Late walker or hypermobility?

[ShellJayne]

My ds is 19months (16 & half adjusted - he was 10 weeks prem) and not walking yet. He cruises and will walk holding on to one finger and is really good with his push along walker. He can now stand for a few mins and this week has walked 4/5 steps in his own. I'm wondering I'd he is just a late walker or he could have hypermobility. He seems to be very bendy and sits in very odd positions. What are signs of hypermobility?

I just don't know if I should just wait and see what happens in the next few weeks or phone hv.

Sorry, I have no useful advice other than to recommend you go directly to a GP if you're concerned. The general consensus about HVs (in my circle of friends with babies and IME) is that they don't tend to know much about more complex matters of child health and I think hypermobility probably falls into that category.

HV will prob tell you 'He looks fine, come back in 3 months' or something. Admittedly, GP may say the same!! Good luck.

Dd has hypermobility and has only started walking in the past month (she will be two in two weeks).

Her ankles roll inwards when she stands and walks and she sits with her legs backwards and out, like a W if that makes sense?

My HV referred her to physio as soon as I pointed out her standing on her toes at about 13 months, but we have a good HV. Either way if you're worried get it checked out.

Is your dc a bottom shuffler? This can also delay walking. Either way it doesn't sound like it will be long before you see some waking!

Thanks for your comments. He does sit in a W shape and he seems very bendy but from what I can tell his feet dont seem to roll in. With development I have to go by his adjusted age so at 16months he is still in normal range.

My hv is rubbish so I might call the hospital as he is still under them for his prematurity. What other problems does hypermobility bring?

Just worry when I see all other toddlers his age and younger walking and he isn't.

Motherhood isn't easy is it

Ds is hypermobile and was walking at 11 months. It may be a good idea to speak to your HV. Some children take longer than others though, so it's probably nothing to worry about.

It sounds more like confidence that hypermobility. He clearly can hold his weight comfortably on his legs and can balance perfectly well. The only thing he's not doing is moving away from support that makes him feel safe.

Both my DDs have hypermobility and walked early. I think it has to be very severe to prevent a child from walking.

Hypermobile ankles collapse inwards and knees over-straighten so they bend backwards. Hypermobile hips are less obvious. Other problems depend on which joints are affected. My DDs both struggle with handwriting.

If you can see problems with your DS's ankles or knees you probably should ask for a referral to a physio in case he needs insoles or exercises.

In the meantime try not to worry about his walking. He really does sound fine.

Thanks everyone I've been having sleepless nights worrying about it. I think I will see where we are in a month and go from there.

Neither myself nor my ES walked until we were 17 months. All of us are very flexible but I don't know about hypermobile. We can bend our knees / elbows slightly the "wrong" way and we can touch our wrists with our thumbs (same arm). I only realised a few weeks ago that this is not normal as it is something I have always done and I assumed everyone could! We don't have any problems though.
Probably best just to ask the hospital as you said.

You can have hypermobile joints without having what DD2's consultant calls hypermobility syndrome.

Hypermobility syndrome, I am told, is diagnosed when the flexibility of the joints causes pain and damage.

My DDs both have hypermobility syndrome because they have significant pain which is treated with painkillers and physio. DD1 has broken fingers doing silly things like making her bed and regularly dislocated the fingers too. She has one very painful knee with cartilage damage from being over-extended. DD2 has mobility problems because her hips are hypermobile which sometimes makes walking very painful. They both find handwriting very hard work because they can't hold a pencil correctly for long. DD1 has been assessed as qualifying for a scribe in exams.

I have hypermobile joints but I have never been diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome because they don't particularly cause me pain. Mind you , it is nice to finally understand why my handwriting is so awful.

Interesting Timandra. When I was younger my toes used to pop out of joint sometimes when I moved them. It was horrid but they would pull back in quickly. I've also had lower back pain since I was I teenager (not too serious - I've learned to live with it). I get it when standing or walking for prolonged periods such as when I was standing in assembly. I'd never connected the 2 things (i.e. hypermobile joints and backache). My ankles also turn inwards (towards the floor) when I am standing. I have always been a slow writer and have never held a pen "properly". Hmmmm

I still don't think the OP should worry so much though.

Sounds like he is doing very well especially given he was 10 weeks prem! Hypermobility on its own may not present any significant issues at all. It is possible that it could affect his balance depending on which joints are lax. However, if he can stand unsupported and walk holding onto 1 finger I also think it sounds like a confidence thing rather than anything more than that. W sitting is classic sign of hypermobility but again, depends on which joints are affected. Low muscle tone sometimes accompanies hypermobile joints and so may just take longer to strengthen the muscles for walking.

Hi ShellJayne, my kids and I are hypermobile (well DC3 is too little to be diagnosed as of yet but I think she will turn out to be too). DS didn't crawl until 10 months and walked at just over 16 months. When he did walk he was up on his toes, he never walked 'normally'. We nagged HV constantly for a referral to no avail until DD1 was diagnosed with dislocated hips when we were referred to a paediatric physiotherapist for DS. He assessed him and diagnosed hypermobility. Apparently tiptoeing can help them feel tighter in very loose joints when walking.

We now have physio for the two older DC and they are both walking fine (DD1s hips are all 'fixed' now :))

The physio essentially watched DS walk and climb stairs etc and them got him up on a couch and (for want of a better phrase) bent him about. He is hypermobile all over - fingers elbows shoulders hips knees feet etc etc.

DD2 (age 3) is a nightmare to get dressed if she is in a mood as she can turn and twist in very unusual ways. If you hold her foot to put her boots on (physio advised boots rather than shoes) she just rolls away so her feet point completely backwards. We try not to react or to encourage 'circus tricks' to avoid damage as far as possible.

Ask for a physio referral if you are still worried. But as you have said your DSs development is still within normal limits at the moment.

Best of luck.

He does have problems with his balance so I'm wondering if it is low muscle tone or that he is a late developer - he commando crawled and didn't crawl on all fours until he was 13 months. He is also coming on well with his language - 6 new words in the last two days - so he might just be busy working on that skill rather than his motor skills.

As I mentioned I might give it another month and then call the hospital for an appointment.

I'm sure I will be worrying about something else soon

"I'm sure I will be worrying about something else soon"

Worry and guilt are familiar bedfellows when you're a parent. The worst bit for me is that nobody ever tells you when you got it right!

I think you're right to be watchful and if you ever feel sure that there is a problem don't be fobbed off by anyone until you are satisfied that you have the answers you are looking for.

A mother's instincts are usually right.

Balance can be part of hypermobility, so if he is diagnosed hypermobile you may not need to look for other explanations.

It's not just that their joints are so unstable: hypermobility is often combined with poor proprioception- they literally don't know where their arms and legs are.

Proprioception and balance can be taught though: dd has had training sessions and hardly has a problem at all these days.

Hi

Can I please (say, Timandra) at what age you suspected problems with hypermobility with your children, and at what age they started experiencing pain?

DS, 18 months, was told today he is v hypermobile in his hands, and I also suspect elsewhere. I am panicked that he'll end up in pain.

OK. Well my DD2 first told us about her hip pain aged about 7 but she is not very good at expressing herself and I think she had episodes of it before that. From being a small baby she would have times when she screamed for no apparent reason and as she grew older she would put her hands down to her hips and pelvis as if they were hurting. Many paediatrician appointments later we had no explanation for her pain but now I think I understand.

DD1 didn't seem to experience significant pain until she was about 10.

I wouldn't worry about it too much because I have a friend whose joint are far more hypermobile than either of my DDs' and she experiences no pain at all. Her fingers are like rubber but don't seem to cause her any problems at all. Your son could just as easily be like her.

Hi shell was wondering how you got on? My dd was 5 weeks early and does the exact same thing, she army crawled untill 13 months then properly crawled!! She is nearly 18 months and doesn't walk but will hold a finger and walk!!!

She will not push her trolly at all she hates it, she will cruise round the furniture!!

I am so worried!!

Hi Katy. My ds still isn't walking properly but has done a few more steps on his own and stood on his own for a bit longer. He just doesn't have his balance at all! He is 17months adjusted this week so I am going to phone consultant at hospital and get an appointment to see him rather than go through HV or doc.

I'm still out of my mind with worry but he seems to be progressing so at least that is something. DS runs using his walker. I just think its his balance. To be honest everything is running through my mind at the moment. It's so hard isn't it

Have you spoken to anyone?

It's do worrying!! :(

I called my hv today and she said I have to wait till she is 18 months (2 weeks) I just want to know sooner or later if there is a problem!!

I also called the gp who said not to worry some babies don't walk to there 2!!

I have tried everything from different walkers, a harness thing, and even thinking about buying some shows I read up about that are ment to help walking?!

Katy I know how you feel. ds not walking consumes my every waking moment. I've even dreamt he can walk. Everyone keeps telling me to just relax about it and he will get there but I want to scream - 'why isn't he doing it now!!!!'

You are not on your own

Yes my thoughts exactly!!! I keep looking up what it could be and trying to rule them out!!

It's hard to relax when you are so worried!!

I feel like crying worrying about it and also dream about her walking!!

Tell me about it. I worry it's due to DS being 10 weeks prem - maybe it could be I just don't know. I wonder if I worry more because he is prem but think it could be more motherhood.

Wow 10 weeks is very prem, and it takes them
So long to catch up strength when there babies!! My dd was only 5 weeks early and she is so tiny and petite!!

I have 2 older children who were not prem and walked 10 months and 12 months!!

Also did you find ds sis anything else slower my dd didn't sit unaided till 8 months and didn't army crawl untill about 10omths!! So I suppose she is going to be behind with walking!!
If she would just stand alone atleast!!!

My friends dd is 9 months and walking!! I couldn't believe it!!

Yes, DS didn't sit unaided until 9months, commando crawled from 10months then crawled on knees at 13 months. I've always thought he was a bit more behind than just his adjusted age.

On the plus side his language skills are racing ahead and he gets six new words in a couple of days. So then I think, well is he so busy developing his language that his motor skills are playing second fiddle.

I wish I could just relax

Does your dd take any steps unaided?