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May 2014 Moms
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"Low Muscle Tone"

absentmindedwifeabsentmindedwife member
in May 2014 Moms
Well at DS's 4m check up the Dr. said he had low muscle tone. I didn't think much of it until I consulted Dr. Google (bad bad bad idea I know). The Dr. was also concerned that when on his stomach he can't/won't pick up his head. I blame this partially on myself for not doing much tummy time as he has always hated doing it. Now I just try to do it more often and let him protest through it a little bit. It seems like everyone's baby can pick their head up while laying on their bellies. Now I am starting to think there might be something wrong? He has really good head control while sitting up-- which he can do while supported. 

So I guess I am wondering if anyone has any experience with low muscle tone/hypotonia, if that made a difference on their child's development. Or if anyone else has a babe that doesn't/can't lift their head while on their bellies. Thanks ladies I am freaking myself out here
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Re: "Low Muscle Tone"

  • skyrocketsskyrockets member
    My kid is just starting to pick up his head. He still frustrates easily on his belly after a short time. We just keep at it but for shorter amounts of time more frequently through the day.
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  • jenniferroshtojenniferroshto member
    edited October 2014
    My son has it. He has always been slower than other kids at physical developments but not horribly so. He sat alone at 7 months, crawled at 10 months, and walked at 18 months. He does physical therapy, which does help some. The part that stinks is he is older now, almost 9, and wants to play sports and we have let him try all of them but he kinda stinks at all of it because he lacks the strength the other kids have and gets pushed to the side a lot.

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  • bridetobe9132013bridetobe9132013 member
    I am not a doctor but I would say dont freak out about it yet. He is still young. Easier said than done, I know :/ just continue tummy time like you are doing. When DD is not happy on tummy time, I shake a loud toy in front of her and that usually distracts her for another few minutes :)
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  • absentmindedwifeabsentmindedwife member
    Thanks for all of the replies! I try not to worry but as you all know it comes second nature when you are a mommy. @jenniferroshto when was your son diagnosed? How young was he when he started PT?
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  • momo214momo214 member
    To help with tummy time I open some board books around DDs mat for her to look at. When she starts to fuss I tap my nails on the book and it kind of distracts her again. It gets a few extra minutes in. Try not to worry about LO at this point. With some extra work you can see how he improves over the next 2 months.
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  • absentmindedwifeabsentmindedwife member
    edited October 2014
    @kitchencolors all my Dr. said to do was "more tummy time". I have been looking up the early intervention program for Indiana and was debating contacting them.

    The Dr. did a couple of things with him, like hold his hands and pull him up to sitting. He was able to hold his head almost in line with his body, which makes me think that he is really doing okay other than not picking his head up while on his belly. He is still so young too, I was going to really put in a lot of effort with the tummy time the next two months and see how he improves by his 6 month appointment.
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  • Nikkipal82Nikkipal82 member
    I just wanted to say I'm sorry for the anxiety this is causing, and please don't blame yourself. It is clear that you are only trying to do what's best for your LO.

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  • jenniferroshtojenniferroshto member
    He was diagnosed "officially" and started therapy when he was 2. Before that it was always "give it time to see if he grows out of it, he may just be lazy".
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  • absentmindedwifeabsentmindedwife member
    jenniferroshto said:
    He was diagnosed "officially" and started therapy when he was 2. Before that it was always "give it time to see if he grows out of it, he may just be lazy".
    That is funny, my DH and I always say DS is just a lazy baby, we will just wait and see if he grows out of it or not. Thanks for all of the encouragement and support ladies, I feel LOTS better. We will just keep working on it and see how it goes and re-evaluate in month or two then go from there :)
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  • absentmindedwifeabsentmindedwife member
    Kimbus22 said:
    ...

    Both the PT and the pediatrician said the earlier you deal with something like this, the better.  Something very minor at first can become a big deal later when you're talking about basic skills that everything else builds off of later.  Good luck!
    Thank you, this is just what I needed to hear. I went ahead and started the referral process. I shouldn't wait to see if it gets better/worse, when I know he is behind already, and it is probably only going to get worse. If he doesn't qualify at least I will know I checked!!

    A big thanks to all you ladies in this thread! I know I don't post much but idk what I would do without this community. It is pretty much my mommy group.
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  • guerramjguerramj member
    Hi! I'm a pediatric PT :) so glad you asked for asked for a referral for a PT evaluation! A lot of the times some babies just take a little longer to develop strength, but it's important to intervene early like you were advised above. Do not worry. One suggestion is to try to do a lot of floor play- on the tummy, laying on the side, or even just on the back playing actively, minimize the use of bouncers and devices in which children lay passively. Tummy time for 10 minutes a day (cummulative- doesn't have to be 10 min straight) is perfect. Best of luck!!!
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