ECI (Early Childhood Intervention)

My son didn't start walking until he was about 15 mos. And he had no interest before.

My friend's daughter was 16 mos. & not walking. Her ped doc said it wasn't until 18 mos. that they referred them to ECI. Different docs, different kids. Who knows. BTW, my friend's daughter started walking the next week.

In my opinion you should get an evaluation from ECI and see what they say. (The evaluation is free) It may be nothing, and if it is they will tell you she is fine and you will have piece of mind. If there IS a concern, they set up a plan and have the therapist(s) come to your home.

It is MUCH better to catch any kind of delay (mental is not the only kind) early.

ECI billing is based on sliding scale. The first 6 months are completely free if you agree to let them bill your insurance, no matter what your insurance pays. After that, it's a sliding scale based on your income with the highest level at $150 a month. Believe me, that's cheap for any kind of therapy.

I wish I had contacted ECI with my first son. He had poor upper body strength, but I just thought he would "catch up" if I kept him physically active in gym, etc. He didn't catch up and we had to start therapy at 4 to increase his upper body strength to improve his fine motor skills (it's all related). At 5 he is still behind, but not as much. I firmly believe if my doctor had taken a proactive approach early like yours that my son would be further along than he is. It's hard to know what is "normal" when you are a first time mom.

We just had our 2nd son evaluated through ECI for a speech delay. I have been very pleased with them. Good Luck!!

I've used ECI for over a year and a half now. I even moved in the middle and had to change organizations. Its GREAT! Especially for first time moms. I don't have the best case worker in the world but its still worth it! My daughter didn't walk until almost 20 months old... Doc also suggested it but I had a friend at work that used it (with severe need) and loved it too.

They have tons to offer but if nothing else its great new things to try and stuff to watch for. They do not diagnose anything but its a great way to have someone else's eye on your child through growing up, when you don't want to live in the pediatricians office to see what he thinks or seeing specialists when its not necessary.

Its reasurance that you are doing the right things, and encouragment to keep that up. But its also new things to try as well. But not just for walking which is great. They'll be sure you are on track with feeding and gross as well as fine motor skills... :o)

100% guarantee. If you have to pay (most qualify for free services) but if you have to pay its not much at all and totally worth it!!! Definately worth looking into!

~T.~

My first son didn't walk until 13 months and my second until 15 months. I'm suprised your ped said he was worried about it. I've always heard that if they aren't walking by 15 months, the ped might be concerned but especially if they aren't walking by 18 months. I know babies taht didn't walk until 18 months. Anyways, I know it is hard to not freak out. My youngest showed no interest whatsoever in walking and then, one day, he just started walking. Just like that. We kept trying to get him to walk between my husband and I (between us) but he wouldn't do that either. Then one day, boom, he started walking. I know it's hard to freak out but seriously, if you are really worried about it, I'd get a 2nd opinion and maybe find a different ped. I think you shouldn't be concerned until he gets to 15 months and then, maybe not even until 18 months. Plus, boys just tend to do things a little slower, in my experience. Your sweet boy may just not want to walk yet. I'm really sorry you were scared by your ped and you feel this way. If it was me, I woudn't get him evaluated and would probably seek out another ped.
C.

We had a great experience with ECI! I would recommend at least getting an evaluation. It's free and the first 6 months of treatment are free. While my daughter was treated for torticollis, not walking, our therapist was extremely helpful in all areas...not just her torticollis. In addition to working with her neck she worked with all her muscle areas including walking. Also, while working with ECI you will have all their services at your disposal. For example, we saw their nutritionist also because I questioned whether or not I was providing healthy meals to my daughter. I'm sure your son will walk very soon. I would recommend a push toy that requires he stand behind it and also put not only toys up on the couch but other things he is interested in. My daughter wouldn't crawl for her toys but it was Daddy's sunglasses that got her moving.

I'm probably not the best person to ask about ECI but your post certainly caught my attention. My son was in ECI for 20 months and many times I got so frustrated with the therapist. My husband kept telling me to just quit but in the back of my mind, I didn't want to look back and say that I should have done more. (Looking back now, if I had to do it over I would go with private therapy. I know it is more expensive but with ECI you get what you pay for. Ours was free.)

We had 3 different therapists over the time my son was in the program. Right now, I would like to personally call his last therapist who worked with him for over a year and say a few choice words to her. We just now within the last month got a proper diagnosis for what my son has, and that is dyspraxia. You would think that a therapist who has been in the field for over 20 years would be able to recognize the sypmtoms and tell me what was going on with my son. She never would tell me what she thought he had and now I know why. It is all political; if they tell you what is truly going on with your child then they are liable. There is so much paperwork junk; it is ridiculous.

With that said, if you are curious to know better where your child is at and legitimately concerned about your son and have a few hours to spend, then call and have them come to your house to assess him. They will tell you where he is at developmentally and at that point you can either try them and see if they are helpful or look into private therapy. I'm sure there are plenty of people, like other moms who have responded to your post, that have had a better experience with ECI, and hopefully, this will be yours, too.

Go with your 'mommy gut'; it's hardly ever wrong!

If you want to contact ECI, I personally see no problem with it. I personally do not understand why the dr is so concerned. My daughter is 13 months today. She crawls everywhere just like yours. She didn't start to crawl until 11 1/2 months. I took her to her 1 yr check up last week. The dr showed no concern that she was not walking or even wanting too. One thing that has helped her is a push toy. Right now she tries to do it on her knees instead of standing. That might help him get motivated! Her's is like a vaccuum. It picks up blocks. Maybe your dr is concerned because he was an early baby. I think it is just easier for them to crawl and much faster so why switch. I really don't think you should worry yourself over this. I'm not. Good luck!

Hi A., my thoughts on this is that if your pedi is only concerned with his interest and nothing else, then I would wait. First, you've heard right - a lot of kids do not walk that early and they are just fine. My story is a different situation but similar in how I know you must be feeling about it. When my son started walking, he walked on his tippy toes (I'm talking straight up like a ballerina or something). He got around fine but we could not get him to put his feet down. So I took him to specialists to be evaluated. Their recommendation was to put him in foot/leg casts for months! You couldn't even force his feet to flex - it's like they just locked that way. So I went home with this information and some exercises they gave me for him and cried forever at the thought of my baby in leg casts. I was confused because these were specialists that knew what they were doing. Not knowing if I was doing the right thing or not, I just never scheduled that appt. to have it done. I worked with that baby every day. Then one day, out of the blue, he just put his feet down and walked on them! It was just a little at first and he still seemed more comfortable on his toes but I knew then that there was nothing wrong with him and he would do it with patience from us and his determination. And he did! After a while he walked just like everyone else. So the point to this very long post (sorry), is that Thank God we have wonderful dr's when we need them but they are not always right. If it makes you feel better then at least get a 2nd opinion. Good luck and hang in there! He will be just fine - trust your instincts! :-)

Hello! My daughter currently is a physical therapy patient with ECI. According to her PT, you really shouldn't worry about the baby not walking until 15 months or so. My daughter is 14.5 months and just took her first steps this past weekend (and hasn't taken any more steps since).

I don't think you have much to worry about just yet. Once he hits 15 months and hasn't started walking, then you may want to consider calling ECI. Their cost is on a sliding scale, so they will better be able to tell you what it will cost you.

Good luck!

ECI is a good start. At least have them come out and do an evaluation and see what therapy they recommend. Then you can either use their services or find a private therapist. I have some recommendations if you need them let me know.

I will say that what I was taught in school (masters of occupational therapy), was that typical development for walking gives kids all the way to 18months before it's considered a delayed skill. However, it sounds like the concern is not that he's not walking, rather that he's not pulling to stand.. which is a 10month old milestone and hence the reason your pedi may be concerned.

If you're already working with him at home, a therapist (occupational or physical) would be able to give you some more tricks to help him progress. For example, put all his toys on the couch (or something high) so that he has to pull to stand to get them and possibly stand to play with him. For postural control, you can put him on a beach ball or exercise ball if you have one and roll it all different directions so that his righting reaction kicks in and he works his core to keep his balance. You might also check out the walking wings (www.walkingwings.com).

Therapy is a support. It doesn't mean anything is wrong and there's nothing wrong with getting help. Good luck!

if I remember correctly, Albert Einstein didn't walk until he was 3........my cousin's youngest (out of 4) did't walk until she was almost 2...it would not hurt to get him checked out, but I think your ped is incorrect.....many children don't attempt to walk until after their 1st birthday and many walk well before the 1st b-day....every child is different....try getting a 2nd opinion from another ped.....good luck!

First, let me say that it's disheartening to have your pediatrician refer your child for any sort of special testing or treatment because he/she doesn't think your child "measures up" to the norm. However, it's the pediatrician's job to point out when something is a little out of the ordinary. So, while you may worry initially, if your child does need a few leg exercises to help strengthen his little muscles, it's best to intervene earlier than later.
That said, our daughter was referred to ECI for the same thing. TWICE! First because she wasn't putting weight on her legs at 9 months, then we "passed" the 12-month well visit because she was standing and crawling by then, but we were sent to ECI again at 15 months because she wasn't walking.
I'd say it won't hurt to have ECI assess your child. They will likely send an occupational therapist and physical therapist to your home for the assessment. They like to see the child in his or her own environment. It was actually neat to watch them interact with my daughter because it's a much more thorough exam than what you get at a standard well-baby visit. It's a great opportunity to see where your child really is developmentally.
Also, their scale of what's "normal" is broader than what the pediatrician goes by. The first time she didn't qualify for their assistance. The second time she was borderline, but the therapist felt like she'd catch up on her own, without intervention, and gave me some instruction on exercises and activities we could do to help our daughter strengthen her little legs. She simply had lower muscle tone in her legs (she was breech the whole pregnancy) and needed a few extra months to build strength there. She waited to walk on her own until she was 17 1/2 months old! Interestingly, she started in daycare right after that and you couldn't tell her walking ability apart from any other child who'd already been walking for 6 months.

So, I'd say don't worry and give them a call. It will take several weeks to get an appointment and he may already have caught up by the time you can get scheduled.

A.,
My son was 12 months and not sitting up or crawling; and we had the concerns of our peditrician as well at his 1 year check up. I have been using eci since. I agree - -all children must learn to develop on their own time; however, the whole part of ECI coming into your home is to engage in early intervention. You don't want your child to be delayed when other kids are running circles around them -- it will break your heart. My son had a MRI to rule out a tethered spinal cord (which sometimes causes delays in walking) and even had a MRI of his brain too -- too rule out all possibilities. He is now fine; but I can only say so b/c he was seen by Baylor Our Children's house and ECI for intervention of such. Personally, I like Baylor Our children's House better, b/c they are more agressive in therapy; and afterall, you kinda get what you pay for when something is free and provided for by the state. I say this though, in the same breath - you can hurt yourself or your child by calling ECI -- therapy is like play time for them in both instances. If you would like more infor specifically about either one, please pm me, and I will give you my number, I would love to share my personal experiences with both with you.
Good luck.
K.

Hi A.!

First get an evaluation from ECI (completely free of cost). ECI is based on a plan called family cost share plan. It will depend on your family's income how much you'll pay, but my son has been with them for the past 14 mo. and the first 6 mo. of service we paid nothing at all, after that it's just 20$ a month (and I consider my family middle class). I have nothing, but good things to say about ECI. As far as your pedi, it's her job to notice things and express concerns. I have no doubt that your boy will pick up on walking pretty soon.

T.

Hi A.,
ECI will assess the main developmental areas: communication-receptive and expressive, fine and gross motor skills, cognition skills, social and self-help skills. They do a lot of intervention with children with mental retardation and other mental anomalies, but that is not the only scope of their focus. ECI is free for the assessment, however I do think now they may charge a minimal fee for services, although I don't know the details of that. For peace of mind, I would have them assess him. That does not commit you to agree or enroll in any services. At the same time, the average ages for learning to walk is 10-14 months of age...with that being an average--it is not totally abnormal for lil' ones to walk a little later than that. Also, if you do need their services, the representative will really make a difference on the type of experience you have. I have heard good and bad as well, but I truly feel it is based on the individual you are assigned. IF you don't feel comfortable with the rep, ask for another one if possible.

Sounds like you are on the right track...just do what it takes for you to have peace of mind.

K.

ECI is wonderful and I think it's free. They cover learning disabilities and physical delays or related issues.

Just call them and get an evaluation. They are wonderful people.