[GoddessDanu]

We've noticed over the last couple of days that Bunny is so clumsy. I've worked with tons of 2 and 3 year olds and although they do fall down a lot it seems like Bunny falls down more than most. Her shins are covered with healed cuts and scrapes. Just in these last two days both her knees got scraped and her elbow got all scraped too. She's not climbing on things she shouldn't be, she just trips over her own feet when she's running and falls.

I've been documenting every time she gets a scrape or cut but I'm just worried her mom is going to make a big deal out of it when she sees her. When DH and I went to pick them up at CPS the worker even told me that she noticed Bunny was clumsy. Should I try to have her be more careful or am I worried over nothing? It's our first placement so I'm just a little nervous.

[greenrobin]

Here's what I'd do--make a list of the times, cuts, scrapes, events that led up to them, her reaction, anything that seemed important. Then I'd email the cw once a day to give her the heads-up on the number and types of stuff that happened. The injuries that are in "normal" places (shins, knees, elbows) are usually expected. If the baby is really clumsy, it could be an indicator of some kind of neurological issue, inner ear problems, or maybe even trouble with vision. Or something else.

And remember, the tons of 2 and 3 yr olds you've worked with probably came from homes where they received good care, plenty of stimulation, and proper nutrition. Many, many of our kids come to us with all kinds of delays, including gross motor development.

Good documentation. That's really, really important.

And, yes, her mom probably is going to say something. That's the nature of this game. Your documentation is what will help you out.

[mom2fabtwins]

I second greenrobin. Document! Watch for patterns. When tired, early in the day, late day before/after nap. Is she slow to get moving in the morning? If you find a pattern in the falls it will help if there is a medical/neurological condition.

I have a little guy with a motor delay and without the daily diary it would have been VERY difficult to diagnos and get therapy.

[GoddessDanu]

Wow, thank you. I didn't think I had to be so detailed but I will definitely write down everything you mentioned it and email it to their worker tonight. I just want to do it right, you know? I don't want them to think I'm not watching her.

[MamaS]

I was a "clumsy" child who tripped over everything. It was not until I was eight years old and getting a physical for Girl Scout Camp that the doctor discovered I was so farsighted that I had almost no depth perception. I would ask the cw to authorize vision testing done by a pediatric vision specialist.

[Heather5458]

I have a 15 month old with the same issue and it was found out at the last dr appt. that all of his ear infections has thrown his balance off.

[GoddessDanu]

I'll mentioned eye sight as well as ears when I talk to the case worker. She had told me that if we kept the twins past Monday night that we would be taking them to the doctor for a check-up anyway. I really appreciate your replies.

[cabbagepatchkid]

My grandson was very clumsy, also, and it ended up that he needed glasses. He was also pigeon-toed which didn't help matters either. Good luck with them

[peregrinerose]

Has she had her eyes examined yet? That's a big gap in pediatric health care. I don't mean a screening that the pediatrician does (they miss a LOT), I mean an actual exam with an eye doctor. Very high prescriptions can cause a lot of delays, and because kids have ways of adapting and never complain (to them their vision is normal), parents have no idea.

It's a simple thing that's often overlooked, and as an eye doc, the things I see clinically in kids that go untreated for two long are heartwrenching.

[In_limbo_for_now]

If there was abuse involved it might be good to have the little Bunny checked out. Shaken baby syndrome can happen to a 2yr old. Brain injuries don't have a specific set of symptoms. I know you said the kiddos were headed for RU but I would push the CW to check things out.

[GoddessDanu]

I'll let the worker know when she comes to pick them up today. They might get mom to take Bunny in for an eye exam.

[pammi716]

My foster daughter is the same way. She was placed with me when she was 2 years old and now she is 3. We had her eyes checked, ears checked etc.. She has been diagnosed with (SID) SENSORY INTERGRATION DISORDER. There is alot of info on the internet on it. When she 1st came into my care, I have to say I have never seen anything like it. She would take 2 steps and fall down, she would walk into walls and the worse thing is that she doen't seem to feel much pain. So I would also find all kinds of bumps and bruises and scrapes on her. I was lucky that her SW seen all of this and her mom also knew that her daughter was always falling. It took 8 months for her to be diagnosed. But now at least we have an answer for all of this.

[Boulderbabe]

One thing I might suggest: if you think she's abnormally clumsy, ask the SW if you can take her to a pediatric neurologist for a consult. They'll do some simple tests ("follow my finger" and "hop up and down" type stuff), and can screen her for any problems.

If there's a problem, you'll have caught it early, which can make a huge difference in treating it. And if nothing's wrong, you've created a paper trail that says Bunny is uncoordinated and falls a lot. That could save you down the road.

[o2b30again]

I strongly encourage a vision exam. Our 4 yr old (came at 3) has issues with his eyes being able to work as fast as his body. Because his eyes don't respond as fast as he is moving he is constantly running into things. Almost like he just doesn't see stuff....well he actually doesn't! It is getting better and he has some really cute "coke bottle" thick glasses. Once we got him closer to his right strength glasses things greatly improved.

I would then have someone from Early Childhood come and do an assessment for ECSE to make certain the gross motor skills are on target.

These are two simple suggestions that I would personally do before doing a neuro exam. SID is something else that I would look into but our neuro. didn't really acknowledge this.

Good luck.