Developmental concerns 11.5 month old

sunkissed7804

Morning everyone! I have a gorgeous baby girl who is 11.5 months old.  I am being worry mom today and thought I would reach out for some comments and advice. Thanks in advance!!

We have found out (through my pushing concerns) that she has hip dysplasia. She rolled from her belly to back starting at about 6 months old but had a hard time rolling from her back to front and then all of a sudden just started doing it (YAY!) at about 10.5 months old.  She cannot crawl but does pivot in circles (since about 8 months) to get things.  She loves being on her back and side.  She has been able to support her own weight since quite young and loves to stand.  Recently she started enjoying a good walk around with assistance and encouragement (we give her a little tilt to encourage one foot in front of the other).  Her legs are very turned out though and her ankles roll in.

For communication, she is a HUGE smiler, very happy, and makes sounds to communicate constantly.  Although, she does not make the formal babbling sounds where they string them (i.e. babababa).  She does understand the signs for eat, more (she actually does this sign), cat, and nurse.  She also knows who sissy is (her favorite person) and daddy.

For fine motor, she seems to be up to speed, although, she has not yet mastered the pincher grasp.

Could she just be a few months on the baby side instead of toddler?  Do you think she will catch up?  I get these moments where I worry that something is seriously wrong with her.  I have been told by her pediatrician that she is perfectly normal and just a bit more on the baby side but this is also the same office that didn't see anything wrong with her hips and her not crawling until I pushed them on the subject.

She has an appointment with Shriner's Children's Hospital for an evaluation of her hips.  I am really looking forward to it!  Has anyone else gone through anything similar?  Anyone have a baby that started out "delayed" and then caught up?

Thanks for taking the time to read my post!!

jtmomma13

Have you thought about switching pedis? I can see them not being as concerned with crawling because a lot of babies now don't crawl at all and just go right to walking. But if you aren't trusting your pedi's word then I would start looking for a new one!

I am a little confused though on what your major concerns are. From your post- if I am reading correctly- it seems like she is hitting all of her milestones and is very social. 

sunkissed7804

Thanks for responding   I went off of a developmental checklist a bit ago and she isn't doing several things that it lists.  Such as:

Putting toys into a container and dumping them
Understanding a few commands
Stringing her sounds together
Pointing at things
Waving hello or bye bye
Copying actions or sounds

After her visit to Shriner's, depending on what those doctors say, I may change the Ped office.

jtmomma13

sunkissed7804 said:

Thanks for responding   I went off of a developmental checklist a bit ago and she isn't doing several things that it lists.  Such as:

Putting toys into a container and dumping them
Understanding a few commands
Stringing her sounds together
Pointing at things
Waving hello or bye bye
Copying actions or sounds

After her visit to Shriner's, depending on what those doctors say, I may change the Ped office.

Sorry lack of sleep has me slow today. I personally think at about a year is when I would be more concerned with the things you have listed.

 All babies develop at different speeds and while she isn't pointing at things she is clearly communicating with you and comprehending sign language- which means she is copying actions and understanding commands. But I guess it's in a different way then you would anticipate when you see these things written down. 

Also sometimes when babies are about to do something big like crawl or walk or even say a word- their speech slows down and they aren't babbling as much. So this might be the reason for her not stringing together sounds at this moment. 

So while I don't think you have anything to worry about- if you think there is something going on then follow your gut because momma instinct is usually always on point. You know your child best. And I would be a little more than piffed that they missed the hip issues. 

EmR22

I think first of all you need to have a pedi that you trust and it sounds like you are having doubts. My DD3 was delayed in that her gross motor skills and her verbal/speech was very delayed. She didn't sit until a year, didn't crawl at all until 14 months, would not put weight on her feet (if you tried to get her to stand she would pull up her legs) and didn't walk until just shy of 18 months. For speech she wasn't doing sounds on time and by the time she was a year she could only say very few words. So our pedi sent us to get evaluated by a speech therapist and a physical therapist. She had several sessions with each and they determined that she was just developing at her own rate. They each gave us "exercises" to do at home. By the time she was two she was completed caught up and even surpassed the guidelines for movement and speech.

I think if you had a pedi you trusted and they said development was good I would trust them but in your case I might want to ask for another opinion. If we hadn't intervened I believe DD3 would have caught up when she was ready but I feel better safe than sorry. So if you can get LO evaluated by someone else I would. 

ASmallWonder

I personally don't think you have anything to worry about.  Those list are catch alls and are also based on averages.  You're looking for a pattern with your child, not necessarily hitting every single thing on the list in the exact month.  For example, my son has rolled maybe 6 times - seriously - and he's almost one but his other physical abilities met the check list so he's just not a roller.  He doesn't wave.  My oldest didn't wave until he was well over 1 as well but he uses his hands well otherwise and is very social, kwim?  Kids aren't cookie cutter but if you have concerns about an entire area of your baby's development, that's worth a conversation with your pedi.

=Lee=B

I don't think I'd worry about your 11.5 month old not yet doing the tasks you listed.  It will come soon enough.  I do question if you remember your pedi actively checking your daughters hips at all her appointments?

My daughter's doctor (a family doc not a pedi) always lied my daughter down and rolled her legs/hips around.  I assume this is a normal thing to be done with all infants.  Did your doc do this?  Seems like that would be the way to check for hip dysplasia.  I'd be a tad worried that they missed something that should be easy to look for.  But, I'm not trained in any of this so maybe it is in fact something that can be missed with even a diligent doctor.

PrimRoseMama

elmoali said:

I personally don't think you have anything to worry about.  Those list are catch alls and are also based on averages.  You're looking for a pattern with your child, not necessarily hitting every single thing on the list in the exact month.

Agree. Often babies will be stronger in different areas at different times. The best thing you can do is roll with it.

If you want a second opinion or evaluations then get your referrals. There is no harm in screening & assessing. It's good to catch issues early, but from what you've described I don't see much to be concerned about save for the hip dysplasia.

Some PT for that should help your LO feel more comfortable & allow for a range of movement. The language & communication averages are a huge spectrum from 9 months to 3 years old. Keep talking, reading & interacting.

Hope that helps!

sunkissed7804

Thanks to everyone for their comments and advice!!!   OUr regular ped has been on maternity leave for the past 7 months.  I am going to talk to her about my concerns and also my disappointments in the doctors and nurse practitioners dismissing my concerns about her hips.

I appreciate it! Thanks!