United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

WOW! Is this message board a great resource, or what?!!! I am SO impressed with all of you moms who replied to this post. You all give the best advice. Say it like it is ! I love it. I could not agree more... I think that Kayla hasn't found the right "fit" for a OT yet. The right one should make it fun, even for a baby. Zack was 5 weeks old when we started OT and we have had a few different OT's along the way. Trust you mom instincts and move on... the added stress is so not worth it. Zack combat crawled forever, and walked about 14 months. His sister who had no injuries would have given your therapist a heart attack She didn't roll over until I think she was close to a year, never crawled only scooted, and didn't walk until she was 16 months. Now she never stops. I think Kayla is showing some really good signs w/ her hand to mouth activities and as everyone says you will just be amazed at how smart they are.. to figure out their way of doing things. Best wishes to you and Kayla. ~april, mom to Zack, 5, ROBPI, TT surgery, 9/06.

My son didn't walk till he was 14 1/2 months...he has a Global LOBPI. He pushed himself up to the sitting position for the first time at 10 months...and within a week was scooting Everywhere. He didn't pull himself to standing till 11 months old, and it took him a few weeks to learn to cruise holding furniture. I can't imagine taking things away from him so he would learn to do it "right" ...he did it his way and did learn. He is 2 1/2 now and walks just fine and his balance is great. I would say let your daughter work at her own pace...with Nick I really worked at teaching him how to push himself up to sitting...it was a HUGE milestone for him.
Jo(mom to Nick LOBPI)

Hello,
What stuck me most by your post was that your OT doesn't want your child to pull up using both legs!!! That is just stupid! sorry but man... My son did just that. He NEVER just pulled to standing one leg at a time. He even got comments from his ot, "wow, he just shoots right up there." It didn't hamper his walking at all. In fact it helped. Once he was used to getting up on his own he started "crusing" on the furniture. He just started walking a couple of weeks ago. He's almost 13 months. He had a hard time going from lying to sitting also. His ot worked with him a lot on that. He had to use his stomach muscles to compensate for his arm. She would lie him on a mat that was slightly propped up so that he wouldn't have to go against gravity so much. Once he figured out he could do it, and once he built up his stomach muscles, he was a pro! I think he was around 7 to 8 months old. My son has not had any surgery either and your baby is doing a lot better then he is as far as recovery. My son still has no bicep or ulnar muscles. So no hand to mouth motions and he can't hold anything in his hand, but it doesn't slow him down a bit! He's actually beyond what he should be as far as fine motor skills with his unaffected hand. ie: he wants two toys to hold, so he picks one up and palms it then goes for the next toy. Holds two in one hand. He's stacking blocks 3 high etc. etc. You should talk with your ot or even look into getting a new one if you don't agree with what they are doing. Good luck.
Breonna, Joseph's mama LOBPI
P.S.
Joseph NEVER crawled. He did a scoot. Got the job done.

Hey Ashley

my daughter Cassidy is 16 months and still does not walk...she doesn't even pull herself up into a totally standing postion yet...she is just starting to get movement back from her primary surgery and so she is pretty cautious...but I think if a child is comfortable pulling up..it is kind of silly to discourage it..kids are so adaptable and they find ways to do things in a way that they are comfortable. Cassidy scoots on her bum really well and she is content doing it...we are really encouraging her to walk,cruise and pull up...any way she wants really. I'm kind of starting to wonder if she will ever walk! but everything will happen in due time...hope this helps even a little...
Dawn
mom to Cassidy 16 months ROBPI

Thanks guys...I have decided to let her do whatever she wants to do. I did want to point out that it is her PT not OT that we are having a problem with. I feel that OT is way more important that PT for the simple fact that it is her arm that is behind and her whole body will catch up one day. In the midst of trying to get federal funding to help pay for therapy, I am going to wait to switch therapists and suck it up for a while longer.