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View Full Version : Dr. say son is slightly developmental delayed, what can I do to "speed" him up?



jubilee
11-18-2003, 05:03 PM
Logan had to see the doctor today for other reasons, but the doctor also noticed a slight developmental delay: at 7 months old Logan just now is rolling over both directions, is unstable while sitting (flops over easy), no pre-crawling motions, and doesn't babble. Doctor says Logan is developmentally at least a month behind. What can I do to help him advance, or can I do anything? How can I "make" him sit, or talk, or crawl?? I'm sure he'll catch up someday, but would like to think I'm helping him advance and not hindering his development!

mamahill
11-18-2003, 05:16 PM
This isn't help, exactly, but I wanted to say that Ainsleigh rolled over each way once around 5 months and then didn't again until she started crawling at 10 months. She also didn't have pre-crawling motions until right before she crawled. She did start sitting around 6 months, and I think before then we just used the boppy to help support her. I'm not sure what you can do to encourage development, but I wouldn't worry too much just yet. Perhaps he's just surveying the world.

cchavez
11-18-2003, 06:04 PM
DS wasn't doing so great at sitting right before he turned 6 months but then I realized that I was not giving him the opportunity to sit. Once we did more sitting activities......he did great and and can now sit on his own. Instead of putting him in his bouncy to read books I would sit w/ him b/w my legs....we started playing w/ blocks, stacking cups, etc.

As far as babbling, DS will be 7 months next Friday and he vocalizes more than he truly babbles....be sure you respond to his vocalizations and he should continue to make more sounds.

Oh, and DS just started rolling both ways this past Sat. at 6.5 months. His ped said he was doing great at his 6 month check up and his early childhood teacher did a developmental screening on him today and said he was right on target and maybe a little ahead. So your ped might be overly cautious.

hth

etwahl
11-18-2003, 06:56 PM
julie, i don't have advice, but i wanted to share lauren's story. i think she rolled over one week after her 6 months, but only one way... she started rolling from stomach to back just at 7 months...but she hardly ever does it. i mean she does, but she hates tummy time, so i think that's why she doesn't do it. also at 8 months, she sits pretty good, but still falls back sometimes, so i can't just leave her on the floor without some support otherwise she'd fall back (or sometimes sideways) and smuck her head (which has happened a couple times accidentally). anyway, i know this isn't any suggestions, but just wanted to let you know that i don't think it's that uncommon. lauren's ped didn't seem too concerned. in fact, when i mentioned i thought she was "behind" he said he didn't think she was. he just said that since the back to sleep campaign, he sees a lot of this stuff happening later and later.

Edited to say that she isn't even close to crawling. There's not even an inkling of desire, and makes me wonder if she ever will. But really I'm not concerned, because I just know it'll happen someday.

Tammy,
Mom to Lauren Genevieve
03/12/2003
www.evantammy.com

lizajane
11-18-2003, 07:35 PM
i am sorry that your dr has you worried!

schuyler is kinda average, but his friends have been ahead of him on pretty much everything. he did everything early until 4 months, then he slowed waaaaaaay down. he didn't roll until 5 or 6 months and his friends all rolled at 4. now his friends are all crawling or getting up on all fours, and he just "swims" in place.

i, too, realized i wasn't always giving him the opportunity to roll, sit, etc.

some ideas- use the boppy to help him sit. the more he sits supported, the more his sitting muscles will develop. (i am not a dr, so take my ideas with a grain of salt!!) for crawling, lots of tummy time is the only thing i can think of. and putting toys around him so that he will reach for them. and for talking, talk talk talk yourself. keep talking to him. he will imitate your sounds.

please don't worry too much. all babies are different. part of me wishes schuyler would crawl so that i can watch him move and say he crawls. but really, i should be glad that he will stay put! makes my life easier. now that i think of it, he has really just gotten stable while sitting this month- 7th to the 8th month. and doesn't really make any crawling motions, just the swimming. so he isn't too different from your son.

egoldber
11-18-2003, 08:21 PM
If your doctor is at all worried that he is delayed, then I would take Logan now to be evaluated. What did your doctor suggest? Does he want to wait and see him again at 9 months before suggesting an evaluation? Because honestly, if he is delayed, then you don't buy anything by waiting longer and having him assessed will do no harm (to the babies its just playing) and will ease your fears if there is no issue.

Every child in this country is entitled to free developmental screenings under federal law. Tell your ped that you want a referral to "early intervention" and he'll know what you mean. If he balks at that, ask him why. Unless he has a good reason, I would insist. Unfortunately, every state runs the program differently and calls it by different names, so I can't give you a lot of specific info. But asking for "early intervention" should do the trick.

The folks we have worked with at Early Intervention have been WONDERFUL. Everyone has been incredibly kind and helpful. Honestly, you can't "make" him do anything, but if there is an issue, then they will assign an appropriate therapist who will work with you to show you how to best help Logan.

HTH,

twins r fun
11-18-2003, 08:36 PM
I don't have any advice on what you can do to help Logan advance, but wanted to say don't worry too much. The milestones have such a range of achievement that saying a child is a month behind at this age is kind of odd. Plus so much is dependent on personality-if a child is just content to lay there and look around then they might be "behind" on motor skills.

McQ
11-18-2003, 08:37 PM
Declan was sitting up but really wobbly right after 6 months. Now he sits up like a champ but he can not get himself into that position. I think it was a little before six months that he learned to roll from back to tummy but it seemed FOREVER for him to learn tummy to back. And he only rolled left for the longest time. Now he flips all the time in both direction but it did seem to take him awhile.

He has had no interest in crawling until yesterday. To help with his sitting last weekend I bought the LeapFrog Learning table so he could sit and play (I don't have the legs on it). And almost immediately he figured out that he could be closer to the table if he tucked a leg behind him. And yesterday he figured out that from this position he can lunge at things. And while he's still not crawling I swear I can see the evolution to it. He's learning what motions he needs and sees where he wants to go.

Like Beth said, there's no harm in a second opinion so if it makes you feel better, take him to Early Intervention. And keep us posted on his PROGRESS :)

Allison
~ mommy to Declan 3.24.03

starrynight
11-18-2003, 11:40 PM
I wouldn't worry too much. Daria hated sitting up and really wouldn't do it at all until 8 months. And she didn't walk independantly until 15 months but her doc wasn't worried, every kid develops differently. But get Logan evaluated if it will buy you peace of mind, Good luck!

newbelly2002
11-19-2003, 08:59 AM
Obviously, you need to listen to your doctor and as Beth suggested, an evaluation can't hurt anything. But as to the sitting, DS didn't sit on his own until about 10.5 months. He showed no interest at all. Reading teh development books, and looking at friends' babies I was completely rattled. However, when I spoke with a physical development specialist, she said that it is better to wait for the babe to come to sit on his own rather than placing him into a position that he can't get himself out of. I will say that literally one day DS just sat, no tripod, no in-between, he just went from lying to sitting and took off from there. Try not to worry...

Paula
Mama to Dante, 8/1/02

alleyoop
11-19-2003, 12:24 PM
Julie,

Try not to worry! I am sure he is just on his own road! Sounds like you are being a great mom.

This might work for you: Nate was having trouble sitting up and so I took a friend's advice and bought him a rubber ball at target. Just a regular 12-14 inch dodge-ball or kick-ball, I think they are called. To practice sitting, put it between his legs and put his arms on it. Nate went from kind of leaning all over the ball to just using it for stability pretty quick. The texture of our ball helped, too, (somewhat sticky) especially when we practiced with only his diaper on.

Edited to add pic of Nate with his ball.

JacksMommy
11-19-2003, 05:49 PM
Julie,
I'm guessing that if your doctor didn't recommend Early Intervention, then s/he doesn't think it's necessary, although as other posters have mentioned, it can't hurt to ask. My son Jack rolled over once when he was four months and then never did again until he was crawling, and he didn't start to crawl until nearly 10 months! He hardly did any "precrawling" stuff and then just took off one day. He also barely babbled at all. I think he is just more of an observer and takes his time before jumping off into new activities. He still isn't talking (at 17 months) and he was referred him to a speech therapist. She said he was indeed a little delayed but that it could very well be a normal difference between children.

Other posters have had good suggestions for helping him to sit (practice practice). Things you can to do encourage crawling (once he is already sitting are to put things he wants a little further away from him so he will be motivated to try and get it. To encourage speech, mimicking any sounds he makes (like you are having a conversation with him) his helpful.

Good luck and keep us posted!


Laurel
Working Mama to Jack, 6/4/02

mattiew
11-19-2003, 06:54 PM
Check your local library or bookstore for books on baby play and/or activities. We have the Gymboree Baby Play book, it lists activities by age and tells what the activity will focus on (upper body strength, gross motor skills, listening, etc). We didn't use the book alot but it was fun to try some new games.

Good Luck!
Carrie

While seaching amazon to see what else was out there I saw tons of other "fun" books; I'm planning a library trip very soon!