To ask when your child first started moving independently?

[basketofironing]

DD is 9 months next week and I'm starting to lose patience with her refusal to even try to move independently. Please tell me I am being unreasonable in expecting her to start trying.

Backstory so don't get accused of the old drip feed- she had awful reflux as a newborn and therefore tummy time was few and far between because she'd scream the house down if we put her down.

I think we made a monster in doing this because now she still hates being on her tummy. She'll tolerate it for a few minutes but then just whinges until she is righted. She has excellent balance when sitting so very rarely falls down and has to fix herself.


I'm approaching breaking point as she has been just vile with it lately because she has started to want to be near me all the time but can't get to me and seemingly can't be bothered to try. She also starts crying when we encourage her to put weight on her legs so attempting to walk seems a distant hope right now.


Having said this (adding as an afterthought before I post) after I put her down for the night she will always roll over and will shuffle herself up to the top of the cot and often sleeps the night on her tummy with her legs tucked underneath her body. Why does she hate it in the day then??

[Angela0413]

Babies crawl at all different ages. Did zero "tummy time" with my second and he crawled before he was 6 months old. Was gutted. So much easier when they are not moving! First born did a wierd commando pull along crawl thing at 8 months and didn't crawl properly until gone 9 months and walked at 14 months.

[Angela0413]

So yes Yabu

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

Both of my children hated tummy time.

DS1 started cruising against furniture etc at around 16 months and walked at 18 months (no crawling at all).

DS2 bum shuffled at 14 months, pulled to standing at 19 months and walked at 22 months. No crawling.

Bother were hypermobile and weren't weight-bearing at all at their one-yr checks. Both referred to physio.

9 mo is still very young, so yes YABU!

But YES I understand the frustration of having to carry them everywhere and them not being able to get to you under their own steam. And the frustrated WHINGING when they can't entertain themselves for more than five minuted because they can't move!!

It may be worth a chat with HV about the lack of weight-bearing.

[Jaynesworld]

My first hated tummy time on the floor, but loved tummy time on me. So I would lie down and I'd put baby on my belly/chest, could that work?

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

I found it got loads easier once they were mobile Angela. Having an older baby/toddler who wants to move around and explore but can't do so on their own is really difficult!

[Poocatcherchampion]

Yabu to be annoyed with a 9mo.

My 14mo can walk but he prefers to be held, carried or cling to me. It is natural.

[Olympiathequeen]

Crawling at 6 mo and walking at 10. Next one ditto crawling and walking 9 months.

Don't think either did much tummy time.

They're all different so don't worry about it.

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

DS is 10 months olds and just started crawling last week. I already miss the days when he couldn't 😂 they all go at different speeds. A woman at work had her DS the same week as me and he is already walking

[Orangebird69]

9mo is still really quote little to be moving independently. My ds never did tummy time, he hated it. He started sitting up ny himself at 7mo. Crawling at 10mo. Walking at 13 mo. 14mo now and I can barely keep up with him.

[Orangebird69]

And you are BVVVU to call a 9mo 'vile'...

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

My friend has a DS the same age as DS2 (they were born a week apart). He started walking a walking a full year before DS2 did!

[CheeseCrackersAndWine]

My oldest crawled at 9.5 months. No shuffling anything first - just crawled. So she will probably one day just discover she can do it and be off.

[Elphame]

DS crawled at 10 months and walked at 14 months. He was a big heavy baby too which I think slowed him down.

DD crawled at 5 months and was walking by 9 months - I wouldn't wish that on anyone!

[Crumbs1]

None of mine ever crawled. Three went from cruising around furniture about 9/10 months to walking before a year. Three others bottom shuffled very competently from about 7 months. Youngest was a princess and if her siblings were around she just pointed at things and they were brought to her. She still does that if she can get away with it. Don't panic about it, they are all different and independent movement brings additional stresses as well as joys. Plenty of time yet.

[coocoocachew]

^^ this

[hazeyjane]

Dd1 crawled about 11 months, walked at 16months
Dd2 never crawled, bum shuffled from a year, walked at 21 m
Ds never rolled, moved or crawled (still struggles to crawl at 6!) started walking in a very wobbly way at 2.5 (he is disabled)

[eckythumpenallthat]

Dd never crawled or rolled

First independent movement was 13 months when she bum shuffled

Then nothing else till 22 months when she walked


I was so exasperated and down hearted by it all but they really are all so different

[5madthings]

Nine mths is the average age for starting to crawl apparently.

My youngest is not quite nine mths and has been crawling from 7-8mrhs and can now cruise using furniture, climb the stairs etc it's a pita tbh but it is good when they can move and entertain themselves a bit.

My others have varied from crawling at 5mths and walking at 8-9mths ds2 to crawling at 10mths and walking at 16mths dd.

There is a developmental leap, separation anxiety kicks in at this age etc as well.

[Tabymoomoo]

Yabu - they all move at different times and once they're toddlers no one really cares what age they started crawling/walking etc But I do remember it was something all the mum's talked about when they were babies!

My second crawled at 6 months and walked at 9 months (unstoppable child - still is) but friends child bottom shuffled at 12 months and didn't walk till 22months - you could not tell the difference now!

[SheepyFun]

DD cruised at 10/11 months, crawled at 12 and walked at 17. The advantage of a late walker was she seemed ever so slightly more sensible than the really early walkers - she didn't walk into things as much.

[basketofironing]

Thanks everyone, I know I'm being unreasonable. It's been a long week of lack of routine, teething and complaining! It's hit hard as well that she is oldest of our nct friends and last to teethe and crawl. But I know they all do things at their own rate, I think I need a spa day

@Orangebird69 howso? I'm using it to describe her attitude/mood. In my knowledge, vile = unpleasant, bad, foul. I'm not sure how using it is so unreasonable? Hardly like I called her something derogatory or a sweaty name?

[Helloitsme87]

First born crawled at 10 months, walked at 20.
Second born crawled at5 months, walked at 12

[basketofironing]

Or a sweary name.

[CactusFred]

Tummy time is one of those things that they tell you helps but in fact makes no difference.

Give the poor thing a break and she'll do it all in her own time.