16month old not walking/poor balance etc

[nowthatyouremine]

hi all, pls excuse my spelling/grammar as im on phone.
my ds is 16 months old, he was born at 34 weeks and suffered with severe bruising at birth and then prolonged jaundice. He has done brilliantly but he isnt yet walking. in fact he hasnt crawled/pulled himself up and he hasnt bum shuffled. when standing his feet turn in to such an extent that he looks like he is balancing on his inner ankle bones. we saw consultant last week, she didnt watch him walk or play and simply moved his ankles round a bit. she said he was 'extra bendy', took blood tests(which she was certain would be fine) and sent us on our way with an appointment for sept 'just in case there's no improvement'.
we havent had results from bloods yet, im chasing these up but i really think id like a second opinion- is this bolshy of me?? i just feel something isnt right, he is extremely cranky and frustrated and irritable, its very distressing as i feel like i cant help him. any mn'ers have any similar experiences or advice? doc told us to buy him boots but as he is only a size 3 we cant get any anywhere!
apart from the gross motor he is brill, on 75th centile for height and weight, his fine motor skills are excellent and he is very bright and alert.
id like to trust doctors word but waiting 5 monthd worries me.

Get second opinion. I am in massive rush but will bookmark and try and get back to you -0 essentially my daughter had a year of physio and lots of intervention and checks and etc. for a problem that sounds far less intense than yours - she is fine and I am sure your DC will be too - but sounds like you have been fobbed off - try health visitor and get referral to physio and NOC / osbtetrics. You are right. Trust your instincts.

Hiya my daughter wasnt bor prem but she had slightly twisted feet wen she was born bocoz of the way she was layed i got told to just massage them in the right direction if you get warlt i mean. As for balance my next door neighbur had prem twins and she said there development was realy slow they are 4 now and still not talking properly it takes time. All babies are different my son is nearly two and his balanc is off a bit as a matter of fact last week he split his head open had to take him hospital becoz he was trying to run. Like i said it takes time you just gotta be patient.

I'm sure your GP could refer straight to paediatric physio, who could assess gross motor development far better than most consultants, I expect

Hi now. My DD is 20 months and has only been crawling since about 3 weeks ago, pulling to stand about the same time and we hope she might walk before she is two.

She was diagnosed by a physiotherapist as being extra bendy, also known as hypermobile and has come on leaps and bounds since we started her therapy about 6 weeks ago.

We were referred for physiotherapy by our health visitor when I explained she was not developing her gross motor skills in line with her other development.

Our therapist also recomends boots and suggested kickers which go down to a 3 and looking at start rite too. There are specialist boots called piedro (I think) but they are very expensive

I would see your hv and ask about a physio referral, can't hurt to ask. It helped my DD no end.

I agree with timetosmile , you need to ask for a physio referral.
My DS was 18 months before he walked, and when he did he was very wobbly for a long time. He's 4 now, and much better. Still a bit wobbly and has a bit of difficulty when running, but we've seen a small improvement every month which we think has been helped by exercise (Swimming/soft play have been great). We've had 2 years of referrals to neurologists, ENT, physio etc. He was finally diagnosed as hypermobile (probably what the consultant meant when she said "extra bendy") by a physiotherapist, so he was referred to a podiatrist and we are now waiting for some insoles for him, as his feet are similar to how you describe your DS - rolling in at the ankles.

wow, thankyou for your very helpful replies.
he has made progress, he is able to walk along sofa for example but is v wobbly and just cant work out how to pull himself up.
its heartbreaking because he loves being up and he is so frustrated bless him. i doubt myself and question wether its something ive done or not done iyswim?
we have appointment at gp on monday and i will insist on 2nd opinion/ possible physio etc.
i hope and pray it is something that can be helped, he fought so hard when he was tiny.
thank you again for all of your info

Well, everyone else here has said what I would have said, so I won't add more, except to say again that my DD (also prem) now 2 running wildly around everywhere. Also, I reckon because she was so immobile for so long she developed other skills (talking etc) very early. And because she was hypermobile and funny-footed she has always been very cautious about physical stuff so has never thrown herself off anything (though she does fall over more than normal) - so there are some pros for you there! Finally, it's natural to doubt yourself, but don't - as you have shown here, your instincts are spot on, so well done you, trust your instincts.

OhGood - Thank you, this does give me some reassurance. My lo is a great talker, he loves music and rhyme and as Ive said his hand eye co-ordination/fine motor skills are excellent.
Second opinion and insitance it is then!
Thank you all again x

nowthatyourmine...HI Do trust your instincts ..they will always be right !!

My ds is 7 yrs and was dx as hypermobile and low muscle tone at ?12 months because couldn't/wouldn't weight bear...pead said he didn't feel secure on his feet ...bit like us on a wobbly board !!!!

Anyhow the LIONESS in me has pushed for lots of things to be done over the last 6 years and it has helped...

NHS do provide piedro boots for free via physio but dont know what age ,he got them at 3 yrs

He is and always will be h/m but i have physio and o/t for extra help.

You might want to compare notes with some others on SEN thread "hypermobility 2" .A couple of them have young dc's .

Maybe see you there.
good luck

Hi just to let you know my DS1 (now 4) didn't walk until he was gone 2. He had low muscle tone and required physio to learn to walk.

He can now do most things children his age can physically but can't stand on one leg, hop etc. He is however, far in advance of his peers in numeracy, problem solving, spelling etc.Think kids tend to be ahead in some things and behind in others. I am sure with the right help your lo will be fine xx

I have a DD who is also very hypermobile and low toned - walked at 20 months but still has poor balance at nearly 5. Physio has helped a lot as has swimming and horse riding. There is lots you can do to help strengthen muscles in the short and longer term.

I also just wanted to say that DD could walk before she could balance. She would literally throw herself from one end of the room to the other before she could stand unaided!

Sounds like your DS is doing really well with his other skills and may just need a little help getting going with his gross motor (can't recommend physio enough - definitely push for it if you can!).

See if you can get Kickers boots or Startrite shoes with good ankle support as I think another poster suggested (not sure about minimum size). I have always had these for DD and they really do help with support.

Hi. Def need physio referral. Piedro boots are free on NHS but may not be enough support. Weren't for my dd who finally walked at 2.9 years. Dd1 was diagnosed by paediatrician as hypermobile at 23 months, unable to bear weight let alone walk. All her gross motor development was delayed. Sat at 8 months, rolled at 18 months, crawled at 19 months, bore weight at 2.3 years (piedro boots), started cruising 2.6 years (splints). Dd is still wearing splints now although she can walk without. We hope to move to high top boots with special insoles in a few months time. Her fine motor skills have always been excellent.

While waiting for physio referral we went to "next" and got dd some boots to encourage standing. In fact next were best place for getting boots/trainers to fit over her splints.