Bum shuffler - should I encourage crawling?

[BakingBunty]

DD (10 months) has just started bum shuffling. I've read that crawling is important to build connections between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, so I'm guessing I should be encouraging her to crawl. But how?! I've tried putting a toy just out of reach whilst she's on her tummy, but she just puts her head on the ground and sighs theatrically.
Or should I just leave her be? I was a bottom shuffler myself, and whilst I walked very late, I've not had any other problems...
Any other mums (or dads!) of bum shufflers out there? Any advice? Thanks!

[NormHonal]

Make sure you read up on hypermobile joint syndrome and get medical advice if you see other symptoms appearing, as bum-shuffling can be related to that.

[LongDivision]

to encourage crawling, you could try one of those pop-up tunnels (or build your own tunnel with chairs/blankets/etc).

[HaleMary]

Why encourage crawling? Is there any physiological reason to, I mean? I never crawled, moving straight from bumshuffling to speedy walking, and my son did exactly the same - his first unsupported 'step' (at ten months) wasn't a step at all, he ran across 20 feet of kitchen and nearly gave me a heart attack because I had my back turned putting something into a hot oven.

He only began to crawl when he was well over two and playing with toy cars on the floor.

[tictactoad]

Dd was a bum shuffler. It didn't occur to me to try and make her crawl instead and she walked about the same age as the others.

I hadn't heard the brain connections thing but she graduated with a good grade last year so I can only assume it didn't hold her back

[lilacblossomtime]

I am wondering if any sort of moving themself about will help the brain. Obviously bum shuffling isn't quite so co-coordinated as crawling, but it still requires some movement on either side of the body, plus balancing and directing where they want to go

[BakingBunty]

Thanks all. Think I will take her to HV to check for hyper mobility as she does show some other signs. Not sure I will push the crawling too much, though will try the tunnel idea. The potential problems are apparently related to sequencing and logic... But I've never had a problem with either, always did well at school. Was spectacularly clumsy and double jointed so maybe I have some hyper mobility too. Thanks for all the advice, really helpful.

[tippytappywriter]

Hi. Both my children were bottom shufflers and late walkers. It never occurred to me that they should crawl. It was always an advantage for them that they could hold things and get across the room. They are now 10 and 8 and doing well!

[halfpint1967]

hi
all3of my girls have been different.my eldest crawled2nd bum shuffled with one leg tucked underneath her.she used to go like the clappers!lol
my3rd never crawled or bum shuffled.she kind of dragged herself along on her tummy with one arm!
my eldest2have grown up into lovely adults with no problems at all
my youngest one was diagnoaed with hypermobility at18months&didnt walk til a wk before her2nd birthday with the help of physio
shes a happy healthy almost7yr old now who still has to have orthotic boots&insoles&gets tired achey legs at times but doesnt let her condition stop her from doing anything!