Actual delay vs. late bloomer

Stillharbor

My DD has DS. From the start, we were told that we wouldn't know her mental capacity until she was able to interact with us. A 10 months, she is only 12.8 lbs. but she is constantly moving. She started rolling at 10 weeks and hasn't stopped since. My question is when were you able to tell that your LO's delays (if any) were because of the DS and not just because they were a late bloomer. My family has a history of small babies/children that hit puberty and suddenly explode in growth. Maybe I am expecting too much of her. She rolls, sits unsupported, can push up to stand with support, occasionally babbles, understands some words like "play" and "dirty diaper". However, she can't crawl or even get up on hands and knees without help, can't get to a sitting position without help, doesn't attempt to hold her bottle. Also, even though she babbles, most of the time it's growls, ma-ma, da-da, na-na with no connection to their meaning. With all she CAN do, I'm a little worried about what she can't. But is it because she is physically incapable or does she just need more time to grow. Any thoughts? I want to challenge her but I don't want to push her beyond her abilities.

Princess_Lily

What is the pedi saying about your DD?  Is he/she concerned of the milestones not being reached yet?  

funchicken

There are several other moms on the board whose LOs have Ds. You could edit your title to include that and maybe you'd get more feedback from them.

Stillharbor

I've contacted early steps and she does work with a PT once a week that says she's doing great. And i have seen improvements. I've looked at the NDSS scale for milestones vs. regular development. While physically I'm only really concerned with anything arm or hand related, she doesn't hold a bottle and can barely pick up one of the tube like Puffs. Her speech is what I'm most concerned about. Ma, na, da is the extent of her vocabulary without any sign of change when she does speak, which isn't often. I'm wondering if I should be getting a speech therapist involved or does that come later?