DS just bum shuffled and I could cry

[Zzxxyyzz]

I desperately don’t want him to be a bum shuffler but I knew it was likely to be on the cards because he has always hated tummy time and was pretty late to roll.

Bum shuffling is linked to all sorts of developmental delay, dyspraxia, dyslexia etc. I’ve just read a study that stated half of bum shufflers went on to be diagnosed with ASD.

I just feel very sad that I can see a tricky future mapped out for him. I will forever ask myself if we could have done more to encourage tummy time but in the early days he just screamed and screamed and in the later days he was just not fussed about it and would roll onto his back.

Crawling is so important for developing visual acuity, handwriting, visual spatial skills etc. I am just absolutely heartbroken for him.

DH bless him doesn’t have a clue about the implications and is sitting there cheering him and proudly videoing it 😔 I’ve had to come out of the room I just feel sick and so gutted.

You pity my poor child?

That’s a lovely thing for you to say.

Have you never worried about your DD’s future and what it holds?

Like a PP, I hope pressing ‘send’ on that message made you feel fabulous.

Yes exactly this. In the kindest possible way - get a grip

Child psychologist here

Genuinely shocked at your post op

Like what??

These studies are nonsense

You are also panicking other parents unnecessarily

Okay then site them because crazy tic toc videos of pseudoscience don’t apply.

I don’t know anyone who bum shuffled who is anything like you have described including a close relative who is enormously successful.

Your reaction is really really not okay. Crying cause your kid bum shuffled and feeling sick?

OP this may just be about the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard and you are in for a VERY long childhood with these crazy views .

Did you forget to read all the science that said bottom shuffling isn’t exclusive to autism. And can be a NORMAL DEVELOPMENT VARIATION to some late walkers.

Shame on you.

I've found your research. It was 48 children who visited a child development centre. So a tiny sample for a start, not enough to really count, plus not a neutral sample - they were already visiting a child development centre.

It specifically says "Shuffling babies are generally considered to have favourable outcomes."

I think you've got carried away here.

No, you don't. I remember feeling anxious reading other people's threads about their baby's achievements and I'd compare and worry. Try to stay off boards like that, too. It's okay to check milestones and discuss with GP. Every child is different.

And please remember MN can be a cesspool of bitterness. 🙄

Are you a physiotherapist or occupational therapist? I'm also aware of the link you're referring to (I was a bum shuffler myself and my mother takes it as an insult that my children crawled, but I was secretly a bit pleased - one only crawled for a week though before walking, so the crawling is unlikely to have done much neurologically).

If you are a health professional in a relevant discipline you'll know there's loads you can do to build the relevant skills - crossing the middle line and so on - in a child who bum shuffles instead of crawling, and you'll be well placed to integrate activities playfully.

@Hiptothisjive to be fair op was quoting an actual paper. Just not one to put much weight on!

Dyspraxia is actually linked to higher intelligence, so there’s plenty of ways you can look at this IF he even has it. Im dyspraxic and am in the top 5% of UK earners, have a husband and children and a very rewarding career.

Parent of an autistic kid here (who crawled!) and I’m familiar with the research you’re talking about.

Luckily you have plenty of opportunity to ameliorate this. You know the hypothesis is that crawling connects synapses to do with crossing the line etc, so you can engage in games with remedial crawling as soon as he’s old enough.

Naturally though, if he’s autistic, he is. I will say though that there are worse fates. Autism can be a tricky journey but there are many others.

In a kind way, this is ridiculous. I had a bum shuffler and a crawler. Both turned out to be highly intelligent. The one who didn't walk until 19 months is highly intelligent and no neurodiversity!

you need to put this in perspective and celebrate it with your husband. For your individual child this means nothing.

Oh and I was a bum shuffler. I got a first class maths degree and am very fortunate to have a very good career.

OP, I've seen the research article you are getting 42% from.

Keep in mind that this research looked at less than 50 children - that's teeny tiny number in research terms.

It also selected the children by those who had visited a Child Development Centre e.g. these were children who bottom shuffled AND whose family had concerns enough to be seeking professional help.

The other research you quote, again selects a group of children with low literacy levels to focus on. It doesn't look at all bum shufflers and ask what % have poor stereoacuity, but at all (in a given population) low literacy children and ask what factors are higher than in the general population.

That's not to say the research is totally invalid but I think it might be causing you to see a much higher risk than there actually is.

I totally understand why it's stuck in your mind and is making you anxious, but if bottom shuffling is the only 'symptom' you are seeing I don't think you should be jumping ahead to a 'tricky future' already.

Is he only just beginning to bum-shuffle @Zzxxyyzz at a year old? I can see why you might be a bit concerned. And I know it is a huge truism to say that development is vastly disparate at this age - you'll have children who walk at 9 months and children who don't walk til they're 2 and both are fine by five, and children who are speaking in sentences by 18 months and children who only have a few words at the same age and both are also fine by five. So it could be an indicator of something else but it's not a foregone conclusion. Are there any other things that have given you any pause for thought? My DC didn't babble at all, didn't point, didn't make eye contact and didn't respond to her name consistently.

DS was a bum shuffler, hated tummy time, never crawled and didn’t walk till he was 17 months old. Doesn’t have ASD, has great hand eye coordination, good at most sports and as a baby he had very good fine motor skills. Doing well at school. Have never heard of the link between bum shuffling and ASD.

You haven’t caused this @Zzxxyyzz It isn’t your fault.

Regardless of what the future holds for him, it’s important to celebrate every milestone, every achievement because he deserves a mum who is proud of him and cheering him on.

Exactly what I wrote a couple of minutes ago. I totally agree with you.

Of course I have worried, my eldest was diagnosed at 8 which is very young for a girl without a learning difficulty. But not in such flimsy evidence of bum shuffling vs crawling. With hindsight the worrying was a complete waste of energy better used on getting support when actually required. And you are completely dismissive of the great outcomes than can be achieved with intervention, support, love and encouragement.

‘may provide suitable visual input for good stereoacuity development’
‘could assist infant brain development’
There’s a hypothesis but there’s no proven link

also please be wary of throwing yourself into academic research with little or no prior knowledge or training on the subject

My son crawled early (very mobile) but was late to talk. He is amazing but turned into a very unsporty kid (despite our best efforts to get him to try loads of activities). He is however, very articulate and good at debating. I don't care that he isn’t into football, as long as he is happy and gets some exercise to keep him healthy. My friend's child, born the same month, was very late to walk but very early to talk. He turned into a football mad, sporty kid. But he has some problems with speech. I'm sure she feels the same as me and loves him just as he is. They are both teenagers now. It made no difference when they did what as babies. Cherish these moments with your precious son and celebrate him whenever you can. There will be times to worry, but this is not one of those times.

My DD has asd.
Throughout the long tedious process of her diagnosis, I was never asked if she bum shuffled.
I was asked if it was a medicalised birth, if she met her milestones (she did), did I have a particularly stressful pregnancy.

Do you think that maybe you are over thinking this?
Maybe you need to put Dr Google away and enjoy your baby.

So glad I didn't read any research papers and had no idea of 'red flags' when DS did this. He had no incentive to walk until he was 18 months, which is arguably a bit late but made sense to me as bum shuffling leaves your hands free to grab things and explore.

He's 12 yo now and a wonderfully bright and well-adjusted child. Only after reading this thread did I start to wonder if he hit some milestones relatively late as a symptom of some 'problem'.

It really is best not to think (and read) too much and appreciate our children for who they are.

My bum shuffling child never crawled but one day just stood up and started walking. Completely NT adult now. Be very careful - if when you look at your child you're envisaging disaster and problems they'll pick up on that. Love your little one a day at a time just as they are.

Apparently I was a bum shuffler 65 yrs ago. I’m neurotypical and have had a full life ending with a PhD.

Don’t panic. I have worked for years with children with developmental disorders, bum shuffling has not been a big red flag. I have worked with plenty of children but can think of very few bum shufflers.

Talk to your child, play with your child, read to your child, sing with your child, don’t let him near a phone or iPad for a few years. That will really help him reach his potential.

Same with my youngest. No signs of ND, but simply has hyper mobile ankles. Not impacted her life in any way, other than late walking.

No good can come from worrying about something that is out of your control.

I feel that you are thinking worst case scenario here and I get it, when informed of the studies and research that can be what happens. I am an ASN teacher and some of my children progressed with crawling, walking, eating then had a massive regression. What I’m trying to say is this 100% doesn’t mean anything for your child and nobody can determine what the future holds for any child or adult. Enjoy his new found freedom, encourage him and I guarantee you that whatever his future holds he will continue to bring you the joy and love u feel now.