[redhedded]

Has anyone procured services for a 15 month old, specifically PT? In our area, it is not uncommon for kids to begin ECI Speech between 12-16 months if there are no vocalizations or words. I do not, however, know anyone who has had PT at their home at this age.

My dd was a very late walker (we knew why); Dr. checked muscle tone at 18 months, told me they do not worry even then and suggested no intervention. My son is 14 months now; his ped suggested last week that if he is not walking by 15 months, she would have me contact ECI. He stands, walks along sofa, table, transfers and pushes his scooter and anything else he can bend and push (standing); he does not really want to hold our hands to walk for more than a few steps. Wants to do it himself. He has never stood independently. He is quite verbal.

He was 5 weeks premature, was just over 5 lbs, had a very traumatic start and was diagnosed with hypotonia. That diagnosis was later removed; he has great muscle tone now.

I absolutely agree with ECI and will follow her recommendation. My question is: did they have you do home exercises? Were there specific suggestions? (about things you should/should not do, such as walker, to assist in process?)

[Momoffive1966]

Hi Red-Nathan will be 14 months on the 17th and he is exactly where B is. My Ped said to wait until 16 months to start any services. I feel he will be Okay but will use services if he's not walking by then. I'll be interested to see the comments here about home exercises....

[proudmommyof 2]

We adopted Tommy from Russia, so ours was a different story. Was your little one evaluated and given an age for their gross motor skills? In our area, a child has to be 25 % behind to even qualify.


Some exercises that we did with Tommy:

Separate your couches, chairs a few inches. Draw him across the gap with a toy or something. As he gets comfortable, make the gap bigger, until he finally has to let go of the couch and reach.

Get a hula hoop and walk behind him. Let him hold onto the hoop for balance. AS he gets better, let the hoop get wobblier and wobblier.

Standing-have him kneel or bend over a stool, and tease him with a toy, up, up, until he reaches and lets go of the stool

This all require patience, but they really worked for us!!

[mommy3]

Neither of my two older children walked unassisted until 15/16 mos. Neither liked to walk holding anyone's hand. They wouldn't let go of the table/couch and walk on their own, however. They simply seemed to not want to make mistakes. Both are quite independent and have excellent fine motor skills, to this day. This doesn't mean there isn't a concern or you shouldn't followup, but at least it may help to know that there are others out there whose children walked late and turned out just fine! susan

[redhedded]

Thanks you guys. I have no worries, regardless. Thanks for the suggestions ProudMommy of 2; our furniture is pretty far apart, but alas, no go on the letting go. I have no idea about his percentile, as he has had no evaluation, other than pediatrician. He is a cautious babe, somewhat like his sister. Also, when he does walk with us and when he pushes things, he is always on his toes, no flat foot. Mom, interesting the varying time lines. Glad to hear N is doing well.

Thanks Susan, I know well, with my daughter, that late walking does not mean any delay in fine motor skills. Thanks for the reassurance.

[wanttobeparents]

Yes, we were recommended for Early Childhood Intervention. We had a state social worker and a PT come to our home for evaluation when Matthew was 9 months old. Since he had trouble crawling because of a missing thumb and we had not come up on the state list, we got him in with an OT at 7 months. The OT came to our home once a week, worked with him with toys, and taught me what exercises he needed to help his balance and strengthen his arm. He went from a combat crawl on his elbows (or falling on the floor when his arm didn't support him) to a normal crawl in 2 weeks.

The OT and PT came once a week on different days for several months. Matthew caught up quickly (walked at 9 1/2 months after the doctors predicted that he never would). The PT slowed to once a month, and the social worker checked in over the phone once a month. He tested out of the system the following year.

We continue with the OT whenever he needs some extra help. Our insurance changed and the new insurance refused to cover home visits. We refused to change OTs and began again when she moved to an office. Our insurance changed again and she is not on our "approved" list, so we have to pay out of pocket. We call her whenever Matthew seems to have fine motor skill problems, and she fits us in for a few months until he overcomes them. He does things for Miss Trish that he will not do for me.


So the answer is, yes, they came to our home to work with us and yes, they gave us specific things to work on daily. Sign up as soon as possible since there is usually a long wait for state services. If the wait is too long, go private if you need to. We signed up in January, needed help in July, went private, and the state help arrived in September.

Peggy

[momofmykids]

Red,
B sounds SOOO much like my 21 month old son so I'm going to give you back some wonderful advice you gave me when I was worried about my ds not walking independently when he was B's age..."pulling up and "cruising" around the furniture should count as walking". DS if finally walking alone (21 months) and your words of encouragement helped me get through some days that I was really concerned.

Our ped was going to use and intervention service if ds hadn't been walking by his 2 year check up which isn't until May, but he's really taking off and walking all over now!

Keep us posted!

[ourdreamcametru]

Castle didn't start walking until she was 17 1/2 months old. She never crawled but would scoot on her bottom pulling with her legs she never even pulled up. She seems to do everything late but when she does finally start she just goes without hesitation. Our doctor said we would talk about what steps to take next if she didn't walk by 18 months.
No advice just wanted to chime in and wish you luck!

[redhedded]

Mom, Did I say that? You're so sweet! You know I became so impervious to people's constant inquiry about why my daughter was not walking at 18 months, and you know sometimes people do not let up. They constantly acted like there was something really wrong! So. . . congratulations on your ds' walking independently.

pulling up and "cruising" around the furniture should count as walking".

I still think so. I am not worried at all but was a bit surprised about the early recommendation.

Peggy, thanks for all of the information and for sharing your experience. Nine months seems so early for ECI though I know that many preemies (my good friend's son born last year at 24 weeks) receive very early in the first 6-9 months. My daughter did not crawl until after 12 months; she walked when she was ready.

[Lovebug]

Red - Early intervention is great for kids who need it. Our DS is getting Birth to Three services for a significant speech delay. He is ahead of schedule on all other levels.

IMO, B is fine. He is making his way to walking independently. You know from experience that they do things in their own time, kwim? So no worries, IMO. Also, being that he is 5 weeks premie, I wouldn't necessarily worry by the 15 month mark....his 15 months is acutally gauged at 16 mos 1 week, no???

{{{Hugs}}} soon he'll be chasing DD and you'll need new sneakers!!!!

--Renee