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Original poster

How to help baby crawl??

40 replies

Goostacean · 13/09/2020 09:20

At my wits’ end with constant whining from DC2, 9mo, who desperately wants to crawl and can’t yet. He flops onto his front reaching for toys and then whinges loudly and eventually starts crying.

All. The. Time. I’m constantly re-sitting him for him to be yelling on his front 30 seconds later.

Any tips to get him past this stage ASAP???

OP posts:

rosydreams · 13/09/2020 09:31

leave him on the floor and scatter toys away from him ,just leave him be .He will eventually learn he has to move to get what he wants

ChickensMightFly · 13/09/2020 09:33

As above, and you could help him get his arms under him to nudge him in the right direction.

Original poster

Goostacean · 13/09/2020 09:36

I do but he just whines SO MUCH. He’s got a runny nose which probably isn’t helping, but I just can’t handle the constant constant whinging. He pushes up with his arms really nicely but isn’t bending his knees, and if you put his hips/knees in the right position he just instantly flops down onto his belly.

OP posts:

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IslandLulu · 13/09/2020 09:38

Sounds like you are doing the right thing.

He may just be doing things in his own time or he may have a mobility problem that needs addressing.

Ask health visitor for advice.

peachgreen · 13/09/2020 09:40

Oh bless you OP, I remember those transition periods (when they're learning to crawl / walk etc) reaaaaally tough - so much whinging! It will pass and be a distant memory. The fact that he's getting frustrated shows how hard he's trying so he will get there sooner than you think.

Findahouse21 · 13/09/2020 09:43

Can you try moving him round the house to try out different floors. Dd is 9 months and can't crawl either - mostly because she won't lay on her front. But she has developed quite a good bum shuffle. She was struggling because we spend most of the day downstairs on wooden floors, but the other day I had to sort out her sister s room which has really thick carpet, and that seemed to really help her to get her bum shuffling skills sorted, and now she can do it on any floor surface.

Findahouse21 · 13/09/2020 09:43

But yes, the whining drives me potty too!!

Original poster

Goostacean · 13/09/2020 09:45

Oh gosh no, I don’t think he has any mobility problem! He’s a big strong boy, no other issues, just can’t quite compute how to get his legs to do his bidding yet. He’s only just 9mo, so all perfectly normal developmentally- and earlier than his sibling! Just annoying for me... Really hope you’re right @peachgreen It looked so promising, he was up on all fours rocking... and then deciding he didn’t like it and now flips down immediately every time.

OP posts:

Original poster

Goostacean · 13/09/2020 09:47

Good tip @Findahouse21! I’ll give that a go. He’s mostly on carpet/rugs as I worry the wooden floor is too hard for him, especially if he happens to fall from sitting (rare but does happen especially now he’s reaching for things all around him).

OP posts:

bedtimestories · 13/09/2020 09:55

My lg physio advised me when she wanted to crawl put her in the crawling position. She was heading to be a bum shuffler but because of a medical condition it was important she crawled

Original poster

Goostacean · 13/09/2020 10:01

And then what? Did you hold her up whilst she moved her limbs? Or just put her in it and then put her back in it once she changes position?

OP posts:

TerribleCustomerCervix · 13/09/2020 10:04

Honestly, you’re doing the right thing. Leave him to it and he’ll work it out- this time in three or four weeks he’ll have it. Once they start getting on to all four themselves it’s only a matter of time!

Original poster

Goostacean · 13/09/2020 10:07

three or four weeks 😭

OP posts:

TerribleCustomerCervix · 13/09/2020 10:10

Haha I know it seems like ages OP but you know from your first, one day it just clicks and they’re off!

The fact he’s getting frustrated is a good thing, he wants to move but just needs to work out the mechanics!

I remember DS was the same age and could only crawl backwards, ALWAYS under furniture and would scream like a banshee until I could rescue him.

FolkSongSweet · 13/09/2020 10:12

Put toys just out of reach and leave him to it. Also I would try him on harder/slippier surfaces and see if it helps. Mine always made big improvements after spending time at a friend’s house with wooden floors - ours were carpet.

milkjetmum · 13/09/2020 10:16

Maybe he'll go straight to walking? Dd2 never crawled but loved to climb and was toddling at 10 months! Can he pull himself to standing if near a chair etc?

BabyLlamaZen · 13/09/2020 10:17

Is the floor soft enough? Mine loved practicing on our bed. Getting down there with them and making it fun seemed to help!

Original poster

Goostacean · 13/09/2020 10:28

Mmm sounds like we need to try a variety of surfaces. I know he’ll get there, it’s just very frustrating for all of us! I don’t think he’ll be walking first- he stands by furniture for a few seconds at a time. Basically only long enough to find me, turn to me and launch himself into my arms. Or he sits down.

OP posts:

Okbutnotgreat · 13/09/2020 10:30

I’ve had one crawler then DS scooted around on one knee with the other leg straight behind because it was quicker than crawling (hard floors), youngest never even tried to crawl, she bumshuffled for a week or two then just stood up one day and walked but she was 14 months.

Give him plenty of floor time and he’ll figure it out for himself.

Ahwig · 13/09/2020 10:57

Because my son didn’t mix very much with other children when he was tiny, he didn’t see anyone crawl. He walked at 9 months to the day. At 10 months I went back to work and he went to a childminder. There were 2 other children of a similar age. They didn’t walk, they crawled so within a couple of days so did he after watching them. ( he carried on walking too)

RednaxelasLunch · 13/09/2020 11:01

Put some music on or go out when the whinging gets too annoying.

It could also be teething causing the general misery!

CleanHankie · 13/09/2020 12:04

When he's flopped on his tummy does he bend his legs, similar to breaststroke so not on his knees but to the side? My DD was doing that a lot and it was recommended that I put my hand behind her foot so she could push off it and move forward a little. After a while she learnt to push herself around and commando crawl. She never did crawl on her hands and knees!

Ariela · 13/09/2020 12:16

Why do you want him mobile? I'd have put up with the racket and let him wail to keep him staying put where I left him. Nightmare moving stuff out the way.

darklady64 · 13/09/2020 12:19

Oh I remember this! The whining it tough, but he will get it. As PPs have said the fact he's getting frustrated means he has incentive to work it out! FWIW all of mine were different - one bum shuffled, and one did this weird move like he was breakdancing doing the caterpillar! Hang on in there! (And once he has learned to crawl - well, that's a whole other world of, erm, interesting times

JovialNickname · 13/09/2020 14:52

You could try crawling around in front of him so he sees what he's supposed to be doing?

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