I'm not sure why I'm feeling so emotional about this, but I am! I wondered if anyone could share experiences with their child being referred to a paediatrician with developmental concerns and what the general process is - what do they assess?
My child minder has called me this evening about my 23 month old and if I'm honest it's shared the things I've noticed about her. She is the happiest, funniest little ray of sunshine.
She is very vocal but most of this is babble. She does have words but doesn't really connect them to anything. She can say some words when seeing picture cards of them but doesn't connect them in conversation. She copies some words from things but often not formed very well.
She responds to her name, but isn't able to follow any instruction. She doesn't point or make any non verbal gestures. She does wave bye bye but this is often with her hand facing the wrong way round and often variable and out of context
She is very clumsy on her feet and often tumbles over and or walks into things. Her childminder noticed her left hip and right knee giving way which I haven't noticed, but have always wondered about why her balance is so off. She loves roaming and running around though. She has just learnt to climb although this takes her time to figure out. She cannot consistently coordinate climbing the stairs which is worse on the way down and I often try to help her but end up carrying her as she tries to go on her bum and then stand up and step unsafely.
She plays on her own rather than with me or other children. She does bring things to me to open for her but she is in her own little happy world of play most of the time. She doesn't have any particular interest yet in any area of play but she does like music. She loves looking through books but babbling to herself and will not let me read to her (can't hold her attention). The childminder said she doesn't manage to sit on the floor for circle time and tends to sit on things more comfortably, but isn't interested in engaging with her.
She gazes quite often I.e up to the sky or in the distance
She always puts things in her mouth and this seems to be stimulating for her. Even sand doesn't put her off! Her favourite thing to chew is her teddy and dummy at the same time.
She's always been a chilled baby but when she cries she has complete meltdowns to the point she can't breathe (but crying over something appropriate at the time)
She's a good sleeper generally but takes a long time to wind herself down at night and is often hyperactive and squealing in bed until she sleeps. She throws herself against her cot until she does
She likes to stand on things ?not sure if this is for sensory purposes but does it consistently with most toys and changes in surfaces
I don't know how to explain this but recently she's been squealing so much with excitement over things it completely takes over her and this lasts for a little while.
Sorry for such an essay, I'm just getting everything off my mind.
Has anyone experienced similar? Maybe it's nothing or maybe it's something. I'm not necessarily asking for diagnoses but more what do I expect now?
Thank you x