Walking???

[kksmommy]

We are almost to being past the "normal crawling" stage and she still isn't really mobile. She scoots a little and is starting to try to bend forward to get in the hands and knees position bust has yet to be successful. Also she can't get to the sitting position yet but can sit forever. Recently she started to be able to occasionally get her hand to her mouth and will sometimes use her affected arm first. She can pick things up but can't hold them very long. I was wondering if this sounds normal for non-surgical (so far) recovery and when did your kids start pulling up and walking? Was it delayed very much? Her PT says she wants us to take everything she can pull up on away because when she tries to she wants to do it with both feet. So far I have not seen eye to eye with her on most of her developmental milestones. Her rational was that if she doesn't learn to do it with one foot at a time she is never gonna walk because it takes one at a time to walk. Ok this is a long one...sorry. Let me know if you need anymore info.
Thanks,
Ashley, Kaylas Mom, 8 mos ROBPI

[AngieD]

How old is you daughter? I don't understand why you would take things away from her. That doesn't make since to me. Our children learn to do things different then other children. Kayla is now 11 and can do a lot but she has to do it her way. She never crawled only scooted on her bottom to get where she wanted, she walked when she was 14 months which is a little late but she had surgery and some other health problems by then.

I don't think it really matters if your child has had surgery or not they need to learn how to do things on there own. That means they will do it there way which may not be the correct way but it is how they need to do it to accomplish it. I hope this doesn't sound to rude. I am sure your child will be up and running before you know it.

Angie

[brandonsmom]

Hello,
Brandon is 9 now, so I as picking my brain a little, trying to think.
He was 15 1/2 months when he walked they said he wouldn't even walk then, because he was post mod quad and because of the weight of the cast, he would be delayed. He walked okay, ran two weeks after surgery and hasn't stopped. (HIS SIBLUNGS COULDN't pcik him up the cast was to heavy so he decided to keep up with them, he had to walk. LOL)

I wouldn't take anything away from my child, my child never properly crawled, he crawled army style for the longest time. Children, especially children with OBPI so things at their own pace. I remember taking him to therapy at four months old, I Was so excited he was sitting al by himself, couldn't get there himself yet, but when you wnet to lay him down he would arch his back and force you to let him sit. The therpist had a fit, no don't let him sit by himself yet that is bad, etc etc. Well I never listened. My child was comfortable siting and that is what \I wanted comfort for my child. Did I put a pillow and blanket around him just in case, sure, but I wasnt going to make him miserable alying down when he wanted to sit up.
Short story, do what you feel is best and if you are having problems with a therpist, think about changing, as in every profession there are goo and bad !!! GAYLE

[Tanya in NY]

8 months and your OT is pushing for her to start walking? Slow it down for goodness sake in my opinion for this reason...once they start walking, they don't go back to crawling with weight bearing! Amber crawled for about 1 1/2 weeks and then took off running, even though we worked, and worked, and worked on crawling for the longest time. Then it seemed like we worked and worked some more to convince her to go back to the ground after she started walking.

Each child does develop at a different rate, and your therapist must know this. What is normal for one child is not the same for another and comparisons are not truly fair. There is a wide range of when it is average for a child to start to roll over, sit up, crawl, pull-up, walk, etc. Anything in this wide span of months is okay. Ask when that time span in. It's okay to work on these items, but I wouldn't push for the walking for the reason I stated above.

And get those toys nearby, but just out of reach. Encourages reaching, stretching, and thinking skills in your little one. Don't take them away as you will just discourage your child. Get a book (or ask to borrow your therapist's book) on child development for some tips on what is expected for a child at 8 months and then you can have a guideline to go by.

Good luck.

Tanya in NY
Amber's Mom, ROBPI, 4 1/2 years old

[claudia]

Says WHO is eight months past the "normal crawling" stage??? Geez, even my non-bpi kids didn't walk until a year. Juliana was maybe 13 months, but she is the youngest of 4, so there was a lot of impetus to catch up the big kids. When she started to walk, she had almost NO function in her affected arm. If we had taken away the couch, she would still be scooting!

And Tanya is right, once they walk, you have to convince them that crawling is a game. Juliana didn't learn to do that until she was past 3.

Take your time. Most kids will scoot quickly before they walk. and they have to have the coordination to get themselves to sitting before they have the coordination to walk. My oldest child didn't walk until 15 months. Big deal.

Just enjoy this time. Once they take off.... they are off!

And, maybe it is time for a new therapist.

good luck,
claudia

[katep]

8 months and proposing taking away things to pull up on?!? What kind of nut is this therapist? That's ridiculous even for a normally developing child. The arm delay may or may not mean she's delayed in walking. Some kids apparently don't care; my son had to have his arm positioned "right" by surgery before he would walk on his own.

I can't get over this therapist. Has she never heard of "cruising the furniture"? It's just bizarre...

Kate

[Jake'smom]

My son has a mild injury and so I believe he learned to crawl at a normal age. He was 7 1/2 months old when he started crawling. MY friend's child who has no injuries didn't crawl until 10 months and my cousin's child crawled at 5 months. I think it's just individual. I really wouldn't stress too much at this point about the fact that she hasn't crawled yet. This milestone has a huge age range. As far as your child NEVER learning to walk b/c she pulls up on two feet sounds crazy to me! Coordinating both sides of the body to work simultaneously is tough! Give the kid a break, she's 8 months old. I know it's hard not to worry about your child's development, especially for us because of what's happened to them, but it sounds to me like she still has plenty of time!

[kksmommy]

Ok...sorry it has taken me so long to respond but I am working graveyard and have been SO busy. I agree with all the responses with the wide range of variability in reaching milestones. I really am not looking forward to her walking, just wondering IF there were delays. I am a bit perturbed with the therapist at this point and we haven't gotten along the whole time. The ONLY reason we haven't switched is because Kayla finally bonded with her and will actually let her handle her now. I figured that this is better than the 30 minute screaming sessions we used to have. But at this point, with her telling us to take away everything she can pull up on I have had it. All kids do things differently. Who cares if she doesn't walk til she's 18 mos? I don't. She will eventually walk. Not to mention she uses her affected arm in conjunction with unaffected to pull up!! Isn't that strengthening something? I am glad you guys had the reaction you did because it has been mine since day 1. She also asks my baby (8 mos old) if she will "get on board" as if she really understands. Its so frustrating.

[Amy Clark]

My daughter never crawled and didn't walk until she was almost 17 months old. Your therapist sounds like a nut. I would immediately find a new one.

[MWhitted]

My son (who is 9 months)crawls army style for the last 2 1/2 months, can put himself in sitting position and let me tell you wishes he could walk. He has the funniest habit of instead of pulling himself up on something he gets on one knee and leaps to stand up, which means he lands on the ground. He thinks its hilarious and his OT each time is always encouraging and surprised as we are with all of his developments. I know that you said your baby just started to let her handle her but maybe you should get a therapist that will support your child and you.

Good luck.

Maria
Amaru's mom 9 month ROBPI