Is my baby ok?

[ShrimpOnTheBarbie]

Hi All,

I have an absolutely divine almost 8 month old who seems to be a bit behind developmentally and I'm wondering whether I need to start worrying/doing something about it - or whether she is just a bit lazy and I can relax.

She is my second and my first was always in such a rush to do everything (still is) and hated being a baby (and let us all know about it, loudly) so I was thrilled to have a really cuddly, happy baby this time around and it's not until recently that I've realised that all the babies we know of the same age are sitting, eating well, pulling up etc and DD2 is still just happy to lie on her back, have a giggle and a chat. Now - I like to lie on my back, have a giggle and a chat but am starting to wonder if this is more than an inherited reluctance to move!

She can roll but only does so very occasionally. She moves around a bit in her cot but I never see her - only the toys that have moved alert me to the fact that she has moved to get them. She can't sit. I try to prop her up to let her practice but she slumps to the side. She sits in her bumbo but is not very happy in it. She is also not keen on solids and does not pick up food to put it in her mouth. In fact nothing goes in her mouth except her thumb and her bunny's ear. Otherwise she is so happy and the sweetest natured baby in the world. She sleeps beautifully and loves a joke (biting me while feeding is particularly amusing).

So MNers, do you think she is just so relaxed that she can't be bothered to be in a rush to move - or is there a potential problem that should be seen to?

Very hard for us to say! It could all be normal, it probably all is normal, but it could be the sign of a problem as well.

Do you have a good relationship with your HV? Go and see her.

Looking back I've seen she is still only 7 months, and I think this is all probably within the range of normal for her age, but it's still a good idea to check with your HV.

I'm not in the UK, so don't have a HV. She was seen at 6 months by our GP and she didn't comment one way or the other.

By problem, what do you mean?

If you are worried, then see your GP again.

The chances are all is fine.

I don't mean anything specific by the word 'problem.

Thanks, Belgo. I probably should - hate going to the GP though - especially in winter - I'm convinced we leave with more than we went in with.

I'm not sure that I am worried - more that I'm wondering if I should be. I suppose I was hoping that lots of people would come on here and tell me about their non-sitting 8 month olds who are now jumping off couches and to enjoy the cuddles!

dd1 was a bit like this. She was sitting by around 7months - but that was it - she just sat there. NEVER crawled and NEVER rolled. (she did have a very speedy bumshuffle eventually). I would put her in her cot and she just lay there. She never put anything in her mouth - not toys, blankets or random things from the floor - she also sucks her thumb. She was also late to walk.

She is nearly 3 now - and yes she does spend an awful lot of time jumping on the sofa and racing for cuddles.

Fast forward to dd2 - everything in the mouth, crawls at high speed - now toddles at high speed - normally to the most dangerous thing in the room. Totally different baby.

I now realise how blissful it was with dd1 when she sat contentedly in cafes while my friends babies were all up to mischief.

I just wanted to give you some reassurance and I am sure your dd2 is just like my dd1. As others say, do get her checked if you are worried - and if she's fine - relax and enjoy the calm!

Thanks Meep! That is exactly what I wanted to hear!

DD1 was so gung-ho and busy from the moment she was born and it's hard not to compare the two.

You're lucky to have it that way round - can you imagine our shock when dd2 started fossicking and shrieking around! We suddenly had to babyproof the house

in fact dd2 is currently stading in the middle of the room with dh's work pass in her mouth. Dd1 is still asleep!!!

• can imagine your shock! At this age DD1 was emptying cupboards and into everything. It's a bit bizarre having a baby that sleeps and smiles!

All fine IMHO

DD didn't sit up by herself until 10.5 months and didn't start crawling until gone 11 months. But as soon as she had learned how to do these she had it down pat straight off. Same with walking.

She is now a completely normal 4.5 year old

My DS didn't put anything in his mouth until he was 10 months old. He also started crawling suddenly at the same age! He was on stage 2 purees until then. Now he refuses to be spoon fed, but not very keen on eating either, so we feed him more often. He hasn't got any teeth so perhaps it's difficult for him to chew. He still doesn't put anything in his mouth, apart from food. The doctors say it's OK. I think it's OK too.

She sounds like my DD as a baby who is now nearly 3 and doing everything. Also didn't realise quite how nice it was to have a fairly sedate baby until DS who is like a mini tornado and hasn't been still since about 4 months old...

I wouldn't worry at all. Children develop at different rates. I have a friend, both her dds were very late at sitting, crawling and didn't walk until 18/19 months. However they were both very advanced with their speech and communication. My 2 were both very quick to sit, walk etc, but hopeless at talking, my ds didn't say a word until he was nearly 2! Now they are all pretty much on a level, although I have noticed that friend's dds are more likely to sit and have a nice chat whilst my 2 charge around wildly!

DD was like this - although she was rather grumpy, but didn't seem to dislike being a baby sufficiently to get moving and start being a toddler. She was nowhere near being able to sit by 8mo, very wobbly, until the day after she turned 8mo, I took her to a friend's house, plonked her down next to friend's DS and said 'she can't sit for any time at all ...' Upon which she sat up, steady as a rock, for 15 minutes before collapsing in a heap.

She got herself from lying to sitting for the first time at 13mo, pulled up at 14mo and crawled a week later, walked at 16mo. She is now 6 so you can probably tell by the detail that not only is she my PFB but that I was a bit obsessed by it all at the time!

My cousin has two DD's who followed meep's pattern - DD1 nice and serene, DD2 trying to stuff herself down the toilet at about 8mo!

Don't. That is impressive recall!

Thanks, everyone. Feeling reassured. And typing one-handed!

Shrimp, babies are all different and develop at different rates.
My two children are like chalk and cheese. DS did not sit unaided until 9 months, he didn't do much crawling, just rolled a lot. But he was walking at 10 months and we didn't use the push-chair much after he turned 1. He is now a normal (if there is such a thing) 20 year old.
DD, on the other hand, didn't walk until she was 13 months, started talking in full sentences at around 18 months and is now a normal stroppy 13 year old.
Try not to worry too much. The worst thing we can do as parents is to compare our children. If she was your first, woud you have the same concerns?