DD can’t support herself on legs

[luska]

My DD is just six months old. She has very good neck control and can sit up on my knee with me holding her round the waist. She’s also showing signs of crawling by bringing her knees up towards her stomach during tummy time.

But... when I try encouraging her to stand (with me holding her, obviously!) her legs are just slack and she makes no attempt to straighten them. I know she can do it, as when I’m changing her nappy she will often straighten them very firmly whilst on the changing mat (which makes it a bit hard to change her!) A friend’s baby who’s the same age as mine can already stand with support from her mum, which got me wondering.

Should I be concerned?

Honestly your HV should have referred you already.

Seriously?! I haven’t even spoken to my HV because I didn’t realise it was a problem. Now I’m beside myself with worry.

@GrumpyHoonMain I notice you said that a paediatrician would need to see my daughter at eight months, weren’t able to provide any source for that information and are now saying I should have been referred already. Do you come on these threads purposefully to scare people?

Just found this via babycentre.co.uk:

If your baby isn't able to put weight on his legs and stand by the time he's a year old, or you're worried about how he's developing, talk to your doctor or health visitor.

Where are you getting your information from @GrumpyHoonMain?

[quote luska]@GrumpyHoonMain I notice you said that a paediatrician would need to see my daughter at eight months, weren’t able to provide any source for that information and are now saying I should have been referred already. Do you come on these threads purposefully to scare people?[/quote]
My son had this very basic HV check by 6 months (it’s a basic development check the HV does) as do most babies in my area and was sent to a pediatrician for further diagnosis. DN was diagnosed at 7 months as it took a few weeks to get the referral . Now I don’t really know what happens in your area or how involved you are with your HV but a baby who can’t weight bare at 8 months definitely needs to be seen by a pediatrician.

*and DN was sent

but a baby who can’t weight bare at 8 months definitely needs to be seen by a pediatrician.

Fine, but DD is only just six months - so why say you’re surprised that she hasn’t been referred already?

Anyway, I’ve just spent nearly £70 I don’t have on a Jumperoo, so hopefully that will help

Oh OP!

This is the problem with looking for reassurance on the internet- I’ve done it myself with DD and it only made me worry more and more.

There’s a lot of nonsense on this thread - no one should be surprised at a six month old not sitting unaided! There’s a huge spectrum of normal when they’re this age.

As for baring her own weight-

www.hct.nhs.uk/children-and-families/your-childs-development/6-8-months/

This NHS page has baring weight as a milestone for 6-8 months, so she’s not even behind!

You sound like a really caring mum who will be on the ball if she does need any extra help, but at the moment that’s not the case.

My son didn't walk until he was about 16 months. I'm not sure why you're concerned or trying to force it?

My son didn't walk until he was about 16 months. I'm not sure why you're concerned or trying to force it?

@happymummy12345 When was your son able to bear weight though?

I’m concerned because my friend’s baby is the same age as my DD and can basically stand - and DD is nowhere near!

@TerribleCustomerCervix oh that’s a relief to read - thank you. My friend’s baby has been bearing weight since about 4 months - she must just be very advanced in that department!

I hope the Jumperoo encourages DD to plant her feet a bit more anyway - or if not that she just has some fun in it! She gets so excited by new toys and friends’ babies seem to love them.

You can't force it.

If you concerned get an assessment for e g hypermobility.
2 of My dc didnt walk til two years. But no one asks them about it now...but they did benefit from physio input.

Or see a physio so you not doing anything which might be harmful
A baby who bears wreght is not "advanced" or "better" and your child is not necessarily "behind".

If bearing weight is a 6-8 month milestone, isn’t it a bit premature to ask for an assessment at this stage?

I agree that you can’t force it, but you can do things to help baby along (such as the Jumperoo hopefully!)

Have you asked your health visitor?

My dd randomly could bare weight and stand from birth, she even took a reflex step during tests she had. (Comments made about her by a midwife)
So I’m not sure either way what’s usual.

I haven’t managed to speak to the health visitor yet but will do so ASAP.

Two things I have learnt as a FTM is comparison is the thief of happiness and there is a HUGE range of normal. You'll probably find your friends child can't do something your DD can. My dd never stood, but walked at 13 months. Follow your instinct.

I noticed you mentioned Jumperoo....look on FB marketplace. I got mine for £20.

If you are encouraging her to stand then for the sake of both your sanities make it into a fun game sit her on your lap, sing nursery rhymes, bounce and help her to ‘jump’ (I wanted to get in with this suggestion before u bought the Jumperoo sorry!) I’m sure she’ll love it.

I couldn’t see any on my local FB so went for one off Amazon that was half price. Hopefully I’ll be able to get some of the money back when I come to sell it later on!

I had wanted to avoid Jumperoos as I read they can be bad for babies, but it seems like short bursts are fine?

@lusca the range of normal physical development for babies is huge!

A few posters have come on to say 6 month Olds should be sitting. Neither of mine sat at 6 months. My first was commando crawling at 4 months old, crawling on knees by 6 months but could not sit without support until about 9 months. We spoke to our HV who was not at all worried. She walked at 12 months and is now a healthy strong 5 year old!

You can't compare 2 babies and it will cause you stress if you do! X

Two things I have learnt as a FTM is comparison is the thief of happiness and there is a HUGE range of normal. You'll probably find your friends child can't do something your DD can. My dd never stood, but walked at 13 months. Follow your instinct.

@darlingsweetpea I know you’re right about the comparison thing.

When you say your DD never stood - do you mean she never bore weight on her legs then one day just walked? Did you ever get her checked out?

I read that hypermobility is often hereditary and neither myself nor my partner have it in our families. Which makes me worry that it could be something else, though I don’t know what!

Just reading back through the replies - I guess it could also be hip dysplasia that’s been missed?

Just take her to be reviewd. No harm done

@darlingsweetpea

Two things I have learnt as a FTM is comparison is the thief of happiness and there is a HUGE range of normal. You'll probably find your friends child can't do something your DD can. My dd never stood, but walked at 13 months. Follow your instinct.

I noticed you mentioned Jumperoo....look on FB marketplace. I got mine for £20.

Yes yes yes! Totally agree. If you are going to get really stressed each time another baby/toddler/child is doing something your one can’t, you are signing up for a lifetime of stress. Better to look at the official information about the (usually wide) spectrum of “normal”, only seek advice if yours is outside that, and just accept that other DC will inevitably be different to yours.

Just take her to be reviewd. No harm done

How and where? When she had something actually wrong with her a couple of months ago, my GP’s helpful response was “wait two weeks and see if it resolves itself”. They’re not going to offer me an appointment with a physio or pediatrician when she’s not even technically behind yet (she’s six months but the age for bearing weight is 6-8 months - thanks to previous posters for that information).

@luska my dd decided crawling was quicker, then one day something was blocking her way and there wasn't space to crawl so she stood and walked.

You said in one of your updates the doctors won't do anything as you baby is only just in the age range. So maybe rethink this in two months. It could be her feet are sensitive to the floor surface or she is scared/not ready. Speak to a HV as they can reassure you and offer advice on what you can do to help.

Just to show you how not all children follow the plan, my dd didn't sit unaided until 7/8 months, she didn't eat solids until 10 months, however she had her first tooth at four months and the full set by 11 months. In summary she followed nothing!!