Baby girl 5 months 1 week still does not play

Nduta - posted on 01/03/2011

Thank you all for your helpful responses. Actually I asked the doctor and she told me that my little gal could be a late developer and I should just be patient. Well let us see. What amazes me is that she likes grabbing the front of my blouse, and loves to fall asleep that way, so according to this I believe her grabbing and letting go is normal, or as Karen says she is just a laid back little girl.

Krista - posted on 12/26/2010

Karen... yeah, I know that babies don't have to hit each milestone right on time, but I find a lot of the doctors aren't asking. If they aren't asking, they can't assess things ahead of time. My doctor tells me not to worry about it, but that it SHOULD happen soon if it hasn't.

Karen - posted on 12/26/2010

Krista - I've not had a pediatrician not ask the milestone ?s yet at the same time they have all stressed that the milestone ages are simply averages which means there are babies/kids on both sides of the norm. My doctor now told me she doesn't want to freak moms out if their babies are not right in the "middle" and on track; she'd rather casually watch and wait to see if milestones are met, even if it is a month or more beyond the standard age.

Krista - posted on 12/26/2010

Each baby is different, but if we're going by the norms of what a baby SHOULD be doing, then yeah... she's a bit behind. Perhaps you should talk to your doctor about this? It could be that she has vision problems or it may be something else. Then again, it could be nothing.

On a different note: I'm amazed at how many doctors don't ask standard questions like if they're hitting their milestones.

Natasha - posted on 12/26/2010

Im only going on what my son did and he started grabbing playing about 3 months now he'll see a toy in a distance and roll to get it or push himself forward but this is not saying your girl in abnormal they have the average ages for developement sher could be on the later developers but i would actually go see a health nurse or peadeatrican to see what they say. i would stress over it but i would go seek advise...

Crystal - posted on 12/26/2010

hmmm she should be playing with toys now like hitting them and reaching for them, but saying that every baby is different and she might not be ready to, i would give her some more time but then seek help if she doesn play soon...not to be alarmed by that but cant hurt to ask can it.

Karen - posted on 12/24/2010

I wouldn't say it is "abnormal" as there is a continuum of developmental abilities/interests with babies. Your baby is making eye contact with you/others? She does smile albeit selectively? Have you tried other things for her to hold? My baby shows little interest in typical baby toys yet when I shook a wad of wrapping ribbon he grabbed for it. He also loves a wet baby washcloth to hold/suck on. Perhaps you could try other items to see if your little one will grab hold of. You may just have a laid-back little girl who takes things in more. My last baby sounds a lot like yours and I, too, wondered if she was OK; today she is just a more reserved yet healthy and happy almost 2-year old.