11 Month Old Not Pulling Himself Up

Updated on February 06, 2008
J.R. asks from Shelton, CT
15 answers

I have an 11 month old son. I am concerned about his "gross motor" skills. He doesn't crawl, which doesn't bother me because he scooches on his bottom to get around. My concern, however, is that he can't get himself into a sitting position from lying down. He also doen't pull himself up from sitting to standing without help. The doctor mentioned calling Birth to Three but not unless this continues after he turns 1 year, but I would hate to let it get that far. I need to figure out how to teach him to get up. His "fine motor" skills are excellent and he is great at mimicking, talking, problem solving and everything else that he should be doing at this age.
Any ideas??

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So What Happened?

Hi all. I just want to thank everyone for their responses. It seems that we are all on the same page...call someone. I did call the pediatrician and they gave me a referral and i made the call to Birth to Three. I should be hearing from someone within the next few weeks. In the meantime, I plan on working with him, using the suggestions by everyone and hope things get better on their own!

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S.R.

answers from New York on

you can have him evlauated by the early intervention people.. my son started with First Steps when he was 9 months old so its not realy to early.. and its close to his birthday so by the time they get his evlauations done he'll be a year old.. you dont want to wait too long if you feel that there is a problem because the longer you wait the harder it is for them to catch up with their peers.
best of luck

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J.F.

answers from New York on

Are you giving him a lot of belly time? Can he lift his torso from the floor while on his belly? If not, try lots of belly time, supervised and obviously not while he is asleep. I mean playing on his belly. This is how he should start bringing himself to a sitting position. I wouldn't worry about pulling himself to standing that much yet. I understand he will stand if you put him up? How long would he stand? would he try cruising if you put a desirable object a little out of his reach? Hope this will be helpful. Good luck.

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A.M.

answers from New York on

Hi!!
follow your gut... you know your child better than any doctor. Not sure where u are from but contaact the dept of human services or the dept of special services in your county and at least inquire about early intervention. Or call the nearest major medical center that can do testing for dev. delays.. I know theres Hackensack Univ. Med Ctr and St Josephs in the bergen /paasaic county area...
I highly recomeend Hackensack's institute for child development..
insist that your pediatrician give you a referral.. dont let him put you off... time is of the essence!!
good luck

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E.N.

answers from New York on

My daughter did not start pulling herself up until she was 20 months. She never crawled and would scoot around on her bottom. She was able to get from lying to sitting but she would not go from sitting to standing. At her 18 month check up her pediatrician recommended that we get the Birth to Three program involved and that she be examined by a pediatric neurologist. The neurologist was able to tell us in one visit that it wasn't a neurological issue and that she was just taking her time. The birth to three program sent a physical therapist right to my house. They got my daughter standing and walking in 4 months and it didn't cost me a dime. Talk to your pediatrician at your son's 12 month check up. Birth to three is a great program.

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B.D.

answers from New York on

I agree with many of the responses. Seek an evaluation from a professional if you have concerns. In the meantime, there are many things you can do to "facilitate". Try placing some toys or snacks on a low table. Place your son on his knees and help him reach and hold onto the edge of the table. Then plant one of his feet firmly on the floor and help him pull up. Repeat as often as you can until he "gets it". Some kids who are perfectly healthy just need a little encouragement.

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A.R.

answers from New York on

well kids, man, they are lil people first of all, when he is ready he will. my nephew used to crawl with one leg only it looked so weird to us but it did not affect how he learned to walk. i think sometimes kids want to be different and when they do we get crazy because of all we've heard from docs and other mothers take it easy just love him and let him know hey you are doing ok. and don't foret to pray over him God is love

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K.B.

answers from New York on

Jenn-
Speak w/ your ped and insisit on getting a ref for the dept of health for early intervention (usually at no cost to you) in your area who will then send some evaluaters to your home. My son had physical therapy (at our home) at around 8 months old (low muscle tone due to heart surgery) and with proper help 2-3 times a week for three months he was right where his peers were. Walking by 13 months. Go with your gut with your kids. I've found most of the time we are right! Good luck and let us know how things went!

C.S.

answers from New York on

Hi J.- I'm not really sure about your child's gross motor skills. But, I wanted to share with you my experience with Birth to Three.
My son has a very slight speech delay. Our pediatrician had been pushing us to call B23, but I was hesitant. I didnt want my child labeled as 'special needs' or end up with something on his permanent school record. But at 2 1/2 I decided that he may need a little push from someone outside the family.
It took a few weeks from the time I called them to the time we actually had the evaluators in our home.
So, my recommendation to you would be to call them now. They may not see your son until after his first birthday, anyhow. And if he improves at that time, they will evaluate him, and he may not require any further services.
They were great at giving me little hints. Simple things, that I didnt even think to do. He has improved SO much. Our speech therapist, who is AWESOME by the way, thinks he will not be eligible for further services when he turns 3.
And the way I understand it, his school record will only be marked if we decide to let B23 refer him to preschool. Doing that will give him free preschool, but he will also be considered special ed. We probably arent going to go that route, because I want to avoid anything on his permanent school transcript.
What I love about the program, is everything is up to the parents. We were never pushed one way or another. Everything was our decision to make.
So, I guess what I am trying to say, is to call B23 and start the ball rolling. It is a truly awesome program, and I am so glad that we are involved in it. I wish I would have called sooner.
Good Luck to You!!!!! :)

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K.M.

answers from New York on

Hi J.,

Maybe you've tried this already, but have you tried getting someone (your hubby or other kids-since you're pregnant) to get down and do it? If your son is good at mimicking maybe if you actually lay down and sit up and have your son watch, make it a game, maybe that will help.

I don't know, it's just a thought.
K.

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S.R.

answers from New York on

You should ask the doctor to have a specialist evaluate him, and perhaps engage a physical therapist. My niece was not even rolling at 1, because her stomach muscles did not develop normally (they were there, but weak). They taped an x on her tummy and a physical therapist came to their house and worked with her to get her crawling. It took her till 2 to walk, but she's OK now. There is probably nothing wrong with your son, but in babies, sometimes one motor skill will take the backseat for a while and develop at a slower rate.

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M.C.

answers from New York on

I agree... dont wait because they may catch something later on that could have been helped and dealt with now... a friend of mine had a similar problem and she recently went to a specialist and her son was diagnosed with low muscle tone.. not sure what that is though..
Bottom line is it could be nothing but its better to be safe than sorry..Im sure hes a lil cutie anyway!! =) Good Luck

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G.C.

answers from New York on

J.- Try calling information and ask for the number to the department of health in your county and have them transfer the call to an early intervention specialist. Nip it in the butt while he is still young. He might just need some Occupational theraphy. It never hurts to get these services and they are free.

My daughter was mildly delay due to many ear infections and I was hesistant and once she turned 2 I made the call. A few weeks later she got eveluated and was approved for speech and occupational theraphy, since her delay affected some fine motor. She had early intervention services until she aged out at 3.She progressed nicely while she was there and now that she has tubes in her ear she does better. She was sent to a special school that ages out at age 5.

If it gets that far, they help with all the paperwork and if it becomes to stressful they can also schedule a social worker to help aleviate any stress or to help you understand anything that is being done or taught to your son, give you options to help improve his way of life. They also help you find a therapy group that right for him. None of the help she has gotten this far will go on her perminent record once she turns 5 and gets re-evaluated for kindergarden and if its found that she still needs services at that time, then it would appear on her perminent record. But I was told it might not come to that since she has progressed so nicely since she began preschool.

I hope my information has become useful to you.

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G.D.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hi J.,
Have you read the June issue of Parenting magazine? There is an article about the 10 milestones that are the most important. Number 6 was pulling to standing(9-10 months). My reason for mentioning this was that they give an example of a child who at 1 did not do this and did not crawl. They called in the occupational therapist and decided nothing hindering her ability and the parents needed to entice her like not carrying her everywhere and putting her favorite thing just out of reach so she had to want to pull up for it. By 14 months she started to crawl, 16 months pulled up to stand and 19 1/2 months she could walk. I would suggest calling the therapist just in case, at least it will get things started sooner. Hope everything works out for you!

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V.S.

answers from New York on

Hi J.,

A mom knows best when something is "wrong". Here in NYS there is an Early Intervention Program. They provide developmental services to children free of charge. My daughter had speech therapy from the age of 18 mos till she transitioned into preschool at the age of three. Call your county health department and see if you can schedule an evaluation ASAP. Even if he is not yet eligible for services yet, (maybe that the One to Three program you mentioned?) your health insurance might cover diagnostic services and physical therapy.

Always act on your gut instinct. Mothers know more than they get credit for...

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G.C.

answers from New York on

Hello
from my own experience and from seing other frieds with this similar problem please do not wait for hte stupid Dr excuse my french.
Please find an early intervention program where they can give her treatment for gross motor--which would be called OT-Occupational therapy. It is important that he starts this now specially since boys are always more delayed on everything.
Please don't wait act as soon as possible usually these services are free I do not know where you live but if is in NYC contact the one nearest you. Please he needs to get this as soon as possible.
Sometimes we have to go with what our guts tells us.
If it wasen't for that My son would of never gotten the help he needs which was that and speech and ABA.
I hope this helps you in any way please get help.
good luck
god bless
G.

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