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8.5mo red flags?

15 replies

Magsarth · 12/12/2021 21:42

Hi all,
I’m an anxious first time mum and have a few concerns regarding my son which I would love to get people’s perspective/experience on? I know that the below list may not be a concern in isolation, but I was wondering whether the combination should be something I need to check with a health care professional on? I have previously tried to discuss some with a HV/Dr but have found some that I have spoken to fairly dismissive as he is not due another check until 12 months?
Red flags?

  • Not yet crawling. He pivots efficiently in a circle and props onto his hands, occasionally pushing back onto hand and knees and can push himself backwards, but cannot move himself forward. He has been doing this for maybe 6-8 weeks and hasn’t progressed further as of yet.
  • Not babbling “mamamama/bababa” although he is fairly vocal- plays with volume and pitch, makes vowel sounds and some consonants “mmm” “nnn” and blows raspberries
  • Trouble with sleep. He can now self settle to sleep although wakes fairly frequently (used to be every 30/60 mins although has seen some improvements) and can’t seem to resettle himself again. Mostly co sleep to try and manage this.
  • Will open and close, ring/flap his hands repeatedly when impatient or frustrated.
  • Can roll, although did not do this until 6months. I have never seen him roll front to back to his left? although rolls in all other directions frequently.
  • No waving/clapping/pointing yet (although I think this can come later?)

DS is the light of our lives and I just worry for him. He is so lovely and smiley with myself and my husband and, although previously shy around other people, is thankfully fairly social with other family members now. He loves his food, has done well with weaning. He is super strong in his legs and can stand well, and he sat up fairly early - around 5 months.

Any reassurance would be so great!!
Thanks so much!!

OP posts:
Indecisivelurcher · 12/12/2021 21:44

Hi OP, your ds utterly utterly normal. In the best possible way. What do you expect him to be doing at 8m old?! I say that with kindness. Stop worrying about nothing lovely.

Amammai · 12/12/2021 21:46

Most of that list sounds very normal. Some babies never crawl and go straight to walking. Some don’t speak until a bit later. Lots don’t learn to self settle until they are toddlers or pre-schoolers. If he’s generally happy I would just keep offering lots of play, involve him in normal family like/routines and where possible give him plenty of opportunities to explore the world with you (e.g library, park, baby groups etc)

RedwineforSantaplease · 12/12/2021 21:48

He sounds like a completely normal 8.5mo baby. Do you spend much time with babies of the same age? They generally don't do that much.

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Athomewiththehales89 · 12/12/2021 21:49

My little boy didn’t crawl or babble for a year and was flagged as a concern and at 18 months is now running everywhere and chatting away. Please don’t worry and enjoy your lovely baby, I wish I hadn’t been so caught up with milestones!

Bancha · 12/12/2021 21:51

Honestly sounds totally normal, I wouldn’t worry at all. My DD didn’t crawl really but walked 10 months. She also didn’t crack waving for ages. But she’s not yet two and can string 6-7 words together. They’re all so different, and what you’re describing doesn’t even sound unusual. I hope you get the reassurance you need on this thread. It can be so easy to overthink everything when you’re a mum!

rainbowandglitter · 12/12/2021 21:52

Has someone said something to trigger this? Sounds perfectly normal

Lovemylittlebear · 12/12/2021 21:56

I specialise in working with children with developmental disabilities and nothing that you have said has flagged any concern to me. My fourth child is two weeks younger than yours…not crawling yet and sounds less able motor wise than your son…no mama dada yet but lots of vocal play and raspberries….no clapping or pointing - is maybe on the verge of waving. My others have met milestones differently (other son quick with the motor skills), oldest quickest with the waving and clapping, youngest daughter quickest to toilet train….but all happy, healthy and doing well now you wouldn’t know who was quicker or slower with those early milestones now :)

What I would be more concerned about at this age is lack of smiling, laughing, social referencing (checking in with the parent and reading facial expression eg smiling back), early joint attention …eg looking at the drum whilst you bang and maybe putting hands on drum and early imitation (albeit clumsy), fixating on objects rather than faces - eg not responding to parents noises and sounds and smiles but looking at clock on the wall. Hope this helps a bit. A bit later on you want him to be waving and clapping and then after this pointing… I hope this reassures your a bit x

Badabingbadabum · 12/12/2021 21:56

Normal. Totally, utterly normal. Both my dds did not crawl until they were around 9 months. Walked about 15 months. Their babbling at that age was nothing amazing, neither was their clapping etc. Both now normal, and yes, I am biased, above average.

yikesanotherbooboo · 12/12/2021 21:59

Entirely normal OP.
Where have you got the idea that there might be something to worry about?
The reason DR / HV weren't worried is that this is completely normal development.
I'm so sorry that you are worried.
Enjoy your lovely son and let him develop at his own pace ;which is bono btw.

DuggeeHugPlease · 12/12/2021 22:10

Seems normal - my first didn't crawl until over a year and walked at 18 months. Second is 8 months now and shows zero signs of crawling.
I think I just have babies that don't much feel like moving!
I worried lots with my first but there's not a lot you can do and now it's a complete non issue.

WeRTheOnesWeHaveBeenWaitingFor · 12/12/2021 22:13

My DD didn’t crawl till she was a year and didn’t walk till about 18months and she’s a competitive athlete now. He sounds completely typical.

tillytoodles1 · 12/12/2021 22:15

My son didn't crawl until he was nine months old, then walked when he was sixteen months. My friend had a girl who was walking round the furniture while he just sat there.
He didn't talk until he turned two and I didn't take him for his two year assessment because I though he had something wrong with him and I was scared.
He's in his forties now and is very high up in his job.

TheOpportuneMoment · 12/12/2021 22:16

All of the things on your list sound completely normal for his age!

PurpleBerryDancer · 12/12/2021 22:22

All sounds normal

Magsarth · 12/12/2021 22:39

Thank you all so so so much, I really appreciate you all taking the time to respond to me! I I don’t have too many mum friends to ask and had noticed some of the babies in the classes around the same age were crawling etc so I did a google search which seemed to spiral a bit and I ended up worried! I am an anxious person so realise that I am quick to jump to things/ worry.
I do feel really reassured by all of your lovely messages, thank you so much. I will go back to celebrating the wins now rather than looking into things too much!

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