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?

[Youarentkiddingme]

There is a link between not crawling and not developing the muscles in the hand/ shoulders. The weight bearing helps develop those muscles needed for writing/ fine motor movement.

I am not led to believe that not crawling is a sign of asd/ADHD etc - but many with these conditions don't crawl because they've retained primitive reflexes.

Same with gross motor skills. Walking early etc are often used to discount things like dyspraxia - but it presents in so many ways so although with anything there is a red flag the physical side of things is just one sign/symptom and it's the child's presentation as a whole that is used when looking at conditions.

Doing lots of play with things like play dough, games such as as wheelbarrow races or anything that puts weight through the shoulders is good for small children.

And the last muscle to develop is the bottom muscles - needed for sitting still and concentrating - so it's likely your bum shufflers have had a head start!

[SmokeAlarmsSaveLives]

DD walked at 9 months and never crawled - no development issues.
DS walked at 10 months and never crawled, he has sever learning difficulties and autism.

I think your friend has caused you unnecessary worry and it was a foolish thing to say.

[Youarentkiddingme]

My ds walked at 10 months, crawled at 12 months - but never really actually crawled anywhere, rode a bike without stabilisers at 3.4yrs. He has asd and dyspraxia. He's 11yo now.

[Pythonesque]

There are a lot of developmental and physical variants that on their own are normal and not uncommon. However when faced with a child with possible problems, these "soft signs" may be asked about and looked for, as patterns may emerge that assist in diagnosis.

An SEN teacher may be getting slightly the wrong idea as she could be aware of some of the things that children she is helping have had / been noted to have had, without really understanding that these are relevant only once difficulties are known to exist.

(for a different example, there are a number of physical features that are commonly seen in Down syndrome, such as single palmar creases, ear and facial features etc. One of them on its own doesn't increase the likelihood of a child having Down's at all, although noticing it in a baby might lead to a careful examination checking for the presence of other features)

[Thymeout]

I have heard this, yes. But it's only slightly more likely.

Lots of NT babies bottom shuffle, but some bottom shufflers later show some neurological quirks. One I know of had problems with reading and writing at first, but is now an internationally successful photographer.

If the Senco is a specialist in this field, then she would have studied it in relation to early signs in babies. She doesn't have to be an expert in babies to know this.

But, no, you don't have to worry. As Branleuse said, it's only a v slight correlation.

[LyndaNotLinda]

My sister bum-shuffled and is NT, my DS crawled and isn't

[yorkshapudding]

Part of my job involves assessing children for evidence of ASD and ADHD. Late crawling, skipping crawling altogether or late walking would not be considered at all noteworthy on their own. Also, I would count bum shuffling or commando crawling as crawling anyway, some kids just choose their own way of getting around. There is a slight correlation between delayed motor skills and neurodevelopmental disorders but it's very much about looking at the whole picture of that child's behaviour and development. So, yes, we would ask whether the child met their developmental milestones (such as crawling or walking) within the expected timeframe but we would also be looking at their speech, non verbal communication, toileting, feeding, sensory issues, play, fine motor skills as well as gross, social interaction, sleep, behavior, level of understanding...you get the idea. Basically, unless you are concerned about your child's development as a whole then late walking or crawling on its own isn't a big deal. It was pretty irresponsible of this teacher to imply otherwise.

[catkind]

There is a myth in circulation that cross crawling somehow promotes links between brain hemispheres. I would asume this is what the person is talking about. It appears to be tosh.
childmyths.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/cross-about-cross-crawl.html

[CMOTDibbler]

I only crawled backwards, and not a lot then. I'm NT and am very well qualified in physics, so crawling wasn't important to me.

[Tapirs]

I was told this by the Paediatrician/OT when DS1 was going through diagnosis about 12 years ago. So her information is out of date.

[Tapirs]

Sorry. To be clear - I was told that is was an indicator - part of a picture.

[fresta]

I think this is rubbish! My dd never crawled, she is perfectly NT and so is my bum shuffling brother. I actually think intelligent children bub shuffle, she could get around without having to put down or stop playing whilst shuffling. The only thing I might suggest is that bum shufflers seem to walk later and might not have the best gross motor skills, for eg. my dd and my brother have never been great at running or sports and anything that needs good co-ordination- great at fine motor skills though- well above average there and very easy going personalities and very bright.

[LittleMissAIBU]

It may be an indicator with other factors, but not on its own.

DS1 was a late crawler/walker and has dysgraphia and dyslexia.

DS2 was an even later crawler/walker and is NT, my friends son who is 4 months younger was walking and talking at a younger age, and has ASD.

On its own I would say not to worry at this stage.

[Mistigri]

I imagine there is a correlation between late crawling / walking and some developmental disabilities like dyspraxia, but at the same time it's only a statistical risk - most late crawlers/ walkers develop perfectly normally.

[GreenPotato]

Two non-crawlers here, and they are very different. DS has dyslexia and some motor problems. DD is the exact opposite, doing well academically and very precise physically. I know it's just anecdotal and anyway "more likely" wouldn't mean they would have a problem anyway, but I don't think you should worry.

They both bum-shuffled, and DS would also roll to get where he wanted. To this day he's a brilliant problem-solver. I agree that it might not just be a negative thing, but a sign of a child who can think up other solutions IYSWIM.

[HearTheThunderRoar]

This is a really interesting thread, I never knew about the correlation of non crawling babies with ASD / ADHD / dyspraxia. As I mentioned DD was bum shuffler and has had a whole host of problems with her joins in her legs and ankles, has battle tight calf muscles and shin splints for years now. Her physiotherapist and podiatrist have said her bum shuffling was connected to those problems.

She is also very un co-ordinated when it comes to dancing etc but is very social and is average academically, this has really got me thinking.

[hedwig2001]

My son never crawled. Bum shuffled, then walked at 18mths. I think it came out of never being on his tummy, as a small baby. Back to sleep was encouraged, but "tummy time" from birth was not yet being pushed (2001). By the time I was trying to introduce it, he was old enough to roll over. He hated being prone.

[Mumoftwoyoungkids]

What are your floors made of?

I have noticed an (anecdote based) correlation between wooden floors and bum shufflers. And carpet floors and crawlers. (If you are wondering why try both (preferably with a nice padded nappy) on both floors!

I have also noticed an (anecdote based) correlation between bum shufflers and later walkers. (Again if wondering why try crawling and bum shuffling whilst holding 3 teddies!)

FWIW - my dd was a bum shuffler and pretty late walker. (18 months.) She is now in Year 1. At the end of reception she was marked as "exceeding expectations" for the PE area of the curriculum. I was amazed! I figured she would be a "PE pudding" forever!

[AnyFucker]

Nope, no direct correlation

[laffymeal]

Total shite, no basis in fact whatsoever

[WhyBeHappyWhenYouCouldBeNormal]

I think there is correlation based on dyspraxia assessments questions are often asked about movements as a child, skipping crawling and finding other ways of moving like bum shuffling or rolling instead. And then we know that there is crossover between any condition on the spectrum.

So it is more likely that a child who is dyspraxic will not have crawled 'normally', but that does not necessarily mean that a child who doesn't crawl will be dyspraxic.

[sashh]

We had a couple of bum shufflers in our family, one got a string of A's at GCSE and A Level and post degree is doing very well in her career.

The other just got a load of A and B grades at GCSE and is doing A Levels.

[redexpat]

Correlation does not equal causation.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

I had heard there might be some correlation but with dyspraxia, not so much ADHD. Can only agree with pp's though that it might be one indicator out of a whole picture.

I was a bum shuffler, as were two of my dcs. We're all NT and pretty bright too. I'm not very sporty and neither is my eldest but our other bum shuffler is really strong and fast - much sportier than his crawling sibling.

[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!