6month old seems behind developmentally?

[PfizerFan]

I'm extremely worried about my daughter. She will be six months old next week and can't roll from back to front (can the other way) and can't sit unassisted for more than a few seconds without falling. Is this normal? It seems everybody else in my NCT course have babies who are rolling everywhere and already sitting
The health visitor is refusing to visit (got a six week check up and after that nothing until a year!) and the GP isn't interested. I have had to stop going to baby classes as they make me too anxious.

Am I right to be concerned?

Please don't worry my 6 month old has only just started rolling and can't sit unassisted. My first was very quick with milestones but my second (and last) is staying a baby for longer which is fine by me! It's very normal but contact your health visitor if you are concerned.

Thanks... Health visitor isn't interested and is refusing to visit...but how can she know everything is fine without looking at her?

Perfectly normal! I'm a childminder and have looked after dozens of babies. She'll do it in her own time.

There is a picture of me at six months, and my Dad apparently had his hand on the back of me, hidden by the photographer, as I couldn’t sit up unsupported.
I didn’t have any developmental problems. I have known quite a few babies only start sitting up between six and seven months.
Nothing you have said sounds concerning OP.

Please don’t worry and try not to compare (I know that’s hard!!). Mine started rolling at about 6.5 month. Army crawled at 8months. Didn’t properly crawl until 9.5months. I was really worried and even asked my HV for an extra visit because everyone else we knew had babies much more advanced at that age. She had no concerns at all. But then DS walked at 10months and was the first of the babies we knew his age to talk 🤷🏻‍♀️He was running and chatting away when most were stringing 2/3 words together.

They all develop differently 😊

@PfizerFan that's really bad that they won't visit!

Please don’t worry at all. The range of “normal” for babies this young is massive. I clearly remember my daughter didn’t roll at all until around six months, and didn’t sit until 7-8 months. She didn’t plant her feet on the floor to stand until after her first birthday. She’s now at grammar school so she turned out alright 😅

Your HV doesn’t want to visit because her workload is massive and your concerns are unwarranted, I promise. You don’t need to see the GP either. Assuming this is the only thing you’re concerned about developmentally?

I never did NCT for a bunch of reasons I won’t go into, but one thing that bothers me when I speak to people who did, is how much toxic one-upmanship goes on. No good can come of it.

Please let it wash over you. Your baby is on her own developmental path and will do things in her own time.

The HV is refusing to visit because not rolling at that age isn't developmentally anormal.

Thanks all... Will see what happens over the next few weeks.

I know the HV can't come visit every neurotic parent but is it normal everywhere to get one visit at six weeks and the next isn't until 12 months old? Urgh that's a long wait! :(

Yes it is normal, unless you (or a third party) flag something with them that concerns them. Also the 1yr check doesn't have to be done when they're 12 months, their is a window of time, I can't remember it off the top of my head but I think it goes up to a few months later. Just so you don't worry if you haven't heard from them when baby is dot on 12 months.

Thanks..well if she still can't sit and roll in a few weeks I'll be giving the health visitor another call. It really feels since 4 months her development has slowed down so much, I really hope there's nothing wrong :(

I wouldnt worry just yet there is still plenty of time. My two are nearly 6 months and aren't even rolling yet ( they try but cant quite manage to get over) they are also unable to sit up unassisted. We just do a lot of play time on the mat and tummy time also. Im trying not to worry just yet. Same here in the Midlands for HV not coming out again until 12months. It does seem like a long time

But if she still can’t sit and roll in a few weeks that still wouldn’t be a cause for concern.

Maybe mute the NCT group because it’s clearly affected your mental health. If you didn’t have all these people taking about their six month olds rolling and sitting, would you even give your own baby’s development a second thought right now?

Mine was slow to sit, crawl, walk and speak.

He started school in September as a summer born 4 year old boy and is doing brilliantly! (Better than would often be expected from summer born boys)

Never hurts to seek a professional opinion but I wouldn't be too worried at this point!

True... Dreading everybody sharing their weaning stories now too. More things to panic over...

The change from 6 to 7.5 months is massive. We went from rolling back to front only at 6 months to sitting confidently, rolling both ways and now on hands and knees rocking as if he's going to crawl by 7.5 months. I can no longer put him down and expect him to stay put because he's sliding backwards all around the room and somehow managing to get over bumpers I put in place. My friend's baby actually skipped rolling and went to sitting first. Every baby is different but with lots of floor play time he'll do it all before you know it!

Try not to worry. My son is nearly 20 months and not walking. They do it when they're ready

He wasn't sitting up at 6 months.

One nephew walked at 11 months. The other (brothers) didn't get up off his bum until 20 months. They're both normal. These things are on a spectrum.

None of my 4 kids could sit up unassisted at 6 months, not were they rolling around. It was more like 9 months. Your baby is well within the realms of normal development.

My DS wasn't sitting at 6 months, he can do it at 8 months but not for long! They're all different.

Does your HV have a weighing clinic you could go to? I've found I can ask quick questions there. I have to say that my HV team are very good though.

Does you HV run a drop-in clinic that you could visit? Some offer this as a place to ask questions etc.

No HV is doing a home visit for a 6 month old baby that isn't sitting yet. Just like they won't do a home visit for a one year old who can't read or a three year old who can't drive...

If your baby can sit for a few seconds then they're already on their way, just need time to increase those few seconds to a minute and on.

It might be worth talking to your GP about your anxiety though, they'll probably be more concerned about that.

Your baby is perfectly normal try not to worry xx My (now) 16 month old didn't sit unsupported until 7 months (& would often topple over to the side for about another month so not sure whether that really counts as sitting unsupported I couldn't leave him to it). I don't think he fully rolled until then either and didn't start crawling until I think 8 months he was later than his peers crawling but now seems fine. My understanding was that 6 months was when you'd generally expect them to be starting to be able to sit, not that they'd have mastered it by then. Your daughter will get there in her own time when she's ready x

My son is about to turn 6 months old and sounds similar. He can roll from front to back pretty easily. He has rolled from back to front a few times but finds it difficult as his arm keeps getting in the way. He can’t sit unaided but I didn’t think they were supposed to until around 9 months? Obviously every baby is different but your daughter doesn’t sound too behind to me. I wouldn’t worry for the moment. Just keep an eye on her and if she’s not meeting expected milestones in a few more months try the health visitor or GP again.

My two hated rolling. Dd did it once by accident. DS never.

They also hated tummy time.

They crawled at 11 mths and walked at 14 mths. One of the latest in our group.

They were instead verbal and musical children. Talked earlier than most, reading earlier and most and could hold a tune beautifully much sooner than most.

Still holds true today - top sets for English history and music - bottom set for PE.

Though to be fair to ds he does try at his football which he loves even though he's the worst player in the team.

I wouldn't worry too much at 6 mths old.