Low Muscle Tone

Hi A..

My son was born with Down Syndrome and one of the many symptoms is low muscle tone. Obviously, your daughter does not fit into the same category as my son - but I just wanted to let you know that Early Intervention has been a god send to me. The Case workers and therapists are wonderful and they will work with your daughter and will teach you various forms of exercise and play that you can do with your daughter to help develop her muscles. My son has been receiving Physical Therapy since he was 3 months old and he has been receiving Water therapy for the past year. He is doing wonderfully and his developmental delay is very minor. I'm sure that you will be very happy that you contacted Early Intervention, it is the best step in helping your daughter. Good Luck.

Hi- my name is H. and I am a mother of an eight month old. He was five weeks early(you would never know it by looking at him)! He receives early intervention for the low muscle tone in his shoulders. He gets OT and is beginning PT in the near future. Early Intervention is wonderful. They really work with you and your child. Make sure that you watch everything that they do so that you can replicate it during the week.
One thing I was told is not to use an exescaucer, walker or a bouncer for longer than 20 minutes. Another is to give her plenty of tummy time. My son hated it but it really helped him learn how to roll and use his arms and feet.
You are doing the right thing by getting early intervention. Everyone tells me that he will be fine but it is reassuring having him receive the services.

H.

My 8 year old was a 32 week preemie. She had low muscle tone. She received occupational therapy from the time she was 4 months old. We were also told by a pediatrician not to worry about it but the follow-up clinic at the hospital where she was in the NICU picked up on it right away and recommended Early Intervention.

You are right to call and have her evaluated by the EI people. The sooner you start therapy the better.

As far as exercises, I would discuss this with the therapist. With my daughter, there were specific exercises we did daily. Once we started the therapy and knew what to do, my daughter really started taking off.

I have three children, one walked at 10 months, one at 13 months and one 14 months. The one with the low muscle tone walked at 13 months eventhough she didn't roll or sit up until she was 8 months. The one who walked at 14 months, was rolling before she was 3 months old. They are all different but if your gut feeling is that there is something wrong, keep pushing for help and wait for a professional to give you recommendations.

Hi. I agree with BB. The earlier the better. My son had low muscle tone and was a preemie also. I worked with him alot. He did do things like sit up and walk a little later than others but did get there. Check with a therapist to see what you could do at home. Early intervention is the best. It will be a lot easier on the child.

If you can, put her in a jolly jumper. My kids and all the neighbor's kids LOVED the Kangaroo jumper. It was worth every penny.

my son has low muscle tone in his hands that was picked up at school when he was first being taught to write. The school provided ot services to strenthen his hands. They also taught him to us a alphasmart to take notes and do school assigments.
His handwritting is illegiable.