Really need some advice re 21 month old non walker being referred... I'm going crazy.

[curiousgeorgie]

She was born right around her due date, was quite a large baby as I had GD (if that makes any difference) but her weight gain was quite slow and now she's a normal weight but quite tall.

She didn't crawl till 14 months, can now pull herself up to furniture and stand holding on for a long time but no walking. She doesn't even walk with toys (walker or pram or anything).

I'm one of 4 and my mum can't remember exactly when I walked, but DH walked at about 14 months.

She has had an x ray and ultrasound of her hips and they seem fine.

She is super flexible, can do the splits, put her legs over her head and uses her feet all the time to open pages of board books etc.

Her motor skills hand wise seem fine (but she is my first child so o huge frame of reference.)

She speaks quite a lot - doggy, cat, duck, cow, there it is, all gone etc and is starting to learn colours and shapes and can count to three. (but often misses out two :) )

The consultant refereed her for 'more tests'. We have to go into the ward next week for blood tests etc.

He's also going to refer her for physio and wants to see her again in a month.

She likes to stand on her toes and this seemed to concern him?

What could be wrong with her? I've googled obviously and things like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy keep coming up.

Can anyone tell me if it sounds like she has either of this or old tell me about them??

I am freaking out. Googling is a minefield and not always the best guide!

Thanks in advance xxxxx

Could that post have more mistakes in it??! Sorry!

It can be hypermobility as well.. Get a referral for neurologist for sure. My ds started walking recently at two and a half, but he is behind with everything else, so classes as global development delay now. Is she ok communicating, understanding and social skills? My ds had seen neurologist, had MRI done, lumbal punction, saw geneticist and had nerve conduction studies done.

Being super flexible, hope drs consider hypermobility - www.hypermobility.org.

Orthotics boots really help standing and learning to cruise, walk. Ask physio, GP etc for referral to orthotics.

Agree with other posters that hypermobility could well Be the problem. My dd1 didn't stand till 2.3 years as her ankle joints were ridiculously flexible (all her joints are hypermobile - able to put her feet on her head when lying on bed with flat back at 23 months!). In dd's case boots weren't enough and she's worn splints since 2.6 years. Walked unaided at 2.10 years. Now at 3.6 years dd is doing really well, although falls a lot. Dd's fine motor skills were age appropriate, but she also has autism.

When a child is learning to walk and they are hypermobile, it is much harder because dc has to use their muscles to help them control the joints to a greater extent than non-hypermobile dc.

I would immediately think of hypermobility and maybe some tone issues but lots of babies walk/stand on their toes initially so this could be a transient thing. Hypermobility can really delay mobility as others have said and she'll just need to strengthen her joints before she can get going through physio/swimming etc. DD has very mild CP but is primarily low toned with hypermobility.

I have 4dc and they have a large range when it comes to walking. DD1 was 13mths, DS1 was 12mths . DS2 (who's hypermobile) was 19mths, he has very bad eyesight too and getting glasses really helped him. He now wears boots all the time and those two things have made a huge difference. DD2 (who's flexible but not hypermobile) was 22mths. She was very late sitting aswell and then just spent alot of time sitting or crawling, no interest in walking. One day she was standing on the other side of the room and I called her name, she just let go and walked all the way accross the room! No faultering steps, straight to full on walking! She is now 2.10 and doing great.

Our Consultant was very calming and wouldn't do extensive tests till after 2yo, by which time they didn't need it. It's really hard not to worry, but alot of children just like to take their time.

Thanks everyone. I'll talk to the doctor when we go on Tuesday.

My daughter also has hypermobility and hypertonia (low tone) and was a late walker, about 22 months. Her speach was excellent and just crawled everywhere.

Neither of mine walked before 22months, dd1 was 25 months!
Dd1 has tight tendons and dd2 has hypermobilty