiley and I love her so much but I'm worried that she isn't developing properly :(
She can sit up, but only with support
She can roll from front to back, but not the other way. Also she HATES being on her front and will just flip over the minute I put her down on her front. I can't see how she will ever learn to crawl :(
She isn't good at playing on her own and will cry if left alone for more than a couple of minutes
She wakes up at least 3 times a night. Maximum she sleeps for is about 4 hours but that's really rare, it's usually 3, sometimes 2!
She only has short naps - about 35-45 mins 4 times a day.

What do you think? She is my first (and only!) and I just worry a lot...

@Secretlifeofme she is lovely, but yes it was intimidating.

Dd is a miracle baby after many years of struggles, took me a wee while to get out and about.

I was terrified, then met her and was initially thinking oh my.

In reality, she was asked to leave one class as they said she was to advanced, and should be in toddler group. She wasn't even one. So she's struggled with it for different reasons.

She used to steal Dd just for a baby cuddle! So each have positives and downsides, and each Dd is wonderful.

Oh, thanks so much everyone, you have reassured me a lot! I'll try not to compare in future

My dd walked before she could sit- just couldn’t get the balance right! She’s 17 now and sits for hours.
Please don’t worry and enjoy your beautiful baby

My DD is 11 months (but was premature so developmentally shes 9 months old). She's always hated being put on her tummy so we've never done tummy time. Shes also never rolled over so i doubt she will start now!

Shes only just able to sit up unaided (but always have to put cushions around her as she often topples backwards). Not showing any signs at all of being ready to crawl. Dont panic!! They will get there in their own time she is absolutely beautiful x

My ds is 5 months and can just about sit with support (but often face plants if he gets excited), no signs of rolling yet but will lift up on his hands and try to commando crawl, no routine re sleep or feeds- was up every hour last night 😴! Im not worrying about any of it, other than he will not be away from me or alone at all, ever.

My dd never really rolled over but sat unaided really early, crawled at 10 months and walked just before she turned 1. They all do things in their own time, your dd will be fine just keep doing what you're doing.

Oh and I fully expect DS will never crawl. He sort of hoiks himself around if he really wants a toy (without ever lifting his tummy off the floor) so has no real incentive. Neither me or DH crawled apparently so I think we'll probably go straight to cruising.

@Secretlifeofme my DS never rolled. I think he hated it. He is extremely advanced otherwise (similar to the baby @moobar described) - which I only say to reassure you that the rolling thing is irrelevant! Your baby sounds perfect.

Your DD sounds fine and lovely, OP. They are all so different.

For anyone struggling with baby/child development and comparing (whilst desperately trying not to compare) their DC with anyone else’s, here is my absolute favourite quote from a lovely but slightly hippy dippy book my mum bought me on child rearing. From a chapter called ‘Don’t Let Milestones Turn Into Millstones’

“Enjoy what your baby can do, now, today. And always remember, no future employer is ever going to say to your child ‘Sorry, but only people who walked by their first birthday are being considered for this position.’”

Relax and enjoy her, I know it’s easier said than done but it won’t be long before you wonder what on earth you were worried about.

We are getting quite a lot of consonant sounds now and for the last couple of months. DS is almost 1.

They all develop differently. My daughter was walking at 10 months, but still wakes 6-8 times a night, my friends baby is the same age, has only just started to crawl but sleeps through the night. You're doing fine x

You've exactly described my DS. The only difference he is 6.5 months and just yesterday decided that he would stay on his tummy for 2 minutes and try to wriggle to a toy (He only wriggled one leg though so didn't get anywhere!) Honestly I think they're fine. I know what you mean when you see all these 6 month olds sitting up though!

Just another vote to say this all sounds really normal. I got stressed out - to a ridiculous extent, looking back - by the fact that DS was later than the other babies I know to sit up. He's 21 months now and already it could not feel less important or of less consequence that he could sit up at 8 months not 6.

Incidentally I knew loads of people who assumed their baby wouldn't crawl because they didn't like being on their tummy, but they nearly all did! The babies in my postnatal group ranged between 10 months and 19 months to walk - when we met up when they were 20 months you couldn't have made the slightest guess at which was which, already, or which has crawled. There's a massive difference in their speech now, but I bet there won't be when they start school.

Mine month old tomorrow here. He could sit unaided and roll at five months, but still can't crawl! Lots of rolling around and has just started to bum shuffle across tile floors and attempting to pull up. Has just started to throw a ball.

Which sounds great but he doesn't point and us still making the same vowel noises he was making at six months. I try to reassure myself that it's all on a scale and babies are on being good at different things

My baby is a year and almost walking and I've still only ever seen him roll front to back a handful of times. He was around 10 months before I EVER saw him roll front to back, he just never did it.
Every baby is completely different, it's very easy to compare but trust me - there's absolutely nothing wrong. She can roll - she rolls front to back, just not the other way.
A friend of mine's son learnt to crawl at 7 months but still wasn't sitting unaided at that point. He learnt to do that afterwards. That's just a few examples of how wildly different these babies can be.
The consonants thing is just bizarre - my 1 year old says mama and dada but the rest of the time just shouts and screams random nonsense.
Enjoy your baby and try to not compare what she's doing, she's an individual after all

Ooh you're expecting far too much for 6 months. It sounds like she's achieving her 6 month milestones and you're looking for those of a 9 - 12 month old.

Your primary focus now should be weaning. Focus your efforts on her diet and introducing food. Give her tummy time for as long as she doesn't mind it and keep encouraging the sitting. Get her used to water in the bath or shower for extra playtime. Read picture books to her, let her keep you in sight, 6 month olds are learning 'object permanence' meaning just because she can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. You can play this by hiding toys under a tea towel and revealing them then hiding them again. Eventually she'll realise the same with you when you leave the room/sight.

That's it! That's all she needs right now! And that's a lot for her tiny brain!

You'll find that weaning makes her tired it's a huge learning curve for them but as you increase consumption she'll start to sleep longer.

If she ends up bum shuffling please google infant reflexes not going dormant. Very easy to resolve as babies.

Oh and don't forget your baby has a choice... if she's like mine, she can actually roll but chooses not to. I don't think she sees the need/purpose yet and she's 9 months.

I remember fondly my NCT weekly get-together days. The five babies were all so different. One walked at just over months and was like a gymnast whereas mine used to lie on the blanket while the others sat up on their bums and played around them.

Sounds perfectly normal!

There are some things which you should look out for in terms of development but they aren’t any of the stuff you’ve mentioned.

She’s adorable! Just enjoy your baby and try to compare to others or expect her to meet the exact deadlines as books tell us. She may be late for some and early for others.

If there’s anything you’re seriously concerned about then speak to your health advisor but she honestly sounds completely fine

Not to compare * I mean! Doh

My baby was a late sitter, didn't do it till 9 months and I was worrying too! Now she's still being a late walker having not managed it at nearly 18 months... but it's all normal! Maybe if she isn't sitting by 1 I'd call health visitor?

Don't worry. I did a job after my GP training in childhood development. I remember vividly learning that if a child didn't reach out by 19 weeks there was something wrong. My daughter did it at 18 weeks 6 days!! Also she never spoke and at 2 years 3 months came out in complete sentences and hasn't shut up since... she's 27 on Monday! I had an ex health visitor as a nanny for a while and she said "babies don't read the books". Your wee one sounds and looks just wonderful. (She is really very cute)

OP she sounds like my DD at that age. She couldn't sit up properly til something like 7 or 8 (nearer 8!) months, and didn't crawl til 10 months. However, she walked at 13 months and has been assessed by nursery several times as 'Exceeding' on gross motor! This was the girl who at her 10 month health visitor review was in the concern area for gross motor (although the HV wasn't worried at all). It just goes to show how much can change. She was also a late babbler and at 16 months could barely say a thing. At 20 months, however, her vocabulary is exploding, she puts together 2 words and can complete the end of some of the sentences in books she likes. If you'd told me all of this I'd never have believed it, and like you I was worried as she's my first. If I ever have another I'll try not to worry so much!

OP think of it this way. What adult have you met that has never learned how to sit up, or eat, pick up a spoon or any other basic function? Absolutely everyone gets there and everyone equals out in the end. Each problem you think she has will resolve itself in the blink of an eye, then you'll find something else to worry about. Just enjoy her, she's perfect.

Sounds very normal to me, my DD was 10 months old before she sat unaided, my DS was 7 months. All babies develop differently. For example my DD was talking by the age of 18 months and full understandable sentences by the time she was 2, my DS didnt even start to babble until he was 17 months and is only just starting to become clearer with his speech at 2.5 years old. But my DS has really good balance and my DD now 5 can fall over fresh air.
Honestly OP try not to compare her to others.