Re: Bum Shufflers..late movers.

[Guest guest]

Ou purleeze! Tell her about my Avigayil (DD 3) now 27, who didn't

walk till she was *two and a quarter* years old. She would sit on the

floor and give us orders. She went to *playgroup* not walking yet.

(admittedly it was a private one between us mums). At that stage (20

months-2 yrs ish) she was crawling, if you can call it that, she

walked upright on her knees only, no hands. Imagine how that went

through the dungarees! She stood up for the first time holding on, at

21 months. Yes we were referred to a paed who panicked me into

thinking she had celebral palsy, and sent me to the Spastic Centre

(delightfully named!) in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, where they did all

kinds of intelligence tests on her (aged about 22 months and I was

heavily pregnant and had to lug her everywhere). The tests showed she

was very intelligent and absolutely normal. They sent a

physiotherapist round to our place to " force her to walk in case her

legs get weak through lack of use " , she took one look at the woman and

howled inconsolably, so we got rid of her after a few more visits with

the same results.

In the end Avigayil got up and walked when she was good and ready,

even though it *was* aged two and a quarter. She is a happy healthy

active and very normal adult with four children. One other of my

children, Tammy (DD2) also walked late, albeit not so late, at 18

months, and was a whizz at bottom shuffling. she could really speed

on her bum.

So please tell that woman not to fret! As long as the child seems

normal she will develop at her own pace.

Ruthie

> Can you help provide words of wisdom and advise on the following:

>

> A lady who attends the bumps and babes group has an 11 month year

old

> who is about to be referred to a paedatrician because she is not

> mobile yet. Below I have given you a bit more background and wonder

> if you can perhaps share some of your experiences with me so that I

> may forward them to this Mum.

>

> The child sits and reaches alot and bum shuffles a bit. She is

alert

> in every other sense - just not crawling, rolling, turning 360 or

> lying on her tummy.

>

> Obviously the Health Visitor who initially proffered a visit to the

> specialist is either over cautious or can see something else.

>

> As you can imagine it is a worry for the Mum when so many other Mums

> out there tell her not to worry because each child goes at their own

> pace; some concentrate on mental skills not physical first; my child

> was just the same etc etc etc.

>

> Perhaps you have been in the same situation yourself. What

happened?

>

> Let me know

> Regards

> Caroline