WARNING SIGNS

WHEN ARE PARENTAL CONCERNS SUBSTANTIATED?

if a risk factor was present before, during or after childbirth
if you see that your baby is asymmetrical
if any of the following statements apply to your baby

STATEMENTS

S/he holds his/her head turned usually to the side
Doesn’t like to lie on his/her back
Cries a lot when in an abdominal position
Has difficulty lifting and turning head while laying on stomach
When being lifted out of bed, practically hangs his/her head instead of holding it up
When lifted up, keeps head flexed to the back
The two arms are kept at different heights when laying on his/her back
It is difficult to straighten his/her arms while dressing, or is only possible asymmetrically
Keeps hands in tight fists and fingers are difficult to open, thumb might be folded into the palm
The thighs are difficult to open when changing diapers, or can only be opened unevenly
Always cries during bathing and dressing

Fortunately, more and more parents are responsible in all areas, and are already informed and know that there is no such thing as a “lazy baby”. In the past, abnormally developing babies were deemed lazy. Today most parents are also aware that the “slants” of infancy cannot be outgrown, and traces of them stay with us for a lifetime.

Normal motor development is almost the same in all infants. If there are no inhibiting factors, infant reflexes trigger it in all babies alike, because the nervous system is programmed for a kind of self-improvement. If your baby’s development is different from the average, it means it might be slower, faster, follow a different order, skip developmental stages, and in the worst case may not even begin at all.

If you are also one of the responsible parents, make sure to keep an eye on your baby’s movements and read the warning signs of every month!

USE the FittBaby program to help your baby’s development! This is a professionally grounded, home-based exercise system, compiled by a physiotherapy specialist. It follows your baby’s motoric and reflex development month to month, and provides you with step-by-step visual and audio-visual aids!

WARNING SIGNS: 1. MONTH

limbs are stretched and stiff
limbs are asymmetrical
muscle tone of the limbs is different from the norm (stiffer or floppier)
muscle tone is variable, alternating between stiff and floppy
torso is slanted, the body “forms a C” when in a supine position
head is mostly turned to the side
baby barely moves
newborn reflexes are missing
movements are always tense
newborn reflexes are increased
cries a lot for no reason
has difficulty suckling

WARNING SIGNS: 2. MONTH

cannot follow the source of a stimulus by moving (turning head)
has difficulty suckling
cannot lift and hold head up for a few minutes in a tummy position
stretches head back in a supine position
limbs are stiff
movements are asymmetrical

WARNING SIGNS: 3. MONTH

cannot keep head in the center in a supine position
hands are always in a fist
does not hold head up when lifted to a vertical position
stretches head back when held in a vertical position
cannot lift and hold head up in a tummy position
s/he keeps holding head up in a tummy position, because s/he is unable to turn it and put it down to the right or left side
suckling difficulty persists

WARNING SIGNS: 4-5. MONTHs

doesn’t push up on elbows in a tummy position
cries after only a few minutes in a tummy position
doesn’t roll sideways
rolls only to one side
head isn’t stable when lifted to a horizontal position
doesn’t lift his/her hip
doesn’t grasp objects
his/her thumb is folded into the palm

WARNING SIGNS: 5-6. MONTHs

doesn’t push up on hands in a tummy position
doesn’t roll over from front to back and back to front
rolls over to only one direction
rarely rolls over
doesn’t brings his/her legs to the mouth
head is not stable while baby is held in our arms
doesn’t practice grasping
newborn reflexes are still present and active

WARNING SIGNS: 6-7. MONTHS

doesn’t like playing in a tummy position
doesn’t turn
doesn’t rotate around his/her axes
doesn’t hold head and torso stable while in our arms
is not active
doesn’t communicate his/her feelings

WARNING SIGNS: 7-8. MONTHs

is inactive
doesn’t like playing in a tummy position
doesn’t hold head and torso up in a sitting position
when held in an upright position, pulls feet up instead of putting weight on them
tiptoes when held in an upright position
doesn’t try creeping

WARNING SIGNS: 8-9. MONTHs

doesn’t creep fast
doesn’t try to push up to and swaying on all fours
doesn’t practice pinching motions

WARNING SIGNS: 9-10. MONTHs

doesn’t push up to all fours
doesn’t crawl
doesn’t crawl properly, e.g. pulls both feet simultaneously, or puts one foot down to the side
cannot get into a sitting position; proper sitting has to start from a crawling position by putting buttocks down sideways
can only get into a sitting position to one side from crawling
cannot play while sitting
isn’t interested in surroundings

WARNING SIGNS: 10-11. MONTHs

motor development is stalled in the creeping stage
doesn’t crawl, but skips instead to sitting or standing
flexes head or torso back when sitting or standing
bends head or torso forward when sitting or standing
doesn’t manipulate objects
doesn’t play with his/her voice

WARNING SIGNS: 11-14. MONTHs

doesn’t crawl properly, see above
movements are not symmetrical
cannot get into a sitting position
cannot pull up to standing
stands on tiptoes when held in a standing position
keeps legs bent and pulls them up when held in a standing position
moves very little and moves slowly

WARNING SIGNS: 12-15. MONTHs

movements are uncoordinated
is inactive during play or in speech
cannot stand up
doesn’t walk around holding on to furniture
cannot be walked equally well with left or right hand
doesn’t walk independently