OK, so I posted a few weeks ago about my 'concerns' about DS. At the time he was 13-14 months old (he's now 15 months old), was not properly crawling, lots of hand flapping (bird like ), can't really remember the other ones....Anyhoo, he started properly crawling on his hand and knees recently and he's gaining speed every day and is even standing himself up on the table, the couch, the bath, so moving very fast now
BUT, my concern is with his hand flapping. He basically does it a lot, not flapping with his arms as such, just with his hands. He keeps his arms by his side. Now, I am a bit concerned as this sort of thing I have seen in smaller babies, and not many at that. I go to a gymbaroo class once a week, and he is usually happy exploring on the floor etc, but as soon as he is not happy with what I get him doing he starts flapping away. I caught one girl looking at DS with a strange look on her face like she thought there was something wrong with him. Should I be worried????? None of the other babies/toddlers do it. He tends to flap his hand when he is excited or not happy. A close friend of mine with two older kids said they both did it heaps when they were young. But I don't know if she's trying to make me feel better..
If you have concerns about your baby the absolute best thing to do is to go to your Dr and ask them for their opinion and if they need further assessment. For almost every issue early intervention will make a big difference and if there is nothing wrong the you will know that too and enjoy some peace of mind.
MissB I totally agree with onyx
Could this be a way of communication? Or is it a sort of thing he can't control?
When he does it have you tried placing a toy in his hand? Basically taking his mind off the flapping?
Thanks Onyx and Sparkez. I have thought about taking him to get checked out but then I feel guilty that I am even thinking about it iykwim, in case it's nothing. Does that make sense? lol
Sparklez, I have given him toys and he does get distracted with them most times. Maybe he is trying to communicate as he tends to do it when he's excited or unhappy .
Sigh, maybe I'll get him checked
Sweets i'd get him checked. Cant do any harm kwim? My dj is an arm/leg flapper, but thats the angelman. Hopefully a dr. would be able to help him comminicate better/reffer onto some one who can.
It makes perfect sense that you're reluctant to get him checked and feel guilty for thinking there is something wrong.
DH didn't want DS1's speech checked out and I remember hoping like crazy that the Dr would tell me I was being silly. Right now he has a weird twitch that I know I should get checked just in case but I have been avoiding in case it is something worse than a twitch (head in the sand syndrome lol). I will get off my butt tomorrow and make an appointment.
It is the 'head in the sand' syndrome Onyx! lol. I feel guilty for even thinking he's anything but perfect I was speaking to DF last night and he seems to think it's his emotions and not being able to communicate as yet as he doesn't talk. He takes him out to the park most days in his car (one of those little tikes ones with the floor as he can't push himself along yet, he is totally obsessed with it ) an he says he doesn't flap his hands once the whole time. He goes on the swing and he's fine. He says it's only when he's trying to tell us something that he does it. DF reckons he's been doing it less since he's been crawling on his hands and knees as he's now concentrating on something new
I remember my little sister doing this when she was a baby - she'd do it when excited or frustrated. She did eventually grow out of it, but can't hurt to talk it over with your doc as well.
Thanks Cranky Kitten and Marydean!! Come to think of it, I used to work with a lady in her 50ies and every time she got excited or she had the 'eeeewww' moment she would flap her hands too..........I guess she never grew out of it!! lol
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