Hyper-flexibility / hyper-mobility?

[sahbear]

Does anyone have any experience with hyper flexible babies?

Bit of background.

DS is 15months, and hyper flexible.
Have known for ages, but struggled to get any help with it, up until last week and we are now in the hands of a physio who wants to help.

Previously paed/GP/physio/mchn have told us not to worry, he will learn to correct, he's getting around etc.

Currently he is commando crawling, but getting into traditional crawl stance, so he can go into the sit position, and he has recently started pulling himself up and trying to climb onto the couch / tables etc.
He has taken a couple of steps, standing at the couch - but certainly not cruising.

The physio is hoping we can get him to crawl in the traditional way, as this is better for his coordination later in life. (this is going to be difficult to change as he is very proficient getting around commando style)

He is strong, but not in all the muscle groups, as he uses his flexibility to stabilize himself rather than his muscles eg, he keeps his legs really wide when sitting (almost the side splits) so he doesn't use his core.
We are helping this with some elastic strapping around his knees, under the guidance of the physio.

What I'm hoping to find out, is if anyone has any tips that helped with their bubs who have had this as well as an impact on the child in years to come?

[onthefly]

My DD has hypermobility, too. I'm not sure about degrees, but perhaps hers was not so bad as she crawled and now toddles normally (if belatedly).
I can't tell you about later years as we're only a little bit ahead of you.
One thing I can tell you is that our physio said that encouraging 'proper' sitting was helpful to develop the hip/legs. I wear her a lot and the wraps make a really supportive seat to encourage optimal positioning. The structured carriers are not so good as her hips spread out too wide. I don't know if being worn a lot has helped her at all (no way to go back and not do it to compare ). I wonder if using the ergo a lot when she was younger may have made things worse
I'm sorry you've been through a lot to get help! Hopefully now you're on track

[loulabelle]

Dd 3yrs has this.

She was moving at 12 months and crawled properly at around 16 months and then walked at two.

She does most things other children would do now.The only thing she struggles a little with is running, she still has the little toddle run, but she's getting there.

All we did was try to incorporate strengthening exercises into her play. We did lots of balancing games etc.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so forgive spelling mistakes

[Amy_jellybean]

Subbing quickly so I can come back a write a proper reply, I've had it since I was a baby.

[sahbear]

Thankyou for your posts!

Will pop in tomorrow to respond properly, can't think straight at the moment.

[sahbear]

Thanks again ladies for your post.

Madb - yep - we are focusing on sitting properly, and using his hands for balancing when needed, rather than having his legs wide - and we have also been told to focus on him being in the kneeling postion - as this is great for his hips etc. Its just so hard to stop him from standing!
As for degrees of it - I am not sure - his physio was once again completely shocked about how flexible he actually is!

Thanks Loulabelle - sounds like his milestones are very similar to your DD. Glad to hear she is going well now - gives me hope.

I think our biggest struggle with it is me. He is happy and healthy. And getting around. Me - I just feel guilty, and sad for him.
I am sick of people asking when will he walk etc. Making comment that he must be lazy (?!) and people giving their unhelpful opinions all the time!
Even a really good friend the other night made the comment that he is disabled (WTF!?)
We are now getting it from other parents at daycare, via the teachers there.
I am also dreading a catch up in a few weeks with my mothers group - who I genuinely love. As of this week, he is now the last one to walk - I feel so bad that he is going to be sitting there, or crawling around, while all the kids are walking and running around playing together.
Must stop now - at work and the tears as I write this at my desk, probably arent a good look.

Thanks again!

[Kmn]

Different kids develop different skills at different times. Please don't fall into the trap of comparing with others except to the point of thinking "that's different, I'd better get it checked". My DS was also the slowest to walk in the Mother's group (over 18 months before he could toddle on his own) - and I think that not being able to chase his mates gave him the incentive to really really try!

[onthefly]

Just smugly smile as they have to run off after their kids and you can sit comfortably My DD only started toddling at 18 months and it was great! So much easier

But seriously, try not to compare. Or, if you do, compare everything, because the kid that's 'behind' in walking will most likely be far ahead in something else. And 15 months is not even delayed, really!

[sahbear]

Little update!

Wow! What a difference a month makes!
For a couple of weeks now he has been crawling traditionally, rather than commando, and is now super fast! It's crazy.
He's also playing loads more in the kneel position, and the bit that has surprised us the most is how well he is cruising along furniture.
It's amazing the difference in him!

The physio still wants us to try and keep him off his feet, to get him crawling for a bit longer, but this is easier said than done.
At the moment we have decided to let him go, and not stop him.

Will see how he goes over the next month, we are overseas for a few weeks, so will be in the pram and ergo a bit.
Will need to give him lots of crawling time in airports and hotels I think!

[~TT40~]

i have a friend whos son has it and he will be 3 at the end of the year. so might be able to help you in terms of later in age. let me know if you want me to pass on your details

sent via my vortex manipulator!

[loulabelle]

Yay for crawling! That's fantastic.

[farmgirlie]

Hi,
I realise this is an old thread but have found it difficult to find anyone whose baby has hyper flexibility. My DD is 11 months and recently diagnosed with hyper flexibility and atypical movement pattern.
I wasn't too concerned as I believe all babies develop at their own rate and crawling is not a developmental milestone. However the physio seems to be freaking out a bit. DD appears to be doing the side splits and bum shuffling around.
I would love to hear from the original posters to discover how their babies progressed??
Please someone respond!!!

[onthefly]

Hi
My DD refused to put any weight on her feet until over 12 months. We got a referral to the physio, but by the time we saw her, DD was pulling herself up to stand (maybe 13-ish months).
She crawled at 11.5 months and walked at 18 months and is still sort of toddling at nearly 3, not yet running, though she's slowly getting there. we've been seeing the physio periodically and she was happy with DD's progress; she's behind, but doing things normally.
DD did a lot of side splits before she started crawling, it's how she moved from tummy to sitting.

[sahbear]

Hi,
I realise this is an old thread but have found it difficult to find anyone whose baby has hyper flexibility. My DD is 11 months and recently diagnosed with hyper flexibility and atypical movement pattern.
I wasn't too concerned as I believe all babies develop at their own rate and crawling is not a developmental milestone. However the physio seems to be freaking out a bit. DD appears to be doing the side splits and bum shuffling around.
I would love to hear from the original posters to discover how their babies progressed??
Please someone respond!!!

Hi Farmgirlie,

A little update from us - DS was getting around by rolling, for months and months - he didnt do the bum shuffling thing, so cant provide any specific advice on that.
He moved to commando crawling at about 12 months, and traditional crawling at around 15-16 months.
He didn't start to weight bare on his feet until probably around the 14 month mark.
He began cruising at around the 18 month mark, and proper toddling just before 20 months.
He was running not too long after - and now at nearly 2.5(and probably once he hit 2 if you were to compare), there is no difference between him and his little friends.

We commenced physio at around the 14 month mark - and it was the best thing we ever did - I had previously tried to get help earlier, but had been "fobbed off". We saw a specialist pediatric physio, which I would recommend if you aren't already.

I agree with you on that babies develop at their own rate - but with the diagnosis you have, and the bum shuffling I would be working very closely with the physio and taking all of their advice.
For us to get DS to where he is - was lots of work by him - but influenced by us - we had to do lots of exercises and activities with him - to get the right muscles, controlled in the right way.

One thing I have learnt a long the way - is that traditional crawling is such an important physical and developmental milestone - it helps for lots of of other coordination as they get older.

The other thing I learnt was what hyperflexibility actually means for their joints and muscles, it really helped me understand what we were trying to achieve - they need to learn to control their muscles in a different way to other kids - as their joints extend beyond normal - thus, they need to use their muscles to control them - which is why, bum shuffling/rolling/commando is easier - as they dont need to "lock" their joints in place.

If you have any specific questions, ask away!

[farmgirlie]

Hi MadB and Sahbear,

Thanks so much for responding,it's really interesting to hear how your little ones are progressing and it sounds like they are doing well. We are in Ireland and I hadn't been able to contact anyone with similar issue.

We are attending paediatric physio fortnightly, 4 visits so far. Last visit she predicted DD wouldn't stand until 18 months as she seemed "averse" to putting her feet on ground, however DD decided 2 nights later it was time to stand!!! Physio saying now she's a bit baffled by this.

We will keep doing the exercises!
Once again, your responses greatly appreciated by a mammy who was getting a bit anxious.

Farmgirlie x

[onthefly]

We haven't done 'work' with a physio as my daughter refuses to do as she's told and have only been regular follow ups to track her progress. It is good if you can get on to one and get some ideas of exercises and things to do with your child to help them develop the muscles they need to support their joints. (If your child is more compliant than mine.)