Worried about DC4-Not reaching out and hands still in tight fists. Can someone remind me when they should be doing these things?

[lovingthecoast]

Hiya, DC4 who is my second DS is now 4.5mths. I'm starting to worry about how he is under the baby gym. He will occasionally move his hands in the vague direction of the hanging stuff but still seems only to ever actually hit them by mistake. My older 3 were definitely reaching out more purposely by this point and 2 of them were actually grabbing stuff.

His hands are also still in tight fists which seems late to me. He'll be 5mths on the 29th. If I sit him up in the bumbo and hold something in front of him he seems a little excited and will look at it and move his arms up and down a little but make no attempt or at least isn't able to grab it.

I don't think he has a vision problem as he follows us and objects very well with his eyes. I know they all develop at different rates but as he's my 4th, something just doesn't seem right.

Dunno if it helps but my DS never really cooed at all, never really smiled much either to be honest. Now he's a right chatterbox and always smiling at home, but pretty quiet when out and about.

I can't really remember him reaching out for toys, I think he was more of a random batter of things rather than being that interested, til he reached about 9ish months.

Check at the GP (My HV was pretty useless TBH) but if they say he's ok then he's probably just developing differently. My 4 mth DD is completely different to him and much more like a baby "should be" (according to the books) IYSWIM.

Hope it goes well.

Thanks everyone. I think I'm just going to have to wait a few more weeks to see what develops. By the end of this month he'll be 5mths and if still no purposeful reaching then I will take him to the GP. Thank you.

Hi PrincessPrecious

DS started walking at around 17 mos - so he walked before he could crawl!

He never pulled up to standing. I had to watch how other toddlers went from sitting to standing (unaided) and then teach DS step-by-step: So from sitting, put both hands to one side, then turn onto knees, then walk hands backwards, then stand! He was about 18 mos old at the time - already walking. It was a painful two weeks but we got there in the end!

He was diagnosed with hypermobility (double jointedness) - but it's very mild, so the paed was not concerned.

He is still much less co-ordinated than his peers - movements don't come naturally to him, if that makes sesne. But he is walking and running and now even climbing! Woohoo!

Will your DD walk with a baby walker (the kind that you push?) DS eventually got to grips with these at around 16 mos and they really helped.

We also had one of these niniwalker.es/www/en/ (from Jojo Maman Bebe) which was a great help!

Hi IWOEBeans That's interesting about hypermobility - does that mean he can be a gymnast when he's older!!? I haven't tried a baby walker. DD will bear weight on her legs but not for a long time. Going to see paediatrician tomorrow so will let you know what s/he says. HV (I don't seem to get along with HV's for some reason) said nothing wrong with her at all and thought I was some kind of competitive mother or something! Hardly think so - the majority of my friends' babies were/are crawling or trying to stand at 11 months.

Back to the OP, I think you should go to GP and get paed referral as you are a mum of 4 and know whats what with baby development. Probably nothing wrong though but would make you feel better.

Sorry IWOEBeans - just did some research on hypermobility so ignore my silly comment about gymnastics. Glad your DS hypermobility is mild though so hopefully doesn't trouble him too much. Thanks again for your advice.

Went to a mum and baby group this afternoon and definitely feel worse. Lots of babies who wer only 13 or 14wks actively batting at stuff above their head and grabbing their mums hair and stuff. Oh dear!

Why wait and worry? If I were you I would just make an appointment now. At least you will get a medical opinion and either advice to wait a bit, or you will get a referral.

You will be miserable if you put it off. IMO.

Don't waste time feeling crap and worrying, pop him to the GP tomorrow and put your mind at rest that he's OK/you are doing the best for him.
I'm sure the GP won't bat an eyelid if there's nothing wrong.

I agree coast - no point in worrying for longer than you have to.

No need to apologise princess! He is very bendy! Good luck with the paediatrician, let us know how you get on! I can't remember when DS started to weight bear, but it was definitely closer to 14/15 months...he wasn't doing it on his 1st birthday...

IWOEBeans - I went to paediatrician today and he said that he thinks my DD is absolutely fine, her fine motor skills, hand/eye coordination, emotional/social development, weight, growth etc all great - she is later than most babies as most are crawling/pulling up by 11 months however he seemed to think she would catch up. He also didn't seem worried that she can't get herself to a sitting position from lying flat and can only weight bear for a few seconds (I was worried by this). However he made an appointment for me to return in 6 months as she should have made some progress by then.

OP - sorry to hijack your thread a bit - let us know if you go to the GP and what happens.

That's good news Princess.

DS did not learn to get himself into a sitting position until around 14 months (when he started to roll).

It's so worrying when your DC lags behind their peers in terms of development!

@lovingthecoast - super long shot considering this original post was 10 years ago… but, if, by some chance, you are still around - any updates? I’m currently in a rabbit hole.

@Jpan how is your baby

@Littlesoul123 - Hi! It all suddenly changed - well, no, gradually- around the 6 month mark. I cannot keep anything away from his hands now. He grabs everything and anything. I've realised though - he's very intentional. If he doesn't want something he won't go for it - but zero concerns now as far as grabbing and reaching goes!