Possible Developmental Delay in 4.5 Month Old Twin

T.-

I am an occupational therapist who works with children in the early intervention program. i would agree with the previous postings that you should seek out a PT evaluation. I would also be careful about using the exercuaser or jumper at such an early age. It actually case more damage to the muscle and joint alignment and the strength that you are looking to gain in the legs will not come from those activities.

L.

Hi!

I also have twins (boy/girl). My kids are now 15 months. My daughter just started to walk and my son has been walking for 3 months. It is hard not to wonder if something is wrong when one child is doing something and the other is not even attempting to do it. Especially when you have twins who did not go full term.

I also, like many others, was told by my doctor that exercausers delay sitting and walking for babies. So you might want to get a second opinion about that.

M.

A friend of mine was concerned that my son was delayed so I checked this out. However, many other parents have told me that boys tend to develop slower than girls. This may or may not be true, but it doesn't hurt to get evaluated. It is a wonderful program. My son was evaluated and received speech, occupational, & developmental therapy. He has quickly "caught up" either coincedentally or as a result of this care. Who knows and who cares how or why. He's doing quite well and is such a smart little boy!

Part C Early Intervention (E.I.) refers to the statewide system which finds and helps eligible children. Developmental screenings and evaluations are arranged for children under 36 months at no cost to families. 16 services area available as needed to families of eligible children in the State of Illinois. These services include:
- Assistive technology and devices
- Audiology
- Developmental therapy
- Family training, counseling and home visits
- Health consultation
- Medical services (diagnostic/evaluation purposes only)
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Psychological and other counseling services
- Service coordination
- Social work and other counseling services
- Speech/language therapy
- Transportation to services
- Vision services
For more information, please contact CFC at 800/585-1953 or 847/385-5070.

Look up Early Intervention on the net. My son's care was coordinated out of Clearbrook and Child & Family Connections #6 (I think).
Here's a link- http://www.clearbrook.org/services/children/connections.html

Hi there,

I felt like I had the same problem with my second son. (He's 9-months old now.) He was reluctant to bear any kind of weight on his legs. I put him in the jumper and jumped him so that he could get the hang of it. Now he absolutely loves the jumper. He rode in the exersaucer too, but enjoys the jumper better. He now loves to stand and can't wait to walk.

However now, he never sits and will lay in a plank position so that you can't get him to sit. The boy just wants to stand! The current problem we're experiencing is not with bearing weight on his legs, it's with the strength in his torso. He doesn't want to sit and really won't stay in a sitting position for long at all. He immediately rolls over to crawl and before he just pushed back so that he would be laying down again.

I'm telling you this b/c I went through the same thing. My pedicatrician is not concerned about the torso strength, but is definitely going to follow up on it at the 1-year. I don't know if these are related, I'm guessing that they are. I would follow your pediatrician's recommendations and try getting him to stand on your legs. (This also strengthens the torso.) If you haven't already, I'd use a bumpo chair to help him with sitting. I say that only b/c maybe the leg strength and the torso strength are related. It was for us.

Good luck and don't worry. Just remember it's not like your son isn't ever going to stand. He's just got his own timetable.

Hi T.:

I'm a speech pathologist who has been working in early intervention for 20 years. Some children develop differently or more slowly than others, however, the beauty of early intervention is that we evaluate infants to 3 year olds to make sure they're developing ok, and if there are concerns, our team of therapists will give you ideas of how to work with him. I would suggest you contact early intervention and ask for a physical therapy evaluation. If you tell me where you live, I can recommend some good people. I would suggest you have a professional take a look. I would not wait until 6 months. Also, the evaluation is free.

J. R.

Hi T.! Well, you know, I have had 2 children with developemental delays and they both had PT. My son who is 3 is still in it. We did not start with my daughter till she was almost 1. This is my 8 year old Lauren. With Erik, we noticed by the time he was about 4 mths old that he was not doing what he should be doing. But, we decided to not have him go to be evaluated for PT till he was 9 mths. It is funny how everyone has their own opinions, because I was alwys told by the PT, that exersaucers and walkers are the worse thing for developement for kids that may have a delay. I think if I were you, I would wait a couple more months and see what happens. The fact that they were preemies too does play into this. And I do believe that the fact that he is a boy and the girl is doing more does too. Boys do mature slower then girls and with my two, Erik was farther behind then Lauren was at his age. I hope this helps. I have been through this 2 times so I am here if you need me.

S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

T.,

I have a 7 month old girl that was born 2 months early (she was delivered early because she was extremely sick in the womb). Anyway, she was in the NICU at Prentice for 2 weeks and then moved to Children's Memorial for another 2 months. We've been seeing a physical therapist for a couple of months as they thought her abdominal muscles were a little weak and she has a head tilt. Children's Memorial has a very good PT practice in Westchester and has fairly flexible hours. I'm not sure what your insurance pays for, but ours is just a $15 co-pay for each PT visit. These are professionals that know exactly what your child should be doing physically and will give you the proper excercises to do with him. HTH.

J.

Hi T.,
I haven't taken the time to read your other responses so I appologize if this is repetative. My son was born at 28 weeks so we have definately beenthrough the developmental clinics and recommendations. It doesn't sounds like there is too much cause for concern. Keep in mind that every child develops differently so even comparing your twins and expecting them to be at the same place isn't fair. And not being able to bear much weight at 3.5 months isn't too abnormal. If you feel you need to be pro-active I would try doing some "baby yoga" with him, or simple leg exercises bicycling, etc... forcing him to "stand" in an exersaucer doesn't seem like the best option to me. Also have you seen a physical therapist? I'm not sure where you live but we're in Valpo and I know the First Steps program will evaluate any child under 3. It is totally free and they come to your home. I hope this helps and that your little one's continue to do well!
A.

We have a friend whose daughter was like this ... didn't want to walk or bear much weight until she was only 1 year old. But she grew out of it and is walking just fine now... she just took her time at doing it.

I wouldn't worry yet.... I bet he's just enjoying being a baby! :-)

Warmly-
A.
http://www.funontheark.com

Hi T.,
I have 2 daughters both born premature and both had and have a small delay in development. You should keep in mind that premature babies are usually delayed a little in one area or another. I have been told by my Doctors to go by there due date vs. actual birth date. They will catch up by the time they are 2 to those born full-term. For example, my daughter now 2.8 years old was delayed in speech....now not only will she talk your ear off, she is more advanced than most children her age (I didn't get therapy for her). My four month old refuses tummy time so technically she is delayed in turning over and propping herself up on her arm. Do worry and just enjoy ever minute with them....they grow so fast!!

I would say relax!!!! They are 4 months old and every child develops differently. My son was "lazy" he didn't want to do anything but army crawl, he never crawled and then at 10 months he just up and walked and hasn't sat down since.
Keep an eye on him and put him in a saucer or a jumper that will not hurt him.
Good luck with everything because the minute they both start moving it's over.

Hi there-

My best friend had twin girls about a month early and experienced the same thing- one twin was more advanced than the other but both were developing much slower than other kids their age. In fact, they just turned one and have just recently started crawling. The docs were a little concerned but told my friend to rest assured, this is all very normal for twins. If you are too concerned, I would seek a second-opinion from another doctor. I am guessing that he will tell you to just give them time. :)

Good luck!

Hi T.,
Oh my gosh, I think your doctor is alittle off base here. Babies develop at different rates. Some want to crawl/stand/walk very early in their life. Others are quite content with just lying around. At this age, they probably can barely sit up on their own, let alone roll-over. Your babies were born a little early, so they probably won't develop at the same rate as full term babies - their a month behind (at the very least). Acknowledge their differences in developement - they are two different children - they'll never do the same things at the same time. My children are now 16 an 12, but when they were babies, my older one, didn't stand until he was 8 or 9 months, my younger one was walking around furniture at 5 months - different kids - different development. Some babies never crawl, they go straight to walking, some crawl/skooch until they're one. Putting your baby in an exercauser will be fine, but relax - he'll get there! If he was 9 or 10 months and showed no interest, then I'd worry. But right now, relax and enjoy him.
Congratulations!
C.

By the way, I am a mother just like you. I own developmental toy business. I have no "degree"in the medical field, but because of information from the company I am involved in, I have gained lots of knowledge and experience in child devolopment.

Hi T.,
My son did this at 4 months too, but my son was ok with everything else as well.... My son when he was born was 10lbs 5oz and 19in long and because he was so puggy in his legs he had problems bearing his weight so at that age we bought him a jumperoo that was stationary and had 4 levels to it so we could change it everytime he got taller and it worked..... The puggy legs got stronger and he was able to bear weight on them...... Then we had to work on the walking thing and we bribed him with something that he wanted and it worked too..... Other then that nothing else has been wrong with him...... Hope this helps some.....
V. K.

I would have to agree with a response you received from Jennifer. It doesn't sound like there are any concers at this time, but an evaluation doesn't hurt. When you go through the state program evaluations are at no cost to the families. I currently work as a pediatric physical therapist that does home evals. It is a great program As for the exersaucers/jumperoos try to limit the total time that your child will spend in them. While many parents think they are great and kids love them, from a developmental stand point they are not the best. At this age it is best for a child to be on the floor practicing their gross motor skills. Spending too much time in a jumperoo may actually delay some skills. Then when they are placed in standing they will want to bouce a lot. Good luck, it looked like you were getting alot of different suggestions.

Please RELAX. That is so unusual to have a child so young to bear weight on the legs at four months. Boys grown or mature slower than boys. My first son, was like your first. My second son didn't want to walk, just cawl until 12 months. He isn't delayed in any respect. So, just relax, please. Have a good day and enjoy your kids!

Relax! :-) They're only 4 months! They typically bear weight, but standing is unusual this early. If the doctor doesn't think there is a problem...

I know it is important to trust your mother's instincts, but you don't want to be paranoid or look for trouble around every corner either. Boys DO tend to develop slower than girls, and they were preemies...! My kids were late walkers (and crawlers, standers , sitters...'bout the only thing they did early was get their teeth!) and now they're running, jumping and on and on...

Each child is different, so even though they're twins, they will not do everything the same at the same pace, especially since they are different genders. Take a deep breath :-) and enjoy their "baby-ness". It is fleeting and they will be toddlers before you can finish that deep breath!!!

Hi T.,

I agree with the other responses. I was told by doctors at Loyola that girl preemie develope quicker that boys do. I was give that information due to my daughter that was a preemie. Remember all children are different and develope at different rates in life. You could just keep working with him to stand. He will do things at his own pace.

If you feel you need a second opinion go get one it never hurts.

Good luck!
K. :0)