11 month old tucked in thumbs

[justmewithmylifetoday]

Reposted here from SN.

DS2 is 11 months. His thumbs continue to be tucked into his palm or under his fingers at rest. By this I mean he does and can move his thumbs out and will pick objects up etc. When he is not picking something up they are more often than not neatly tucked in. He hasnt got pincer grip yet but can manage to pick up tiny bits of stuff he finds on the carpet. He isn't waving or clapping yet.

I've always had niggles about different things with him. He hasn't had his 10 month HV development check yet, otherwise I was going to ask HV opinion then. Not that I expect the HV to be very helpful..!

Any advice welcomed

Bump for you op. I hope someone can offer some insight x

Thanks @RiceRiceBaby16 :)

@justmewithmylifetoday what’s he like milestone wise?
does he use both sides equally?
My DS kept his thumb tucked in (on one hand only) and was monitored by a physio and paeds/neuro for a while but he just grew out of it.

@ELW85gross motor fine, taken couple of steps. No pincer grip but can manage to pick up tiny things off carpet/food etc. Isn't clapping/waving at all hasn't attempted this. But seems socially aware/laughs/understands us etc.

Uses both sides equally.

Dd was exactly the same.

She had her hands x-rated at about a year/18 months (sorry, I can't remember!) the x rats showed that everything was structurally sound. I was just advised to encourage her to stretch out her hands by putting things at arms length so that she had to reach with open hands to grab them.

It resolved in the end, but if she's relaxed, she still sits with her thumbs tucked in (she's 18!)

@ELW85 that's reassuring to hear it doesn't always mean something. (I've had concerns over CP since he was a newborn so I'm probably paranoid about it by now)

CP did cross my mind. Did you have a traumatic birth?

Maybe it's just comfy for him then. He does have the ability to hold and grab toys with ease. Also finger food pretty easily.

Birth was planned C-section. He was in special care for 2 days for breathing difficulties. He had leg and arm tremors as a newborn which gradually stopped by 6/7 months. Saw neurologist at 10 weeks who spent very short amount of time with us and said DS was fine. No tests done other than him briefly manipulating his limbs.

@Littlefish glad to hear it was all ok for your dd!

My relaxed position is keeping my thumbs tucked under my fingers (hadn’t ever thought about until I read this thread!) I have never had any issues with fine motor skills at all and it has never had any impact on my life!

@justmewithmylifetoday if you’re concerned, I’d see a physio but it is v v u likely to be CP as if DC is using both sides equally, it would mean bilateral CP and there would be far bigger symptoms than the thumbs.
Don’t worry about the social stuff like gestures.

my DS was late with gross motor and it turned out he was hyper mobile, hence more comfy to hold his thumb in. He’s 3 at the end of March and you’d never know. Totally caught up and no issues.

It’s really hard not to worry but I genuinely wouldn’t be concerned.

Sorry for delay in replying. Poorly children (roll on spring!) I just can't shake the feeling there is something with DS. He has been poorly over the weekend with very high temp/viral infection. He has been much more shaky and trembling. This is another thing that worries me and I feel points to CP (mild) I'm hoping it's just because he's been unwell and it settles down.

Anyone with experience of trembling/wobbly babies?

@justmewithmylifetoday DS used to have little shudder attacks but he’s outgrown them.
I completely get the fear of CP, but I wasted a year of DS live with it on my mind for no reason.
Honestly, I’d go to a paed physio privately for quickness and ask them to assess - it’ll put your mind at ease.

My last little fosterling was like that at the same age, it raised concerns about CP with his OT and physio (along with some other markers), he had quite a big developmental delay at that age too he wasn't sitting unsupported and his head control was poor too. By the time he left me at 2 and a half he was walking, running and climbing as well as talking and his delay was around only 3 months in all areas.

Thank you both. I don't want to waste precious baby time with him worrying so maybe a private appt might be the answer. Will need to look into that and see if it's at all affordable for us. Hoping his HV development check will give some reassurance too. He's actually started trying to wave as of Friday so I'm sure the rest will fall into place.

Did this resolve with the ticked thumb? Wondering about DS- around the same age.

@Mamaofboysss Hi! Somewhat resolved yes, DS is now nearly 17 months. He does still favour tucking his thumbs in and does some finger posturing. This may be a red flag and I still have my worries but he has made progress in fine motor and can do a perfect pincer grip. He has a paeds appt next month (for another issue) so I'm sure if there is anything amiss they will reassure me then.

@justmewithmylifetoday How is he now? I’m worried about DD