What Could It Be??? - Sedalia,MO

Hi A.,

I dont think you have anything to be concerned about, my 3rd child did the samething the only thing that would move was her wrist in circles, she could sit up and her arms would be fully extended out to the sides of her at shoulder height also she would just sit there sometimes excited sometimes not and like your son when she would have a toy she wouldn't do it.

My 4th child is getting to where you can walk around and put her on my hip but her arms are out to her sides. The do all kinds of silly things.

I watch an 8 month old that can army crawl like there is no tomorrow but he can't figure out how to crawl on his hands and knees. But he can get on his hands and stand on his feet, he is still trying to figure out what he can do.

With my 3rd daughter she sat there until she was 9 months old just looking around at all the kids playing and then one day she just took off like she had known all this time what to do bt she was just taking it all in.

The day will come when he no lnger sits where you put him and thens it's even more fun from here on out.
Hope this helps W..

My daughter did this, too. She absolutely hates having her arms held down (which made swaddling difficult to impossible!) and will keep them out to her sides most of the time. Now that she's playing more (she's 7 months) they're not always out to her side, but when her hands are empty, they are out!

The doctor's don't seem to think there's anything wrong and she's a healthy, happy girl! I do baby massage on her every night before bed (I'm a therapist, too...) and that helps her relax.

Won't worry...it's probably nothing but hating to have his arms down!

I can't remember the name of it, but it's a reflex that all babies have. When you pick them up, they extend those arms out really far, most drop them right after, some don't. Sounds like yours just has it more than most. I would double check with your ped doctor.

Have you talked to a Ped. Dr. about it. It could be something that needs addressed!

Just a thought...I went to school to be a massage therapist. I am not currently practicing because I'm having a baby soon, but my first instinct was that some infant massage could help to relax his muscles. Just use his baby lotion (not a ton) and gently massage his arms and shoulders. Some babies love it and others don't like it. It may help, though. I do massage for my son while he is taking a bath. I just use the baby wash instead of lotion and that way he is getting clean while he is getting a massage. He really likes it & probably thinks I'm just washing him (which I am).

Hi! My daughter did the same thing until she was 18 months. Everyone would ask me why and I don't know. I just started telling them she is practicing to be an olympic gymnast! I even asked my doctor and he said it was just one of those things and she would eventually stop. She did! I don't remember why - I just noticed one day that she didn't do it anymore. I wouldn't worry about it. She also didn't crawl - she went straight to walking!