re: Physical, occupational and speech therapy

Quoting ~Cyndi~:“ Do you mind me asking why? Was it because you noticed delays? My Dr. said that 6 months was too young. ... [snip!] ... I'm switching pedis because I want a Dr that realizes that I've done this once or twice and know a little about being a parent.”

Well, she has Down Syndrome, obviously not what you're dealing with, but I was just letting you know that they do have it for children that young......What exactly is she not doing yet?

Quoting love.my.sonshine:“ thats good! i work part-time at a hospital and i know for insurance purposes you usually need a referal for EVERYTHING including PT, OT, and ST”

It was nice to have the referral...My pedi even called and gave them all her information and they contacted me within 3 days of her being seen at the office. They come to the home to do the consultation and the PT so the child is in their natural environment and parental participation is highly pushed. And the qualification was easy...they just needed a month of paystubs or the previous years tax return to prove how much money you make. PLUS they told me that now that she is in the program anytime I have a concern all I have to do is call and they will send someone out to re-evaluate her and make a recommendation. I don't see us needing it again, but it's good to know!.

Quoting Suzie S. I love my son!:“ Well, she has Down Syndrome, obviously not what you're dealing with, but I was just letting you know that they do have it for children that young......What exactly is she not doing yet?”

Let's see....she can't pull herself to a sitting position. We have to sit her up. She can't get on all fours, like she's attempting to crawl. I hate listing what she can't do, I'm much betterat focusing on what she can do.

Quoting ~Cyndi~:“ Bayleigh is almost 9 months old. She has yet to reach very many milestones. She sits up alone, if we ... [snip!] ... early intervention programs for babies? I don't know if she needs physical or occupational therapy. Or both. Any suggestions?”

in tassie we have a special learning school for premmies, they do all kinds of activities with the kids, they also have OT's and physio's and other people there to help the kids if they pick up on anything. But id talk to your doc about that and im sure he/she could hook you up with a specail mothers group for premmies or something.

Good Luck!x

Quoting ~Cyndi~:“ Let's see....she can't pull herself to a sitting position. We have to sit her up. She can't get on all ... [snip!] ... on all fours, like she's attempting to crawl. I hate listing what she can't do, I'm much betterat focusing on what she can do.”

A friend of mine and my hubbies had a prem baby last year (in nov he turned 1) anyways he was 9 months old when he started to say a few words, he was 11 months old when he took his first steps.

Im not saying your little one SHOULD be doing all this by then .. its up to the child when they want to do things we cant rush them (so my parental nurse says). She will get there we just have to be patient (i suck at being patient so its going to be hard for me lol), but as i said if she can see a OT or someone liek that then they maybe able to pick something up IF there is something to pick up on of course.

To the OP- I was checking out the Missouri First Steps Webpage and there is a place on their website that the parent can do their own referral. This might be helpful to you since you don't feel like your pedi is listening to your concerns.

From the home page follow the First Steps for the Family link, and then on the left hand side it says Refer a Child, and then you can select that you are the parent making the referral and then it is just a short form to fill out.

I really can't stress enough how wonderful they have been to us here in Indiana. Everyone I have talked to has been great. She has had 2 case workers handling her file and working with the billing process. A physical therapist and a speech therapist came out to do her initial screening to see if she qualified for the program based on her abilities. Then once she was approved to receive help we were given a list of providers and I got to choose who I wanted to work with her. It is very much parent driven. The parent is asked to help set the goals and if at any time you wish to switch providers all you have to do is call and they will let you choose a new provider. I wouldn't switch her physical therapist for the world, though. He is wonderful! I really hope you will contact them. It's no cost to you for them to come out and see if she qualifies for help, and it will at least set your mind at ease!

Sabin was put into a program as part of being released from the NICU. He went when he was 3 mos then again at 6 mos and his next visit is Jan 20th for his 1 year mark. He sees a dietician, his NICU pediatrician, physical therapist and speech therapist. He done so well at his 6 mos check up and I know the one next month is going to be even better b/c he has progressed so much! But they said they will automatically follow him until he is 2 to make sure he meets every milestone and if not then they start working with him to catch him up. So far he's been passing  

Or I've noticed at the health dept in the county I work has a babies can't wait program to help with these things too.