PT for help with gross motor skills?

DuckDuckGoose123 · January 2012

Hi ladies! I haven't posted in ages, but I miss all of the encouragement and positive messages on this board. Going back to work (part of the time in the office and part of the time working from home) has kept me away from my Bump addiction...

LO is doing great. We had her 9month appointment last week, and the pedi pronounced her mostly caught up - she's 27.5 inches long (50th %ile), 18lb 15oz (50-70%ile), and is in the 90th percentile for head circumference (hahaha, we say she has a big brain ). She's alert and fun and seems happy, and is eating and sleeping well, and we're just so happy with how she's doing.

The doctor mentioned possibly looking into physical therapy by her one-year checkup if she's still behind with gross motor skills. Right now she sits up (if we put her in a seated position) for long periods of time, and can stand while holding onto something, but she doesn't pull herself up to sitting or standing and she's not crawling. She rolls all over the place so I'm not even sure she's going to crawl, since she gets around pretty fast by rolling. But the doctor thought we should keep an eye on her other gross motor skills, and suggested we get her a bouncer to work her legs (which we did - she likes it but doesn't really bounce herself in it yet, I think she still has to figure it out).

So here's my question: has anyone done physical therapy for gross motor skills for their baby? Were any of the exercises things you could do at home that you could describe? If there are any simple exercises I can do with her at home to help strengthen her muscles, I'd like to do it. She seems quite strong to me, but now that she's getting to be kind of big, I wonder if that will make it harder for her to start pulling herself up etc. I'd truly appreciate any suggestions or info or thoughts/experiences.

Thanks so much!

DuckDuckGoose123 · January 2012

I shoudl add that she was born at 32w4d, I don't think that's in my signature.

sail123 · January 2012

We did and it was the best decision ever. My guys went from very limited mobility at 9 months to crawling, pulling up and cruising by 11 months. They do PT 30 mins twice a week.

My advice would be don't wait. The older she gets, the further behind she will fall because these skills (especially crawling) help build muscles necessary for future milestones (pulling up and walking). Our PT said it is much easier to work with kids under 18 months than kids over 18 months because they are still growing so quickly.

If I were you I would get her evaluated by a PT, either through your state early intervention program or through a private therapist.

If she is the same as my guys, she may benefit from a really simple exercise as a starting point. When she is in a sitting position, offer her little blocks or small toys she can hold in her hands. Hold the toys just out of her reach so that she needs to kind of lean forward (or to the side) to get them. This will help improve her stability and build the muscles that will eventually help her in transitioning from different positions.

sail123 · January 2012

You can also have her sit on a pillow, which will force her to use her stabilizing muscles.

lemen99 · January 2012

Andrew had PT for the first year, and then again from 18m - 3 years (ongoing, he is 3 now.)

Am I correct in thinking that your LO is only 7 months adjusted? In which case, I really think you are worrying a bit too soon.

I am ALL FOR being proactive, but 7 months adjusted isn't very old to be worrying about some of these things IMO.

FWIW Andrew (26-weeker) at at 7 1/2 adjusted with therapy, army crawled at 9 months adjusted with therapy. He did walk late but it turned out to be because he needed orthotics.

Elliott (35-weeker) is 7 months adjusted and he can prop sit and he can sit without holding on very briefly before he slowly falls. He recently figured out how to roll everywhere. He does not get on 4-point, he doesn't stand.

They told us not to use a bouncer (or anything like that) with Andrew. IN therapy they did lots of tummy time, putting him positions that he had to get out of on his own, not running to his rescue when he got "stuck" and let him fuss and figure it out. Lots and lots of tummy time and time in the Bumbo, which he hated.

Elliott does use a jumperoo but I think it hinders development as upper body should develop before legs. There is a reason for a natural progression.

It sounds like Elliott and your LO are in about the same spot, same adjusted age. He is also pretty big for his age too, 18 lb 10 oz, so I think that makes it hard on him...he has a lot of weight to lug around, and his personality is laid back.

Andrew's PT was watching Elliott for me, I know he's on the slower side of average for gross motor but she agreed he was progressing OK and did not need therapy. She said to keep doing tummy time.

If I don't see a lot of progress in sitting in the next month with him, he will be 8 adjusted, then we will consider an EI. I would give your LO a little more time.

DuckDuckGoose123 · January 2012

Thanks for the info, ladies!

Lemen, that makes me feel better. The doc just threw me by talking about PT, I really hadn't thought that she was lagging behind. I mean, she sits really well - she can sit up for an hour or longer just playing with toys, without needing to rest on her hands or anything, so that seems pretty great to me. And lately she can stand for a good five minutes while holding onto something. Sometimes I feel like she can do things but just doesn't think to try yet (like pulling herself up). And I really don't want to put any pressure on her, she seems to be doing so well on her own.

Thanks much

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