OT-Baby development

[Clysta]

I know this isn't the right forum, but it has a lot of active members and might give me a faster response. Kylie is 6 and a half months and I'm slightly concerned about some of her developments. It's probably all normal, but she's my first and I'm not around many babies to compare, so please excuse my ignorance. Recently she's started doing this thing were she shakes her head side to side, almost like she's saying no. It usually happens more when she's tired, but it's also happened when she wakes up from a nap or is playing. She also does this shake like thing. It's hard to explain. Like when she gets woken up or someone she doesn't know well picks her up she tenses and moves her arms and legs really fast. Like she's trying to balance herself. She's also always really wiggly and doesn't really sit still. She's always kicking her legs, making some kind of sound (recently it's this indignant squeal like the ones you hear from rich kids that just got told No) and bashing herself in the head with toys. She also is doing this weird patting thing with her hands and scratches everything, like the couch, floor, blankets, our pants, pillows, etc. Does it seem like these are normal things? She's meeting all her proper milestones (can sit alone, rocking back and forth on her hands and knees, drink out of a sippy cup alone, babbling, etc)

[Heatherm4]

I agree...all that sounds normal to me too. Brady does that side to side thing with his head when he is tired as well. And scratches the mesh in his playpen too like mentioned above!! It's kinda funny.
She sounds very normal to me and is definitely exploring and really experimenting with cause and effect! She's also found her voice...once it starts, it'll never stop! LOL

[alaysha]

When Aspen was a baby she used to bang her head on the floor randomly and then cry like she was dying. It scared the pants off of me but the doctor said it was normal and her realizing cause and effect.

[tiredbuthappy]

sounds ok to me.
She may still have some of her startle reflex. Most babies lose it younger- some take much longer. My second was like that, and also had MANY sensory sensitivities. I was very concerned about her. She couldn't handle bright lights, loud noises, etc. She had to be swaddled past 6 months. Her pediatrician labeled her "neurologically sensitive." As a teacher, that set off warning bells for me. I have worked with kids with sensory processing disorder.  He assured me she may outgrow it, or she may always be a little sensitive. I happened to be a sensitive adult- can't handle lights, sounds, corwds etc... so I i accepted his response. However, I did do a lot of research and consulting, and was told to keep an eye on her. She actually outgrew all of her "quirks" by 1. I watch her like a hawk, but can't find anything wrong :)

Hitting her self, patting things, scratching, rubbing etc... can be either her way of exploring the world around her, and/or a way of self-soothing. Either case is OK and normal. You may want to make mental notes of what is going on around her. You may notice she does it more when the lights are bright, the TV is on, if you had a busy day the day before, etc... Or she may just be an energetic, happy baby who is always going to give you a run for your money :)

[JoyRenee]

Yes, I think everything you've mentioned in normal. Baby is exploring the world around her and one way to do that is to feel it and sometimes scratching can just be so much more fun! It makes a fun sound and feels weird.

Tensing up when someone takes her and she's unfamiliar with them is a great sign of social development. It means she is beginning to recognize strangers and reacts appropriately. While some babies are fine being held by anyone and everyone other babies are not (none of my girls like being held by strangers! They are very weary of them).

Being wiggly is also normal. Kicking, wiggling, scooting, acting like she's swimming if on her belly, bicycling her legs while on her back - all totally normal. Babies are very active. This shows she has great large motor skills and is building muscle for when she eventually crawls and walks!

Bashing toys is also normal even if it looks a bit like One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. Some babies like to bang their head when they're tired, overstimulated. And sometimes they just do it to see what will happen! And when they bang it on their head they'll find, "Ouch, that kind of hurts!"

Screeching and screaming is so so so normal. She's testing out her vocal chords. If she does it while angry she is showing emotion. Honestly - all really good signs of emotional development!

And shaking her head no is also not a problem. She's just testing out everything her body can do. Most babies do this when tired until they truly know it means 'No'. But they can do it just because it is fun and makes them feel dizzy! ;-)

[cherylsangel]

Fynn will be 6 moths tomorrow...he has been doing that scratching thing for awhile....i used to wake up to Fynn scratching the mesh part on his playpen...lol...kind like he was in jail...haha...he scratches everything...even his bottle when hes eating, he never sits still either!!! its getting to be annoying when i am trying to change his diaper or dress him.....he also does like this smacking thing...maybe what you described as patting....if i am holding him he smacks my boobs or shoulder...and when he is in the bath he constantly smacks his belly and his weiner...lol

Fynn has become a screamer....not like crying screaming but i wanna hear my own voice screaming...

I read a post not to long ago about the head shaking thing...apparently its normal and its a comfort thing for babies when they are tired and trying to go to sleep.....dont quote me though but i read a post on that and all the babies were around 7 months

[Clysta]

Her appointment is this Tuesday, but her Ped is worthless. The only reason I haven't changed yet is cause the hospital requested we wait till this appointment to do so. I've also noticed when she stands she puts her feet together and doesn't space her legs apart. I'd imagine since she doesn't know how to use her legs it's normal, but I don't know.

[mamaof4410]

Has she had her 6 month check-up yet? Its normal for babies to do different things once they realize they have the ability to. Once my little boy realized he had toes he constantly was putting them in his mouth. As long as shes hitting all of the other milestones i wouldnt worry to much about it. It all sounds normal to me, as long as shes not having movements as though she cant control them i wouldnt worry.