Not crawling at 10 mos

[waitingwaitingwaiting2]

DD is nearly 10 months and not crawling. Saw the health visitor last week who seemed concerned. Baby does bum shuffle and tries to pull up to stand, but seems to have minimal strength in her arms. If we assist, she can stand fairly strongly holding our fingers. But her legs go out to a frog position whilst lying on her tummy and she screams. Hv suggested she doesn’t get enough tummy time. in a sense she is right as this is DC2 and baby spends loads of time strapped into the pram whilst DC1 is doing other activities.

How concerned should I be? Is there anything I can do to help her crawl? I’ve been reading out bum shuffling’s links to other delays and went into a bit of a tailspin.

I wouldn't be concerned at all. My DC3 only started crawling a few days ago, at nearly 11 months. He now finally enjoys a bit of tummy time now he's not trapped in it, so I wouldn't stress about providing more. Crawling isn't even a milestone as some babies don't do it at all.

She'll get more mobile in her own time, so just enjoy the ease of having her not mind being strapped in, and staying where you leave her!

Oh sorry just reread and she's bum shuffling so is moving? All the more reason not to be concerned at all, that's just what some babies do! Sounds like she's doing well.

I wouldn't be concerned at all, a group I was in a load weren't crawling at 10 months, apparently it's not even seen as a milestone because some babies skip it completely!

My little one was advanced with his gross motor skills, but isn't talking at all yet when he should have words.

They do everything in their own time and at 10 months there really is nothing to worry about, HV's can add extra worry for no reason.

I knew a little girl who bum shuffled and went straight to walking. If your baby is bum shuffling she is getting around. My first didn't crawl at all, but started to walk at 10 months. Second child didn't attempt a walking till 14 months. There isn't a text book, so try not to worry.

10 months isn’t particularly late.
Does she roll over both ways? Sit unaided OK? If so it sounds like she’ll get there in her own time.

My first didn’t really crawl. She was very refluxy and would scream, vomit and nod her head into the sick if we put her on her tummy. So we didn’t 🤷🏻‍♀️

She crawled a bit at about 10/11 months, started cruising at 11 months then got up and walked off before her first birthday and never looked back. She’s 8 and has great coordination.

Lots of kids never crawl so don’t worry about that. My oldest went straight to walking.

But she should still be getting be plenty of exercise. Even if DC1 is at an activity, that is no excuse to leave the other in the buggy. You can take her out and hold her fingers to help her walk around the corridor, the room, the road, or wherever you are waiting! I used to take a baby walker underneath the buggy to the park, so little DC could play with that whilst older DC went on slides etc. Or, make sure you help her be very active when she gets home!

I'm not sure about if bum shuffling delays things, but I've just looked at my videos and ds didn't even start crawling until about 10 and a half months. No-one seemed concerned. He's now a 5 year old who's fine movement wise.

Can you carve out regular tummy time now? Or is it hard now she's able to shuffle herself about?

Neither of my 2 boys crawled at all - not even an inch! Wouldn't entertain tummy time either!

Both bum- shufflers though, then they walked at around 12m and 14m

I wouldn't be concerned at the moment. My DS who is now 7, never crawled. He just rolled everywhere, then just after his 1st birthday rolled to the sofa, pulled himself up to standing and then he was off! Apparently I never crawled either, maybe it's hereditary? Enjoy it while it lasts before he gets more mobile!

Mine never crawled. Never bum shuffled. Barely cruised. Just went straight to walking at 10 months.
Is now 10 and wins most of the races on sports day.

It doesn’t sound like it’s a worry to me.

I know I never crawled, only bum shuffled, and walked quite late. My mum was told at the time that bum shuffle babies are usually late walkers because they can easily reach things so less motivation than crawlers. I suspect I was just lazy

Unless there’s other concerns, I’d not be worried at all. Some start a regular crawl around 7 months, some much later. Some don’t crawl at all, some bum shuffle, some have a weird one leg doing most of the work crawl. There seem to be a load of variations in both age and ‘style’ that fall within the normal range. But at 10 months I’d not be fretting. I bum shuffled till I was 2 and didn’t walk till I was 2.5. I do have a soft tissue condition called classical Ehlers Danlos syndrome though and bum shuffling and late walking can be a sign. But it’s pretty rare . I also had a lot of other signs such as skin going red and a bit swollen when I was held or when there was any pressure on my skin in general. Lots of bruising, weird scarring. So lots of other early signs in addition to very late walking and the bum shuffling thing.

thank you for the replies so far…

@Dammitthisisshit yes, she does roll both ways and sits well, but can’t get herself to sitting from lying down.

@CocoC thank you, yes, if we’re at a playground I do take her out and let her sit in sand or try to stand. But sometimes we’re someplace that isn’t as baby friendly so she ends up in the buggy or carried by me. Or if we’ve gone to the shops DS rides in the trolley and walks in the store whilst she’s in the pram or strapped to me in the baby carrier.

DS1 went from stationary sitting to walking at 11 months (no crawling at all).

DS 2 currently 9 months can do a sort of 360 spin on his tummy and shout until somebody assists him to grab whatever he's after 🤣

I wouldn't be concerned at 10 months if he's sitting and bum shuffling - they are all different!

Mine are now 17 and 14. DC1 walked at 16 months after one month of crawling with bum shuffling the preferred mode of movement before that. Didn’t seem to have much hip strength before then so couldn’t get from lying up into a sitting position unassisted until was 14 months. Now plays a sport for the local regional team which which needs to be trialed for on an “invite only” basis. DC2 was a crawler but actually walked slightly later than DC1. Turned out to be a good little gymnast, particularly box split and the crab.

I stressed when they were little - honestly, it was a total waste of time.

Some babies are just bum shufflers. My DS bum shuffled from 17 months and walked at 2 so quite delayed. I think if she's bum shuffling at 10 months you don't need to worry, she's found out how to get around and not crawling means she can carry things at the same time

Thanks for the reassurance, i reckon some of the worry is mum guilt for her not getting the same undivided attention as DC1.