My dc are more likely to have AHD/ADHD and learning difficulties because they didn't/aren't crawling: is this correct?

[GlitteringJasper]

Someone who works in education has told me this (SEN teacher)
AIBU to be worried?

My dc1 didn't crawl and bum shuffled before eventually walking at 18.5 months.

Dc2 will be a year soon and looks like she will be going the same way and has no interest in crawling or "standing" holding on to furniture.

Dc1 can crawl now when I ask him to, but is it the fact that he didn't do it as a development stage the problem.

I'm really worried about this. Is this correct?

I try to put dc2 in crawling position and encourage her but she has no interest whatsoever.

Is this a thing that I just wasn't aware of and should I be worried?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

How strange. My daughter has severe dyspraxia to the point she cant run properly at 9. But was a demon crawler.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

DS1 didn't crawl and walked by 12 months. He has some fine motor issues and dysgraphia.
DS2 crawled more and also walked by 12 months. No motor issues but dyslexic.

DS1 did have gross motor skills issues when he was younger and saw an OT. Bizarrely part of the way through his treatment (aged 5) he went through a phase of crawling at home.
I can certainly see why a child with motor skills issues might find the coordination of arms and legs needed for crawling a challenge and so favour an alternative. So I wonder if a lack of crawling is a symptom of a pre-existing problem in some children.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

My DD crawled for 11 months. She was the best crawler around. She has ASD, probably ADHD and learning disability.

[Muskey]

My sister didn't walk until she was three and never crawled. At the ripe old age of 55 they have diagnosed her with congenital dislocation of the hips. If you think there is something wrong with your dc then do take him/her to your GP but remember there could be all sorts of reasons why your DC aren't crawling not all of them are to do with autism/aspergers

[RubbleBubble00]

My dc all crawled and walked very early, all old enough for diagnosis have ADHD/ADD, wasn't overly surprised as they ran/climbed rather than just walked.

Some kids don't walk until late, nothing to do with intelligence.

[Senpai]

I was walk and crawling early. I still have ADHD and another undiagnosed LD.

I think late walking could be an indicator when pair with other symptoms. But in and of itself, I wouldn't worry.

[Youarentkiddingme]

It's not rubbish. There is a correlation whether it's a causation or not.

Also can people stop saying my child/me/DH etc were bum shufflers/ late crawlers but are bright people etc.

My DS didn't crawl, has asd and dyspraxia but is extremely bright - top 10% on CAT tests (except verbal reasoning!).
Having a disability doesn't make you unbright - having a disability makes it harder to use those skills and it's called a learning disability.

[pointythings]

I bumshuffled and didn't walk until 18 months and am as NT as anything. My Dsis crawled as normal and walked early and is NT.
My DDs both crawled and then walked before 1 year and are NT.

The correlation sounds pretty tenuous to me.

[AnyFucker]

Bottom shufflers are often of low muscle tone. Which is often linked with hypermobility and delayed gross motor milestones. Again, a correlation but not causation.

[Witchend]

There is a known link between not crawling and dyslexia, plus ambidexterity and dyslexia.

I was disbelieving when first told that, and so went and looked it up, and there's some strong research papers. Very interesting really.

You wouldn't really expect there to be a link between those two, I could have understood dyspraxia for example having a link.

But because there's a link it doesn't mean it's a given, just perhaps it could be one in a chain of things that make you wonder if there is an issue there.

[Keeptrudging]

Sounds like she's into Neuro-linguistic programming. I had to do a course in it years ago (SEN Teacher) and part of it involved crawling around on the floor as the idea was that some children with SEN had 'missed' that stage and needed to redo it in order to progress. My feeling at the time was it was (like brain gym) a lot of psycho - babble. My son crawled, he has ADHD/dyspraxia/hypermobility.

[HSMMaCM]

There is some correlation, but it's linked to a whole pile of other symptoms. Don't worry. Just enjoy your children. My DD didn't crawl at all and is living a normal life.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

Whybehappy and Lonecat I definitely didn't meant to imply that from my post. Apologies if it came across that way.

[timelytess]

My dd has Asperger's and never crawled. She walked at eight months. I took the view that as no-one around her was crawling about, she didn't think it appropriate.

[craftyoldhen]

I've heard a link with not crawling and dyspraxia too, in fact I'm sure the community paed mentioned it when DD was being assessed.

FWIW my DD didn't crawl and has dyspraxia (and ASD).

She's also very intelligent and doing very well academically, her difficulties are in other areas.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I agree with you whybehappy I was a bit . Guess what I'm a vet, two degrees and studying for a masters and I am dyslexic. Oh and I did crawl.

[WhyBeHappyWhenYouCouldBeNormal]

Having SEN doesn't mean you can't be a high achiever by the way guys... teeny bit miffed with all these 'my ds is a genius and didn't crawl' exclamations.

[AliceInUnderpants]

Neither of mine were real crawlers, but both walked around 12 months.

DC1 has diagnosis of ADHD and ASD, and DC2 is awaiting ADHD diagnosis, and further assessment for ASD

[ICantSpellNoffink]

What rubbish!

[lostInTheWash]

I thought it was a soft sign for dyspraxia.

I don't think it's a cause just a soft sign - often found to be there with people with dyspraxia but can be found in people who don't have it and not all dyspraxia do it.


Give plenty of opportunities and activities that help develop co-ordination gross and minor and if there are problems at school with handwriting keep it in mind. Other wise forget it.

Never heard it related to AHD/ADHD - though they can be co-morbid with dyspraxia - could well be your friend has become confused there.

[BertieBotts]

Erm, no. WTF?

YY to stories of correlation. Plus it's all anecdotes. You notice a pattern because you want to see some kind of sign.

[sylviassecrets]

Nonsense! My ds didn't crawl, walked and talked late and is in all top sets for GCSEs now at 14, no ADHD or any other issues!