dd won't get off bum to crawl

[worldatlas]

I'm bit worred. my 8.5 dd likes to sit and reach for toys but she won't crawl. If she's sitting she'll stay sitting. for ages. If we put toys slightly out of reach she may get them but if it's too much of a stretch she won't care. If we put her on ha belly she will roll around all over.

i m worried she isn't crawling? Is this a problem

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

Definitely not a problem.

DS didn't crawl till he was 1. Walked two weeks later.

Make the most of it.

[blowthewindsoutherly]

Nope, not a problem at all. 8.5 months is still very young, and some babies never crawl but get around in other ways.

My DC1 didn't crawl til 11.5 months!! Got there in the end though.

DC2 was 9.5 months.

They are all different.

[brehon]

Some kids don't bother crawling all. They go from being bum shufflers to walking and completely bypass crawling.

[senua]

What's the question? Are you worried that "she's not crawling" or that "she's not crawling at this age".
Mine are far too old for me to remember the 'correct' age but crawling, in of itself, is important. It teaches co-ordination which, if missed out, can lead to dyspraxic-type problems. It is best not to go straight to the walking stage.
When she is ready, make a game of crawling with her (remember the 5-a-day rule about playing on the floor: pretend to be animals or summat).

[jenniec79]

Bum-shuffling is a perfectly acceptable route to walking, as is commando-crawling not just standard crawling.

Bum-shufflers tend to be mobile a little later, but not a concern in the leasst.

[LaWeasel]

DD was like this. No issues (happy walking toddler now) she was just a bit slow with all the gross motor milestones after sitting up.

It matters not a jot in the long run.

(In the meantime enjoy being able to leave things in her vicinity without finding them in her nappy 2 days later!)

[Sarsaparilllla]

My friend's DD never crawled at all but she bum shuffled about and then went straight to walking, never did her any harm :)

[Mabelface]

My kids crawled at 9 months, 13 months, 13 months and 14 months respectively. All walk fine with no issues.

[DimplesOHara]

DD was like this at the same age, she would theb sometimes 'teddy bear' roll to get her toys but wasn't bothered.
She then started crawling at 9mths at a half drag/half crawl but would stop after two movements, then at 9.5mths follow me into the kitchen with a 'proper' crawl, it was as if some thing just clicked x
I was worried as you are but just keep repeating 'they all do things at their own pace'

[happygilmore]

senua that's not true - lots of babies don't ever crawl and are fine. As I understand it there is a (very slight) chance of later dyspraxic problems in children who don't crawl, but that certainly dooesn't mean one causes the other!

HCPs do not even list crawling as a developmental milestone, and 8.5months would also be classed as an early crawler. FWIW DD didn't crawl til 12 months and is still not really pulling up at 14 months. She doesn't attempt to walk yet, either with us helping her or not.

It's all normal and nothing to worry about - it's a nightmare tbh when they can start getting around, you need eyes in the back of your head.

[worldatlas]

yeh not wanting her to crawl in as much as life will get harder!

just want to make sure i'm doing best for her and that there's no problems with her age and not crawling. she's very happy but does get frustrated sometimes with not being able to move

[Zimm]

Senua where do you get your information? Unless you have clear references and evidences I don;t think it's fair of you to worry the OP in such a way. LOADs of children don;t crawl and are perfectly fine.MY DP is one of them. My neighbour is also. I could go on.

OP - 8.5 months would be an early crawler - DD was 10 months and is now learning to walk at 1 year.

[ggirl]

ds never crawled, bum shuffled or rolled

he got up and walked at 10-11mos with hand holding

about a month of back breaking hand holding and he was off

enjoy the lack of movement while you can

[ggirl]

and btw my ds is entirely normal , no dyspraxia...8yrs and a very sporty kid

I do remember someone one mentioning it to me at the time and fretting about it

[pinkgirlythoughts]

Not all children do crawl.... some bypass that stage and go straight to walking, but may then go through a crawling phase later on!

I remember learning about the way children learn to move at uni, and seeing a diagram in a book of the different way they may do it- most crawl, some bum-shuffle, others 'crawl' with their arms but not their legs... what really made me chuckle was the bit showing that "approximately 1%" may do a crab-style walk, back arched, head tipped upside down, hands over head! I can honestly say that I've never known a baby do that one!

[senua]

DS was diagnosed as having dyspraxic type problems at an early age, about 4 y.o. The Occupational Therapist gave us exercises to do to effectively go back and re-do the crawling he missed out on. He had to lay down on a thing like a skateboard and propel himself using all fours.
As babies grow they learn things and lay down neural pathways based on these activities. If they don't do the activity then they don't make the neural pathways. They can do it later but it is easier done earlier.
It's nothing to overly worry about though - as I said, the OP can play games (at any stage, before or after walking) to get the practise.

[FilthyDirtyHeathen]

My brother did this and so did my dh. I will never forget when ds began crawling and my MIL announcing to a room full of our friends that dh wasn't a 'crawler' he was a 'bummer'. The snorts were audible and she had no idea what she had said.

[worldatlas]

what sort of games can I play? I don't know about them

[senua]

Crawling aid suggested here

Same idea discussed here. She gets a bit intense about the importance of crawling so don't read if you are feeling neurotic!

Healthvisitors.com say "Crawling can be encouraged by putting a favourite toy slightly out of reach to tempt the baby to crawl over to it. You can also crawl together and have obstacle races using cushions to crawl over or allowing them the experience of crawling over you first on the floor. This it is great fun and if you are happy they will be too. Toys that roll are good to use when skills at crawling are improving. Crawling is thought to be good for the brain because it helps to develop the parts that are used later for reading and writing."

I read somewhere else that it is an idea to try doing crawling barefoot as they get better grip then.

HTH

[senua]

BTW: the games that the OT suggested to us are no use to you because they were aimed at an older child eg standing on one leg to improve balance.

[worldatlas]

Do I really need to buy special toys to encourage her to crawl????

[mummytime]

Do not panic! My least dyspraxic/dyslexic child bottom shuffled (extremely fast) and is now a perfectly normal 8 year old. Putting them on their tummies for a bit, encourages crawling, as does putting things a little out of reach, but they may move in a different ways.
Some people think like Senua, some don't. The evidence is out.
BTW I crawled perfectly normally and am dyspraxic. My eldest crawled an didn't bottom shuffle, and is dyslexic (he was also cross lateral despite crawling perfectly normally).
8.5 is young to crawl. If you are worried talk to you Health visitor, but it sounds perfectly normal or now.

[amyboo]

DS learnt to crawl after he could stand up and cruise the furniture. Dragged himself around a bit on his arms at around 8.5 months, then stood up at around 9 months, but didn't walk till 13 months. I think it's one of those ones where every child is different.... Personally I wouldn't obsess about crawling yet - enjoy it while she still stays where you left her!

[worldatlas]

I never heard of dyspraxic before [embarrassed]. Now I'm panicked, I looked it up. DD has not had any of other symptoms as a baby. Great feeder. Not remotely irritable. Rolls over all the time. Sits up inaided for hours. Hopefully I'm just panicking for nothin