I haven't read any of the other responses yet... maybe, you'll get a lot of responses where they will say "He's normal. Each child developes differently. Have you given him enough belly time? Do you hold him too much? Be patient... he'll walk someday. Enjoy this baby time."
But, today, you are just going to get the witts scared out of you from me. Keep in mind that I'm extremely sensitive and probably over alarmed due to my personal experience here, but this is what I've got to say.
It could be neurological. My son is a cancer survivor of a neurological brain tumor called Medulla-blastoma. This kind of brain tumor is rare but there are some things that the Docs know about it. There are several things that cue a parent or doctor into checking into the "neurological" diagnosis for symptoms.
The most significant symptoms are these:
- The child doesn't walk on time... they can't balance themselves. What happens is the tumor grows in the 4th ventricle of the brain (base of the head, top of the spine)and it blocks the spinal fluid. The pressure from the tumor causes an imbalance where the child doesn't walk on time, may revert from being able to sit up to being tippy again, can't close their legs/feet together without tipping over. A mistake can happen if the Doc just thinks it's a developmental thing and just refers the child to physical therapy or an occupational therapist -missing the cause all together.
-The child gets severe nausia, like a stomach flu that doesn't go away. Or vomits easily causing significant weight loss. What usually alerts Docs to the neurological diagnosis is that the child ends up on IV hydration and even with that and anti-nausia drugs the vomiting and nausia persists. Which eliminates the "sour stomach" or "flu" option and they begin to look into a neurological influence.
-The child's verbal skills don't develop on time. There's a slurring or with baby's a persistant slobbering that isn't resolved after teeth have come in. Even around age 2 or 3 years old the child can still have a slobber/drooling problem. This tumor can cause so much pressure on the brain that stroke like symptoms become apparent with droop to one side of the face. But, often, it just surfaces in the tongue not working properly to form words.
How is your son in all of these other areas? Does he have a good appetite? Is he verbal?
Note: Not all of the symptoms happen at once. They are independent symptoms that may occur.
My son displayed no symptoms at 16 months old; we only found out about the tumor because of an incidental accident at that time. It's the first occurance of this Doernbecher has ever witnesses with this kind of diagnosis. Salem Emergency Hospital performed a CAT scan the night he fell down the stairs and that's the only way we knew he had the brain tumor.
Medulla blastoma is a fast growing cancer. The Docs say that he would have been displaying symptoms or dead in 3 months if it had not been found so miraculously. And that it had probably been growing for apx. 3 months considering the size (grape).
Most often it's found when the tumor is the intrusive size of an egg or baseball along with symptoms that may have been mis-diagnosed or treated as developmental physical or learning delays. Speach therapy won't cure this. Physical therapy won't cure this. Even a nutrionalist won't cure this. Due to these mis-diagnosis and just the treatment of "symptoms" not the cause, the tumor continues to grow and is typically discovered (most commonly in boys) around 2,3,4 years old. Without discovery so early the result is usually death.
So, that's what I have to say ???? Sorry to scare you. If I were you, I would step up to the plate and advocate for your son tenaciously. If something in you says,"BS, something's not right...I'm not going to continue to just be patient and hope. I'm really concerned here", listen to that inner voice. Pursue answers. Talk with your pediatrician about neurological causes. Feel free to tell them Hunter's story.
His website is: http://huntersfirsthunt.tripod.com
By the way, two children in the Salem area have been diagnosed with this within the past 3 years. And this is still considered rare.
The harm done in insisting upon an MRI or CAT scan is nothing compared to the harm done by cancer. It only takes 45 minutes to get an answer for that question, eliminate the fear, or move on.
God Bless you as you advocate for him and pursue knowledge and understanding. I pray a hedge of protection around you guys and this issue... that the right doors would open at the right time and that doors would close as well so that undo stress or fear would not get a foot hold. And I pray for your pediatrician that the doctoral teachings of medicine would be in the forefront of his/her mind and you will not be dismissed, that this problem will not be minimized if it concerns you but, you will be thoroughly listened to with all consideration. Amen?
Take care and God bless once again.