Worried about underweight baby with gross motor delays

[insurvivalmode]

Hi all, this is my first ever post on here. Just wondering if anyone else has experience of a child who is on the 0.4 centile (actually just under) and also has some gross motor skill delays? DS will be 1 year in a couple of weeks, and just recently sitting independently, still trying to crawl, only started rolling properly around 9 months. He also has a sacral dimple, not sure if relevant. He is combination fed (mainly BF) and likes his food, although he can only manage smallish portions (I add full fat everything to all his food). I wondered about cerebral palsy due to the late sitting etc. and he used to seem very stiff, although this has improved. He often has tremors when he is excited/wants to do something.

DS!! He's 2 now and still under the 0.4th despite eating like a champ! He was a late crawler, late to sit up, late to walk. He doesn't stop moving now. I did keep harassing his HV though....sure she was sick of me!

Babies vary so much; some are just happy in one spot, some can’t wait to be off.
Sacral dimples are also pretty common and don’t necessarily cause any issues at all.
However, if you’re worried do get your health visitor to check him out. She’ll be able to reassure you and/or suggest any extra activities.
My grandson stayed in one spot for ages. I would deliberately put a toy just out of his reach, he would make a very half-hearted effort and then yell in frustration, his mummy would say Oh he’s crying! and pick him up. He really wasn’t crying.
Anyway, he hadn’t much reason to make any effort, is what I mean.
He ended up totally average :)

Thank you both, it is reassuring to hear these. DS is strong willed and hated the cradle hold, for example, as well as being reluctant to sit independently, although he always loved tummy time oddly enough. I try not to rush over so he can work things out but I do find it hard not to fuss over him. I’ve had PND and have been a bit obsessed with feeding him - I’ve kept a diary of feeds almost since day 1. We used to have him weighed every two weeks with HV but it just made things worse for me I think and made me question whether I’ve caused these issues (maybe I didn’t hold him enough, etc). He used to have bad reflux which made it harder for him to gain weight, and goes on nursing strikes sometimes when teething etc. Good thing is we have his 1 year review soon, and have had 2 paediatrician appointments, with another review due at 14 months. I just wondered if these things are connected.. DS doesn’t have enough weight on him to move in the way I see other babies do? He’s got lovely chubby wrists and legs but his tummy is very slender. DH is small, so am I.

Is he on the percentile for both weight and height?

This is almost identical to my DD who is still on the bottom percentile aged 12 years. Although DH and myself are average nights, both our mothers were tiny. She looks like a mix of both her grannies, same nose, teeth, eyes, build.

She was late to get going physically and I recon it was due to so much going on in her head. She was a determined wilful little thing aged 1 year and is the same now. Today she’s mentally fast, independent, witty, empathic and still very wilful but an absolute delight with such great morals

It’s perfect you’ve got these appointments lined up as it means monitoring progress and a professional eye. It’s likely your child is in the normal range and when they are more active their food requirements will increase.

Whatever the outcome of these appointments your child is perfect just the way he is. He has the massive advantage of loving parents who care deeply. I can’t tell you just how much this will effect and support his life ahead. The PND will pass, however get support if you need it and workout strategies.

Yes, height and weight match but head is 25th centile! This is like my DH

Thank you for this lovely and reassuring message. Your daughter sounds wonderful! DS also really resembles my Mum, who is small like me.
The anxiety part of the PND got really bad when he had to be weighed regularly, and I was made to feel a bit like I wasn’t doing my job. He was born 2nd centile (38 weeks) and dropped to 0.4, so actually only dropped one centile. I saw the expression ‘failure to thrive’ on one letter, but most health professionals agree he’s got enough fat on him to be healthy. It just makes you question everything you are doing... and DH is great with him but maybe even more fixated on his weight

My DD was born on the 1st centile, 36 weeks and 3lb 9oz - IUGR. She never really got chubby, always stayed slim (me and my partner are both slim) but I often wonder if her lack of weight has impacted her development. She didn’t roll until 8.5 months, crawled at almost 11 months, pulled up and cruised just over a year. I mean she’s not delayed, probably on time with adjusted age but I always have that at the back of my mind.

Shes 14 months, about 20lbs and not walking yet. Every time I worry about something, she usually does it soon after so I’ve stopped worrying now - I’m sure she’ll do it when she’s ready.

Also, my DD seemed very stiff for a long time too. Only noticed an improvement when she started crawling!

I’m sure your DS will be okay, but it’s good you have appointments to ask questions you have