Failed 8 month development check

[Bumblelion]

My dd who is now 8 1/2 months had her 8 month development check last week and "failed". She is my third baby and I know all babies develop at different rates but neither of my other two "failed".

First she failed her hearing test on the right hand side and they are referring her for this. She doesn't sit up unaided although does when propped. My dd head is slightly crooked (although she is still beautiful). When I say crooked, no-one has actually noticed it until I point it out to them but her forehead is slightly more pronounced on the right hand side and the back of her head is slightly more pronounced on the left hand side (if you can work that out). She looks fine and when I had her checked at the doctors about this, they also said she was fine and it would straighten.

My health visitor mentioned last week at her 8 month check that she feels her whole body "is on the wonk" (her words, not mine) and she wants her checked out further. This didn't upset me too much although, when I gave her her baby Thursday night, I must admit I did lay her on her front and back and checked to see if perhaps she was a bit crooked but I have to say her spine seems perfectly straight.

She is such a happy baby and very content but still sleeps a lot (about 19 hours out of every 24). It is as though she is still a new-born and hasn't adjusted to being born yet if you know what I mean.

She failed her gross motor skills and her fine motor skills and they are referring her.

What sort of checks would they now do and how can I help her develop naturally. She failed her gross motor skills because of not sitting up straight unaided and failed her fine motor skills because when they shook a rattle in front of her she didn't "grab" it, although she did take it when placed in her hand but then lost interest in it.

Anyone else's child "failed" a development check and, if so, what was the ultimate outcome?

Thanks for listening.

Bumblelion, I really feel for you. I hate it when health professionals make statements and don't back them up or leave you wondering about all the questions you should have asked. The chances are that your baby is just a little slow to develop and will catch up in time. The fact that she is so contented and happy probably shows that she isn't particularly wanting to sit up and go for things. Why don't you ring your HV and ask to speak to her again, she might be able to put your mind at ease a little bit or at least explain what tests can be done and what help is available. If your DD does have a problem, it is better that it is recognised now and treated early so that she isn't disadvantaged later on. I'm sure you will not love her any less if there is a problem either, probably the contrary. Please let us know of any developments, I'll be thinking about you.

Bumblelion, my dd also 'failed' her 8 month check as she couldn't sit up unaided. We were told to go back in 6 weeks. Thank goodness, she started to do it about a month later.

I did try and point out that she could already crawl expertly, but that didn't cut any ice.

I was amazed that she passed the hearing test, as the tree outside was so gripping I couldn't believe she would actually bother to look round at two blocks tapping together.

They also managed to measure her head incorrectly and referred us to a pediatrician for tests. Luckily, after much anguish, dp noticed that they had put the dot in the wrong place on her chart.

I HATE developmental checks, even more now dd is 2.5 and I can see how differently all children develop. Luckily they have done away with the 18 month/2 year check here so I didn't have to go through that.

Your daughter sounds lovely and I am sure she will develop normally and happily. I always heard that putting a few frozen peas on the high chair tray was good for encouraging fine motor skills, but hopefully some more people can come up with a few more 'professional' sounding things to do!

Bumblelion, I really feel for you, although your dd sounds like a lovely little thing and as though she is just being slow to adjust to being out in the world. You may have already tried it/or it may not be your kind of thing, but cranial osteopathy can work wonders for this kind of thing as often birth or the early weeks can be quite traumatic for some babies (through no fault of our own) and the 'tweeking' that cranial osteopaths can do with babies can often bring about the most dramatic changes. I took my baby to one for a very severe sleep problem (i.e. she didn't - at all!) and she got better immediately and many other people I've met have had equally dramatic, some less so, but all positive, experiences of this kind of treatment. However, I may be speaking completely out of turn as I can imagine that my baby's sleep problem was not as worrying as your hv telling you that your baby is 'on the wonk' - an utterly tactless way of putting it! Hope it all goes okay, have to say though I do think the tests they do are a little odd. My dd luckily took the building blocks they held out to her, but I can imagine many a time, when in a certain mood, she would have looked blankly at them or ignored the whispering they were doing behind her, so I would try not to worry too much, although it is always hard not to.

Bumblelion-
the crooked head is known as "plagiocephaly", Greek (I think) for "crooked head"! It is due to intra-uterine moulding, and will usually correct itself. It is sometimes ,however, associated with a tight muscle in the neck, which if not corrected can cause the crookedness to worsen. A simple check for the tight muscle is to see if the baby's head can be turned all the way to the left and right when lying on her back- if so, all is well.

I wouldn't worry too much about your dd being referred- the paediatricians/ physios will be able to examine your daughter a lot more thoroughly than the HV/ GP, and are likely to be able to put your mind at rest.

My HV told me that my 8 week old daughter was jaundiced, and persuaded my GP, who referred us up to the hospital, without examining her. I dutifully took her up to the paediatrician, who took one look and sent us away again. I am a healthcare professional (as you may have gathered) and knew that the HV was talking rubbish, but thought that they would send the social workers round if I argued! (well, I was probably suffering from PND at the time- shame they took no notice of that!!).

do all babies in the uk have to do this test? do they summon you, or do I have to take him?

Thanks for all your comments. I am not unduly worried but must admit I am now spending lots of time (all her waking time) with her sitting up, propped of course, and getting her to bounce on her legs. I am giving her lots of different textures to play with to try and help her fine motor skills.

Tissy, when lying down, she can look easily from left to right so I don't think she has this tight muscle in her neck.

Because she is so happy and content, when the HV says some of the things she did (also said baby seemed a bit distracted and in her own little world - which is definitely not the case) it does make me wonder if she is a little "simple" (can't think of proper word) but I am sure she isn't. She interacts with me, chats to me, is interested in everything going on around her - I think she is just a little slow to develop and a bit lazy.

Whatever the outcome of the further checks they do, this little girl of mine could not be loved more and I know we will be just fine.

One other point ... husband told me when baby was 11 weeks old (New Years Eve) that he was leaving me although he hasn't bloody (sorry!) moved out yet. When I told him last Thursday what the HV had said, he said to me "why are you telling me this, you are really worrying me". The reason I told him is that he is still her father. Sorry, just had to get that gripe off my chest,

Another insensitive man, he'd have been upset if you hadn't told him and he's upset because you have (for all the wrong reasons). Bumblelion, enjoy your smiling, happy, contented baby as she is for as long as possible, I'm sure the time will come very soon indeed when she will be crawling round and getting into far too much mischief and the HV can eat her words!

Bumblelion, so your H hasn't got any more sensitive then? Sorry to hear that and sorry that he is still living with you (if things still aren't working out) I hope things improve soon. It sounds like you've got an insensitive HV too - I hope all the further checks are reassuring. Hang in there.

bumblelion, I think it's your (not so d) h who needs his development testing...

H is still living here but I am hoping he will move out soon. Don't faint, but I am off to see a solicitor tomorrow (finally got the strength and courage to go for it) to find out what my rights are and what I am entitled to (if anything). Feeling better about it already as it feels I am slightly ba\ck in control (although this is all his choice and I am only doing what I feel I am forced to do). Will keep you informed of developments.

As for my dear beautiful baby daughter, I know deep down she is okay and, as PamT says, before long she will be crawling around, into everything and I will be longing for these days where she just lies there kicking her legs.

She has got a doctor's appointment this Friday to have her body checked out to see if it is bent/crooked/wonky (or whatever they like to call it) and I will let you know how she fares then but, on checking her myself, although I am not a doctor, she does not look in the slightest lop-sided to me.

bumblelion, great news....little steps will get you there..and as everyone else has said don't worry about the wee one, we're all different and get there at our own pace

Well, good luck for both appointments Bumblelion, I would have thought you would be entitled to a fair whack given you will be caring for three children. Hope all is well with your daughter too - my son failed his first hearing test, and got a wigging from the HV for not sitting up properly at 8 months. Some children are just more self-contained and leisurely about meeting these milestones...she sounds a poppet to me.

Bumblelion, my ds has a head shape like your dd. It's due to him always lying on the same side when he sleeps. At 10 months he's just started rolling around in bed and I've been told that it will get less noticable now. It's got nothing at all to do with the alignment of the rest of his body.

And my HV, who is definately a lot more sensitive and on the ball than yours, said that where we are they don't have any concerns about babies not sitting until they reach 10 months.

Hope your doctor and solicitor are more helpful than your HV. Carry enjoying your beautiful baby.

Sorry, meant carry on enjoying her!

My dd had her 8 month check a month late as we had moved house and passed but she is only just sitting up unaided. At 8 months she definatly needed support to sit for more than about 30-60 seconds.

Try not to worry.

Thanks for all your comments. Will let you know how we get on on Friday. Will post later on developments at solicitors - very promising for me!

I also thought my child was a bit "simple" or slow, because he was also very self contained and placid. He wasn't very cheerful and it was quite hard to raise a smile, but he seldom cried either. Now that he is 2, I am starting to think maybe he is quite bright, the change in him from baby to child is quite remarkable! I know lots of babies who failed their 8 month check because they couldn't sit. Best of luck on Friday.

Bumblelion

I was told by my HV that my dd (3 weeks at the time) was 'crooked'. This caused me no end of upset and although I could not see anything wrong, she did tend to lie with her head always on one side.

I took her to a cranial osteopath (on advice of HV) and it worked wonders. I cannot explain how, but with minimal touching she managed to turn my wingey baby into a little angel. She had 4 sessions and started to sleep through the night from 9 weeks. The osteopath said that it was a birth trauma causing the slight tilt of her head and that although it would not have given her any pain it would have 'nagged' and she would not be completly comfortable. However she did also say that it would have sorted itself out sometime over the first year without intervention.

ps my dd has also just 'failed' her 8 month hearing test - but I think that she was just more interested in the toys than the noises!

Further update.

After the failed development test by the health visitor, who also mentioned her mis-shaped head, they referred her to my doctor for a further opinion. She said that she didn't feel anything was wrong, but they would refer her to the hospital for further tests, just to put our mind at ease.

We had an appointment at the local hospital which will be two weeks ago tomorrow. The doctor there asked what I was there for (I thought she would have known - failed 8 month development check) but I decided to start from the beginning. I mentioned her mis-shaped head (although it can't be that bad because the doctor didn't even notice it, only after I mentioned it) and also mentioned her failed 8 month development check.

They didn't seem that interested in her failed development test - just got to go back on 2nd October (she will be 1 on 24th October) to see if she is sitting up by then (she has in fact started sitting unpropped very steadily for about the last 10 days or so).

The one thing the doctor did seem to pick up on though, after I mentioned it, was her head shape. They sent her for a spine x-ray and two skull x-rays. I felt so sorry for Sasha (my baby) and absolutely heart-broken. They had to strip her off, lay her down on a sheet of glass and then strap down her arms and legs to stop her moving. They then placed some leaded bean bags on her legs to stop her moving. They took two x-rays of her skull and one of her spine. They said that they wouldn't get the films back that day but that they would ring me with the results.

Last Wednesday, one week after the x-rays, because I hadn't heard anything, I decided to ring. Trying to actually speak to someone was impossible. I left countless messages, tried again on Thursday and again on Friday. They gave me the doctor's secretary's direct line but again I couldn't make contact. When I got referred back to the children's main receptionist, she mentioned that the doctor had asked for Sasha's notes and that she would mention to the doctor that I had phoned yet again, and she would get the doctor to call me on Monday.

Anyway, Friday afternoon at 2 pm my health visitor, Louise, knocked on my door. I felt a bit worried as it is only in unusual cases that a doctor/health visitor would make a home visit.

She said that the hospital had contacted her and that Sasha's spine x-ray was fine but there was a problem with her skul x-ray and they want to refer her urgently for a CT scan to check brain activity and to make sure there is no pressure in her brain. When I asked what was wrong, the health visitor didn't seem sure, just said that was a slight problem.

Anyway, I tried phoning the hospital again on Monday to no avail, but, yesterday, the doctor's receptionist rang me.

She said she had a letter on her computer that was on its way out to me and she read it out to me.

It basically said that the spine x-rays were fine but the skull x-rays could not rule out the possiblity of synostosis. I asked what this meant, and she had to look it up in a medical dictionary.

She basically said that, when a baby is born, the plates in the head move so they can be born vaginally (as Sasha was). Over time, these plates then move flat but sometimes there is an over-lap or a gap when the plates move and this is synostosis.

They are referring her urgently (although I haven't heard yet!) for a CT scan to check her brain activity and pressure on her brain.

I am beside myself with worry :-

(1) Me and husband are separated although living in the same house.

(2) I am due to go to Spain on Monday for two weeks with my two eldest children, leaving Sasha at home, with two other girl friends and their 6 children between then.

When I mentioned to the hospital doctor's receptionist about this, she said basically that because Sasha has been like this for 10 months (since she was born basically) another two weeks isn't going to make much difference and, even if they find something not quite right (I cannot say "wrong", they will not do anything straight away as the time scale involved when I am in Spain is so short and she has been like this for 10 months and another 2 weeks isn't going to make much difference.

For those of you who don't know ... me and my husband separated (his choice) when Sasha was 11 weeks old and I have 3 children although he is still living with me.

My mum has had a nervous breakdown (and I don't say that lightly) which stems back from when my dad died just over 2 years ago.

The reason I am going on holiday and not taking Sasha is because:-

(1) I desperately need a holiday for my own sanity.

(2) It will be far too hot for Sasha.

(3) Both my other two are excellent swimmers and it will be a relaxing time for me to recharge my batteries as I can just sit on the side of the pool keeping an eye on them, rather than having to try and entertain them.

(4) The children that are going are boy (13), girl (12), my girl (9), twin boys (7) and two boys (one of mine) and one girl of 5 and, because they are all the same sort of ages, they all get on (best friends at school, etc.). Me with a 10 month old baby would not be much of a holiday.

I will miss her to bits but it will do ME a world of good to have a holiday and she is too young to remember - next year I am already thinking about holidays and she is coming with me DEFINITELY.

I suppose the reason I am on here today is to see if anyone else has come across SYNOSTOSIS, and if, so, after the brain scan, what was the outcome.

All messages welcome.

My god, what a time you've been having! It certainly sounds like you need a holiday, although I can imagine you'll be worrying. I wish I knew something about synostosis to tell you but I don't.

Have a really good holiday - trust the doctors' advice that 2 weeks won't make a difference. Where are you going to in Spain? If it's the Costa del Sol I can give you a few day trip ideas, but the pool-lounging alone sounds fun.

best of luck

Bumblelion, this must be so terrible for you. You do deserve your holiday and it is so insensitive of the hospital to give you all these bad messages without giving you the opportunity to find out more before you go away. The whole thing will no doubt cast a shadow over the holiday - what bad timing. I'm afraid that I don't know anything about the condition but I do hope that any problems can be sorted out as quickly and easily as possible.

BTW its lovely to hear that DD is sitting up on her own now, she'll be crawling around running you ragged in another month or so!

Bumbelion,
Sorry to hear about the difficult time you are having. You should definately go ahead with your holiday and recharge your batteries I am sure your dd will be fine.

If you look at the 'terrified they may 'make' me have a VBAC' thread, Lindy mentioned that her baby had saggital synostosis which was corrected successfully ( 23rd July).

She also said in another thread that the website www.headlines.org.uk was helpful.

Perhaps you should start a new thread about synostosis and she might ppost more information for you.

bumblelion - sorry to hear what a terrible time you are having, it sounds like you really need the holiday and it will do you good - your baby will benefit from you feeling refreshed as well.

Don't know anything about synostosis I'm afraid but a search on google brought up quite a few sites so that could be a good place to start looking, this was the top result that had info and case studies.

www.geocities.com/HotSprings/6751/
(sorry, haven't tried links before so not sure if this right)

good luck,