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Post by kellyds on Jan 25, 2006 15:32:26 GMT -5
I think Joshua's doing great, mostly. He combat crawls, finds the toys he wants, and plays with them appropriately after being shown once or twice how they work. (He likes toys that "do something" if you push a button or pull a lever.) He eats anything I give him, hasn't had any colds, ear infections, or anything requiring a doctor's visit, and is just generally an easy kid to be around.
He still isn't sitting up by himself, though. I've been working with him using ideas from the Woodbine House books and a baby exercise video I found (the name escapes me right now). He is certainly stronger than he was a few months ago, but his trunk just seems too weak to hold him up.
I'm wondering if it's VERY unusual for him not to be sitting alone yet?
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Post by ValerieC on Jan 25, 2006 15:39:14 GMT -5
Hi Kelly,
I'm assuming Joshua is about a year? How old is he?
Alethea was about 9 months when she sat alone. At that it was for a very short amount of time before toppling over.
I know with our kids with Ds they all develop at different times just like our typical kids. Just keep working. I'm sure if he's doing all of those other wonderful things, he'll sit up when he and his parts are ready.
Valerie C
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Post by kellyds on Jan 25, 2006 16:00:30 GMT -5
Sorry, I forgot to say that he'll be a year old on February 12. I know kids all have their own time table but, since we are somewhat unconventional in the way we educate our children (we home school and have declined our school district's Early Intervention services for Joshua), I like to make sure he isn't soooo far behind that I could be considered neglectful. My neighbor, who is an aide for EI, tells me I'm doing far more than he would get with them. (I know school districts' abilities vary.) We will hire specialists if it gets to the point where I'm in over my head. I just want to make sure we aren't at that point yet.
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Post by Gina on Jan 25, 2006 17:46:51 GMT -5
I wish I could remember exactly what age Ashton sat up on her own, but I know it was after she turned 1. She didn't walk on her own until she was 3. She was delayed in a lot of areas, but once she sat up, walked, etc., there was no stopping her. I finally figured out that she would reach each milestone eventually, and as long as we were moving forward with progress, we were happy. Hope this helps. Good luck!
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Post by Chris on Jan 25, 2006 17:54:49 GMT -5
Kelly,
I don't think it is unusual for some of our kids not to sit by their first birthday. Sarah was 11 months before she could even prop sit but was able to sit on her own by her birthday. I think kids who have had heart surgery or other significant health problems the first year may take a little longer to reach some early milestones. I know Sarah's first seven months or so were just a matter of survival and no significant milestones were reached.
I am just curious why you decided not to use EI services since you would always be there to supervise. I know that the OT and PT knew just how to touch Sarah to get results. They give me papers that explained and showed pictures of the exercises but I needed a live demonstration and then needed them to watch me just to make sure I was doing it correctly. Most of the time, I wasn't. Sometimes it was just a minute change in a position that made all the difference in the world.
Joshua will sit up. Just keep working with him. We got a lot of good results working on a ball.
Chris
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Post by AnnieC on Jan 25, 2006 18:02:35 GMT -5
Hugs to you Kelly! It is so hard waiting for milestones, especially when your kids are working so hard for them!! I think each child has their own timeline, irregardless of therapies. I saw that Ashton didn't sit til she was 1 but walked by 3 which is great. Raven sat up pretty early, about 7 months, but didn't walk til she was 6 years old. So you can never tell. Hang in there!! You are doing a wonderful job!!!!
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Post by kellyds on Jan 25, 2006 18:12:26 GMT -5
Thanks. I appreciate the reassurance. Joshua did have heart surgery and, you're right, the first few months I was just trying to get weight on him . . . forget about milestones! :-) Chris, we are philosophically opposed to government-funded education at all, so it would be hypocritical for us to utilize the school district's EI services. I understand that not everyone holds that opinion, so I'll spare you an essay about our "reasons". Even if we didn't hold those views, in our small school district, the workers aren't even professionals. My neighbor who works with EI, for example, was a secretary in a government office for twenty years. She was laid off, applied for a job with the school district, and got it! She has no training and not even any particular interest in special education. She just wanted a job. At this point, I know a lot more about the subject than she does. I'm motivated by my son's needs. She's motivated by a paycheck. So, I'm glad we can afford private services. (Our health insurance will help.) It's just a matter of knowing when to access the services, and this board has helped in a lot of ways. Thanks again to all of you who so willingly share your experiences.
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Post by ValerieC on Jan 25, 2006 21:45:10 GMT -5
Kelly,
I found that most of what I do with Alethea is exactly what I did with my other children. There were few instances where the PT actually offered me more than what I was doing, but as a mom of 6 I'm sure you're creative enough to figure most of those milestone issues out on your own. It's great that you're looking for info on certain milestones.
For us our PT pushed Alethea a little harder than even I would, and I'm tough. It did get to the point where I had to realize too much pushing wasn't good for Alethea. It worked against us causing her to shut down whenever the PT walked through the door. So now, we allow Alethea to run her own session. We follow Alethea and work with Alethea on what she is doing playwise.
I guess I've rambled, but I wanted to encourage you as a mom that you're pretty well equipped and experienced. Just keep going, you're doing great!
Valerie C
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Post by momofrussell on Jan 25, 2006 21:56:55 GMT -5
Well, I don't think delays would mean you are neglectful!!! So get that thought out of your head!!!
I really can't remember when Russell sat up alone.. but Russell was delayed with this stuff due to he was on the lazy side and his vision.. so I don't know if it was around 12 months or what.. I know. I suck...
I have found out.. no matter what we do.. they do it on their timetable. and it's not for lack of trying or neglect!
hugs!!!
A.
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Post by Emilysmom on Jan 25, 2006 22:10:10 GMT -5
Kelly, I don't think it's unusual at all..........there are so many differences from child to child. Maybe Joshua is working more right now on learning other skills! (It sounds like he's doing VERY well!!) I don't think anyone would consider him to be neglected at all! Keep doing what you're doing and sit back and watch him. He'll benefit from what you're doing and he'll sit (and do all the other "firsts") when he's ready.
Susan
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Post by Claire on Jan 25, 2006 22:17:15 GMT -5
Adam now 8 did not sit up by himself or without support until he was 3. He could kind of roll around everywhere he wantd to go but to actually pull himself up and sit took a long time. He also used a special walker until he walked at age 5. That doesn't mean at all that your child wil take so long to walk, every child is different adn one thing I can say and everyone will approve, is that our kids for some reasons do things when they are ready no matter how much we try. Wish you luck.
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Post by Deannalee on Jan 26, 2006 1:14:16 GMT -5
Ok....this might make you feel better. Justin did not start sitting up until he was about 27 months old. He has always been very hypotonic. After he started sitting....the next month.....he finally started to crawl.....bunny hop style. Justin just turned 3 on Friday, and over the last few weeks has just started to stand up if holding onto something....like crib rails. I figure at least another year before walking....who knows.
I hope this helps some.
Deanna
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Post by heidiashliesmom on Jan 26, 2006 10:02:18 GMT -5
Ashlie had open heart surgery at 2 months old and prop sat around 11 mos and actually sat on her own around 13 mos. We used a special made chair for her by her PT that helped her learn and we also used a boppy to help her when she was on the floor playing,. But I know they have a newer seat out and the name escapes me because it was made after my kids had learned to sit. It starts with a B and I have seen it at Target and someone may have suggested it I didnt read all the responses yet.
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Post by Staci on Jan 26, 2006 13:45:25 GMT -5
Aidan did not sit up by himself until he was 13 months old. He was one of the lazy ones But, in his defense...he did go through a LOT his first year....or, rather...his first THREE years of life. His tone was extremely low, he had been through 2 major operations, horrible eye sight...and a bit of laziness. WHen he did start to sit up at 13 months...it was like he'd been doing it for months! Never fell, was just doing it! Same with walking...he didn't walk until he was 3.5...not because he couldn't, but because he has to be EXTREMELY sure of himself! Staci
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Post by kellyds on Jan 26, 2006 13:52:18 GMT -5
Heidiashliesmom . . . It's called a Bumbo seat. We have one. :-) He doesn't really "sit" in it, since it allows his back to be so rounded. He's so "liquidy", he just slides right out of it . . . so far. We'll keep trying.
I have taken the wheels off of an old baby walker and he can sit in that pretty well. It seems to help that he can push with his feet on the floor to keep his balance.
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