DS not meeting physical milestones - is something wrong?

[zen1]

I don't know whether this is the right place to post or not, but I thought at least I might get the benefit of other people's experiences / advice.

My ds is 11 months old and is still not really able to sit. He will sit momentarily (sometimes for up to 2 minutes) if really focused playing with a toy in front of him, but most of the time after a few seconds he falls backwards. He has a very large, heavy head which seems to pull him back. He hates being on his stomach and rolls over if I try to give him tummy time. Basically, he just likes being on his back. He moves around on his back by using his legs to propel him.

I am very reluctant to seek health professionals' opinions because...I don't know really. I feel there's nothing wrong with him in any other area. He seems bright and happy, understands a lot, can clap, wave etc. What do you think? He is 2 months outside the "norm" so I am getting a bit concerned. Thanks

It was very different for us, Zen. DS suffered massive brain damage after severe hypoglycaemia at a few days old. He wasn't expected to survive it - so we've always known there would be problems ahead for him, and we have done all we can to make sure we maximise his potential. We sort of couldn't relax thinking he'd get there in the end, coz we knew he wouldn't. He has no instinct to do things, he has to be taught everything, and he is doing very well at it. That's why professional input has been vital for us, and I've seen the difference it can make.

He has severe epilepsy (lennox gastaut syndrome) and very little vision, but is a wonderful happy child and is a stubborn little mule. He will do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, and that's fine by us!

You know your DS best, trust your instinct - but help/referral etc. doesn't have to mean a label/diagnosis for him - just a gentle shove in the right direction

so sorry to read what happened to your ds after birth feelingbetter, but it sounds like he's doing fantastically with professional input (and it's amazing what a little bit of stubborness will do too )

Dh's auntie has just been round and she thinks in his case it's just familial gross motor slowness, and she doesn't see any cause for concern and wouldn't have referred him as he can weight bear and in her opinion can sit.

Ironically, since I first posted I have been spending a lot of time putting ds in sitting position (as other posters recommended) and pulling him straight back up when he falls backwards and he has really come on in the last couple of days. He can now sit for 10 minutes and can reach for toys without falling sideways.

DS1 was slow to sit, crawl and walk - he used to slouch back in his buggy and sit in a swing just as you describe. He has just (at 8) been diagnosed with dyspraxia though it now affects his fine motor skills more than his gross. It's his shoulder and trunk stability which are most affected. I think anything you can do at this stage to help him develop core stability will be good - and certainly won't do any harm even if there's nothing to worry about.

That is interesting sphil, as dh's brother has dyspraxia (dh has dyslexia), so maybe it is something to look out for as I believe it runs in families. I will keep working with ds3 to practice his motor skills.

I do think that there's huge amount you can do to remedy dyspraxia, if it is that - constant repetition, OT exercises, breaking skills down, activities like martial arts, trampolining, playing an instrument etc,

Though obviously not all these at 11 months

My daughter has hypotonia and never sat unaided until after around 13 months, she learned to walk around 28months.
Hypotonia is just a low muscle tone which makes things more difficult for her to do. As other posters have said it is just constantly making the child stand/sit etc that strengthens all the muscles.
If you do still feel worried i would personally seek an opinion from outside your family.. All family members have a tendancy to think there is nothing wrong with a child in their family and go on and on about how so and so and so and so never walked/sat/crawled until whatever age!! If you still have a gut feeling that something isn't quite right i would definately suggest asking another professional!

Hey hi my son sounds same at 6 months and head lag also when made to sit he slides down and goes around house in his bum moving back pls help does he sound like he had cp