Is this normal?

[4Jake]

Jake at 4 1/2 months seems to have linked therapy with pain or a bad thing. I posted about his little screaming outburst but he also seems to get a little nervous in the waiting room and then when we hand him over to the therapist he starts to cry before she has done anything. One of us has been present at every session and our wonderful therapist has never done anything more than we do at home, with the exception of when she teaches us new things. Jake is almost always a smiling happy guy. I was just wonering if anyone elses child did this so young.

[Cara]

Rosalynn went through a couple of times were she would start crying before the therapy ever started. (She would see the therapist pull in the drive way and start crying.) One thing that helped was for me to get out of the room. She would cry and try to climb up in my lap. I would go up stairs where I could still here what was going on. After a few minutes she would stop crying and start doing therapy again.

[francine]

kids get sick of therapy! even babies! do you blame them really? they go in and out of times where they will truly enjoy it completely and times when they will just refuse to do anything and get upset.

Sometimes a change can make a world of difference... have the therapist use a different room or area...have her do the session completely different... maybe have some music on - maybe some singing... and if it doesn't shift - maybe it's time for a therapist switch.

gosh - I was so scared to switch therapists the first time - we've done it a few times now - some switches have been good and some really bad. Right now - we have a terriffic group and they believe in 'group' therapy - in other words, you switch out with different therapists so that your child gets to know everyone and nothing gets stagnant - it's a really great idea but Maia is 4 1/2 so maybe this is what's necessary to keep a kid her age happy and involved.

good luck! hope things get better soon,
francine

[stateilx3]

My son went through this too and I too walked out of the room, he would cry for a minute or two and then was fine. I agree with Francine that they get sick of therapy but I also think they need therapy and it is too beneficial for them. My son has had two surgeries and therapy and has gotten GREAT results....try leaving the room, if you can and you will see that they adjust. It makes it easier on you too !

[LisaL]

I would also try leaving the room. Since, Hannah has been going to therapy at 2 months of age. I never have been able to watch the therapy sessions. Our therapist suggested that we not watch. The minute I walk in the room Hannah puts on an act for me. I would try leaving the room. You might see a new baby and then you can relax for a little bit yourself.

Lisa

[4Jake]

Thanks for the info all. Will take all this into account. I just found it a little weird. But it might be a good idea.

[admin]

My daughter reacted exactly the same when we would take her to therapy. I now look back on it & think that it just goes to show that our children pick up on our emotions, I know when it was time for therapy, even though it was positive I was tense & eager to find knew ideas to work at home with. At home we were able to do therapy through play & it could be done in a enviroment that she knew & was comfortable with, in time your child will feel more comfortable & therapy outside of home will become easier for both of you.

[Alice]

My son is 5 1/2 and I still have a problems with him and therapy. I take him 1 x a week (he gets 2x a week @ school)and actually have to catch him (he runs when its his turn) and walk him to the door. He gets board and of course its uncomfortable when she stretches him. Thank goodness my therapist is great and helps me engage him and makes it fun for him. She allows him to pick something fun, so when they are done with the "work" he can have a lil fun. I always thought that it would get easier as he got older, but I was wrong. I guess our kids just get sick and tired of it and want to let us know. Good luck

[TNT1999]

I'd like to post an alternative suggestion. Maybe you could hold him at first while the therapist starts to work with Jake. Then, eventually hand him over when he's okay with the situation. Also, if he gets comfortable for a bit, but then cries again, why not hold him for a couple minutes and then let the therapist work with him again. A very close friend of mine, who is a Mom of 5 children, gave me advice that I will always be thankful for. She said that when Nicole was a baby and cried, that in the beginning, I should always respond to her crying and that it would build up her trust in me that I would be there for her. So, that's what I did. Actually, she's almost 4 yrs old and I still go into her room right away at night if she wakes up crying and it usually only takes a minute or so, if that, to help her relax and go back to sleep. When Nicole was a baby and was in therapy, I would let her come to me briefly until I got her to relax and then I'd give her back to the therapist to work with her. I didn't start leaving the room until she was a little older (and it wasn't due to her acting up). I know of Moms who actually let their baby nurse a bit during a therapy session if that's what it takes to calm them down. Just do what you're comfortable with and if the therapist doesn't like your way of doing things, then you might want to find a different therapist. IMO, they should be very flexible with a baby so young and s/b willing to let the parents have a great deal of input as to how the session will go.

Here's another suggestion. Why not let the therapist do some PROM (and massage too if she does that) on your arm / hand so you can see how it feels. When Nicole went to see a dr. about a year ago, she got very disturbed during the exam. I hadn't ever seen such a look on her face during an exam as I did this time. After the exam was over and the dr. left the room, she told me that his hands were cold. We also learned right after the appt. that she also was coming down with a fever and her BP arm gets very sensitive and very hot, so his hands might not have really been that cold, but it was perhaps the comb. of everything. Who knows, maybe the therapists hands are cold or maybe they're a little dry or rough. The thing is the best way I think to figure it out is to feel it for yourself since your baby is too young to communicate his concerns to you.

I'm also wondering if you have looked into early intervention services. In most areas, they go to your home. One reason for this is that for a baby 0-3 yrs. old, the LRE (least restrictive environment) is usually at home (or day care, etc.). I would definitely try to get EI therapy so that the PT/OT would go to your home and that should really help to reduce Jake's anxiety. If you still want to supplement the EI therapy with therapy at a center, maybe you could at least reduce the frequency of the visits.

I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with suggestions others gave you, just offering another viewpoint. Each family has to find what works best for them. I hope you're able to figure that out soon.

-Tina

[admin]

Mariella went through the same problem for a month or two. As soon as the PT walked into our door she started to cry. I sat down on the couch holding Ella and the therapist would sit on the floor talking to Ella and touching her arm every few seconds. After a few minutes Ella was okay again and the therapist did some exercises with her still sitting on my lap. After about 5-10 minutes of doing that I would put her on the floor near the PT and she was usually fine. I think in some cases its a stage they go through. I know that was Ella's problem. Everyone's advice sounds good. Don't get too nervous about it b/c I don't think it will last.
Krista