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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

DD3 (15months) might be referred to specialist

18 replies

MumGoneCrazy · 31/12/2010 21:15

DD3 is a bit slow in her development, I know every child develops at their own pace so this wasn't really my worry but HV's.

She's crawling and will pull herself up and stand against furniture but wont stand on her own without help and wont/cant make any steps even when we're holding her hands, she just lifts her legs and holds them up until we put her on the floor, she can say about 10 words and babbles all the time and is a great eater and sleeper, the problem is that she wont put her feet flat ever...if we try to put them flat on the floor she pushes her bum out so she falls on the ground.

Hv called a specialist last week and was told to check her again at 18 months and if its still the same then make a referral.
Anyone else had the same problem?

OP posts:

winnybella · 31/12/2010 21:17

I have no experience, sorry, but 10 words at 15 mo is v.good. It seems like the only problem is walking- could she have hypotonia or similar- muscle problems etc?

Original poster

MumGoneCrazy · 31/12/2010 21:25

Im not sure, she was slow at crawling started army crawling/dragging herself at about 10months and has only been crawling properly for 2 months.

My other 2 DDs were slower than average but were both taking steps by 15 months even if just a few, because of this i wasn't that worried when she developed a bit slower (as she's only tiny anyway still in 6-9months) but now the HV has me a little worried

OP posts:

ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 31/12/2010 21:33

I have no personal experience but a friend of mine has a DD who didn't walk until 19 or 20 months. She was referred to specialists who found no hip problems. Like your DD she was small for her age and they then decided that her DD was just very flexible and couldn't bear her own weight long enough. She did it eventually.

winnybella · 31/12/2010 21:37

Hmm. If I were you I would just ask for referral to see paediatrician soon to make sure she doesn't have any muscle/joints problems- walking late per se is not a big deal, but at the same time I think it's best to detect and treat any problems early. In any case, if her development is good overall, I wouldn't worry too much, but would try and see a doc in NY.

MollieO · 31/12/2010 21:39

Ds was under the care of a consultant from birth (not gross motor related problems). HV thought he had hip problems at 6 months (he didn't).

I was concerned about his lack of walking. All his peers were walking by 13 months and he wasn't interested in even trying. Consultant said to leave it until ds was 2 and if he wasn't walking by then they would investigate further.

He walked at 22 months and because of how he walked (one foot badly pronated and generally very unsteady) he was referred for physio when he was 2.

He has hypermobility in all his joints. Most noticeable in his ankle joints - his legs seem to just fall onto his feet unsupported by any ankle joint (although it is there).

Lots of physio helped and loads of exercise to keep his muscles strong to support his joints. Normal healthy 6 yr old now. Contrast that up to 4 when he couldn't run without falling over.

blackeyedsusan · 31/12/2010 21:52

You are going to worry, it is only natural, but being referred is a good thing. Catching problems early may mean there is more chance of fixing anything/ not causing permanent damage.

We seem to have a season ticket for the local and not so local hospitals for this and that, although nothing serious yet.

Occupational/physio/speech therapies, eye dept(x2) allergy clinic and now ds may have a problem with digestion. The appointments we have been to have reassured us, if that helps (but I am still worrying about the digestion thing.)

If you are worried about things you could always go to your gp to see if you can get an earlier referral. (personally I would because I am a worry guts)

Your dd's speech sounds quite good though.

blackeyedsusan · 31/12/2010 21:54

MollieO that is reassuring. Just starting physio for dd age 4.

MollieO · 31/12/2010 22:25

I was amazed at how much physio helped. Ds also had a teacher in reception who was a keen runner. She taught him to run properly. It made a lot if difference and he got medals in the end of year sports day. The previous year they had to wait for him to finish before they could start the next race.

He is very active and even plays rugby. He won't be able to continue once it becomes contact but there are lots of other sports he can do instead.

He has orthotics in his shoes and will do until he stops growing.

reallytired · 31/12/2010 22:33

I think its positive thing that the hv wants to refer. It is much better for a hv to be over cautious than for a problem to be missed.

My son took his first steps at 20 months and was not a confident walker until two and half years old. He had physio and it made real difference to him.

catfan · 01/01/2011 19:39

My son has just turned 16 months and also isn't walking. He army crawled at 7 months and has been properly crawling since 13 months - hv thought it might have something to do with the fact that we have wooden floors.Anyway now he is a super speedy crawler. He climbs up (and down) stairs and onto furniture and pulls himself up on everything. He also cruises a lot but won't really walk holding our hands. Although I can't help worrying from what I've read if a child is pulling themselves up and cruising they will eventually walk - albeit at their pace rather than ours. Is your daughter cruising/climbing? I think she still has plenty of time at 15 months.

reallytired · 01/01/2011 20:32

My son's child physio told us "If a child sits by two they will walk by four".

I worried desperately about my son's walking, but he has no problems now.

krisskross · 01/01/2011 20:39

hi yes, my son now 3 didnt walk til he was about 23 months.. he never pulled himslelf up til about 20 months and never particulalry weight bared on his legs.

he was sent for a physio assessment and he has something called hypermobility- basically its like being double jointed so its hard for them to weight bare.

Now hes 3 and exactly like any child his age- no problems at all. my daughter, now 17 months, is not standing or pulling to stand and has followed his exact pattern so while we have a physio assessment booked i am not worried.

just to reassure you- physio said that as long as we do things to strenghthen his muscles (as his ligaments are v bendy) he will be fine, so swimming, ballet and martial arts.

Good luck! (ps now i have 2 babies, i realise there are many benefits to having a late walker!)

1percentawake · 01/01/2011 21:02

Definitely worth being cautious as pp's have said. Physio can be really helpful if needed and the earlier the better.

I'm another one with a late walker as DD didn't walk until 20 months as she also has hypermobility and low muscle tone. She has taken quite a while to walk steadily but is now only her running which is odd (think Phoebe from Friends )

The fact that your DD is crawling and pulling up are all good signs - DD wasn't even crawling until 15 months! Hopefully it won't be long before she's walking.

IWillCountToThree · 01/01/2011 22:38

My DD2 was on the verge of being refered when she started to walk. She was 19m. It took forever to get more than a few steps out of her, and she didn't run till 3.5y.
She's now 5 and you can't keep her still!

I think keeping an eye is a good thing, however all DCs develop at different speeds. (DH walked at 22m, DD1 at 12m, and DS1 started walking at 15m on DD1's 7th birthday.)

Encouragement, and if she's small, maybe a door bouncer to help with muscle tone? Could be the floor feels odd on her feet and once she's used to it there'll be no stopping her!

roselover · 01/01/2011 22:52

my twins are 15 months - my boy is walking a few steps but my daughter is not - and you child has all those words? I think that's amazing! I think you should listen to the specialist and have an other look at 18 months - it will all start happening from now on - one point - my son who had boundless energy was put in a walker (one of those things with wheels) - I think he practiced more than my daughter ....feel a bit guilty about that now - we have a small flat and I could not fit two walkers in - nor could I afford two! I say stop worrying - you feel pressure casue people always ask - are they walking - just casue they dont have anything else to say!

MegBusset · 01/01/2011 22:57

DS2 wouldn't stand alone or take steps at 15 months (he was a speedy crawler and didn't seem bothered about walking at all) - finally started at nearly 17 months. Now at 20m he never bloody stops running! And he still only has three words.

Good that the HV is prepared to refer if necessary but hopefully she'll have caught up by then.

Original poster

MumGoneCrazy · 01/01/2011 23:56

She can bare her weight, she loves standing on my knees and bouncing up and down, is always standing in her cot in the morning waiting for us and she can pull herself up and hold on to the sofa, she isn't cruising just standing holding on tightly...the concern is that it's always on tip toes.

She wont put her feet flat and if when standing against the furniture we gently hold her ankles and flatten her feet she just lets herself fall back.

OP posts:

BoysAreLikeDogs · 02/01/2011 23:17

the reluctance to place her feet flat ought to be looked at, she might have tight tendons or something like that hindering her learning to walk

Could you go back to the HV and ask for referral straight away rather than waiting 3 more months? That's what I would do

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