Baby's 8 Month Check up - what to expect?

[dairymoo]

As the title says really. My DTs have their 8 month check up tomorrow and I just wondered what to expect.

TIA!

From what i remember my ds was weighed eyes checked noises made to test hearing and response small objects placed in her hand to see if ds would pick them up and general questions asked also questions for me testing for pnd and given book bag with age related books can't think of what else leg strength as ds was spotted to have had problem

My HV asked questions like, does he roll over? can he sit up un aided? (he could if i sat him on his bum, but couldn't get there himself!) Also gave him a rattle to see if a - he knew what to do with it and b - to see if he'd pass it from one hand to the other. She also rolled up a tiny bit of paper to test his 'pincer grip'. Also the general things, weight, height and head circumference... Nothing too testing!

Just checked to see what she could do. Swap things from one hand to other, pincer grip, sitting, rolling, crawling babbling and double babbling still dont get the double babbling thing. Checked weight etc and asked was she sleeping eating etc.

We also got the bag of books from the HV

At my ds' check, they weighed him, measured his length and head curcumference. They checked to see if he could stand with support and weight bear on his legs. They checked the creases on the back of his legs to make sure they were fairly symetrical on each leg to see if his hips were ok and he didn't have one leg longer than the other.

Also the health visitor asked a lot about his diet and how solids were going. They also held brightly coloured toys out to see if he grabs and reaches OK. They also just ask about whether he babbles, laughs and 'talks'.

In our area mums are asked to do a quick quiz on the computer to check how mothers are coping and to check for signs of PND. It is volunatary though but you get a free mug if you do it!!! lol

It was all over and done with in about 30 mins from start to finish so there's nothing to worry about really.

Great - thanks for your replies.

I am still BF the girls and although they do have at least two meals a day, sometimes three - the third being a play session with toast/rice cakes (BLW style) - they haven't really 'dropped' any feeds yet and are still taking a good 5 BF a day and then usually one (sometimes two!) during the night. Is this something I should downplay, as I've read a lot of posts where mums have come out of these sorts of checks feeling really confused/upset as they've been told contradictory advice about weaning and BF, and I really don't want to be told to cut down on BF as my LOs clearly aren't ready yet!

It depends on your HV, mines really good and supports everything I do, but does give me advice, she did tell me to start to think about dropping feeds, but I didn't do it until DS was ready, all she said was to start introducing cups, which I did, in turn he did strat to drop his feeds so that by one he was only on 1 bottle a day.

I would tell your HV what you do and then decide whether to take her advice or not, in my (all be it limited) experience of HV, they are all different!! As are our babies!

Not sure I'm afraid but I only breast fed for first 3 months. I'm sure someone will know and advise you!

At my ds' check, I was advised to drop a bottle feed as he was on four feeds a day plus three solid meals. I dropped a feed and just introduced a few more finger foods as snacks. He still sleeps through without a feed so I'm sure they were right.

Remember that really it doesn't matter what they say. By all means mention it and see what they advise but do what feels right and works for you and the twins.

Do you have to arrange the 8 month check yourself or does someone contact you to set it up? This is the first I've heard of it and DS is 8 months in 1 week.

I got a letter in the post, you should have it between 8 and 10 months, so you have plenty of time, Some HV only like doing it closer to 10 months as it gives the babies time to 'develop' I'd chase the appointment if you've not heard in a couple of weeks.

I phoned and left messages asking about an 8 month check and heard nothing back. DD is now 11 months and haven't seen hv since dd was 6 weeks. Not sure if I should pursue it. DD is fine in every respect.