To find my child's lack of crawling upsetting?

[incywincyspide]

My son is nearly 12 months old and is still commando crawling. He started doing this about 3 months ago and still hasn't started crawling properly.

On Sunday he did start crawling differently but by using one knee and one foot!

I feel like he's falling behind other babies his age and I'm getting worried! Am I being ridiculous? It's my first child so I tend to worry about every little thing.

You are being ever so slightly ridiculous- sorry. It’s normal first time mum stuff, but seriously it’s not worth the headspace at all.
Take a few minutes to consider the parents whose babies have actual issues with reaching milestones, and try to keep perspective.

My son didn't crawl till a year in any fashion, didn't pull up till about 16 months and walked at 18 months.

He's not "perfectly normal" as it happens, and yes it does cause me some worry but actually - he is brilliant.

Just wanted to point out that having a child with some physical or developmental issues is ok and doesn't mean they're lesser than the perfectly normal children.

Never mind his crawling.. how's his reading coming along? My first baby had read both the New and Old Testaments by her first birthday and was halfway through Macbeth..

DD1 rarely crawled. Also hated tummy time till she could sit up herself. I now realise she didnt have the muscle strength for tummy time, and crawling was also hard for her. She loved walking and being held and we accepted her as she was, never forcing or training (which would be damaging). Completely normal now.

@Mulberryandthyme He prefers anything by Robert Fisk as he found the bible a bit 'preachy' his word not mine

My DS bum shuffled and used his leg, he didnt like standing against sofa, he was a late walker, I was worried but one day ar 15 months he stood up and off he went no wobbles or falls really, sturdy and ready..

I work with children involving development. They are all different and not all crawl (although crawling is good for shoulder development). Commando crawl and one knee/one foot are variants I've seen. I suspect a lot of development has a genetic basis, particularly if you and partner didn't crawl. We say if your little one is not walking by 18mo ask for advice. Otherwise- relax!

For 1st baby, NCT classes can be a blessing and a curse because it sort of sets up comparison, as they are the same age. See it as an opportunity to see the wide variety of how children develop, but try not to take it too seriously. Once those NCT friends have 2 and 3rd babies the dynamics change. People who had angelic baby no1 get non sleeping colicky baby no2. Or baby walking at 9 months struggkes to.ride a bike at 4years etc. You then see that actually babies are born with certain traits which have little to do with parenting. They might just be trying to make conversation asking about the crawling.

My 14 month old has only been commando crawling since 11 months, she started crawling normally just yesterday. She sees a physio every 3 weeks or so who is happy with her progress - she’s getting there just talking her sweet time! Absolutely nothing wrong with her, she’s bright as a button in every other way. All babies are different. Try to not worry, your baby will get there!

My brother rolled everywhere as a baby. Rolled. Like, pencil rolls from one side of the room to the other.

THAT'S weird

Another bum shuffler here. She was quite late to walk. The good news is that late walkers are much more sensible and experienced than early walkers when they do get going and you don’t have such a great sense of trepidation watching them.

Get yourself to some baby groups, you’ll see all the random crawling styles, non-crawling, straight to walkers, hardly movers et al. The first time I saw that knee/ankle style asymmetric crawl was at a baby group, and I’ve seen it loads since. My eldest was a champion crawler by a few months old and was running at ten months, but my second never ever crawled, and only cruised across furniture, one day he just walked across the room!

I go to loads of baby groups and unfortunately I only see perfectly normal crawlers which is feeding my anxiety.

Ah my DS never crawled. Not commando or standard crawling. Never. He bum shuffled about as if free’d up a hand to carry a snack/toy/blankie. Much more useful. He didn’t bloody walk til 17mo either.
Don’t worry about it x

Two out of my three crawled very late and then walked a month after.

Isadora2007 You are being ever so slightly ridiculous- sorry. It’s normal first time mum stuff, but seriously it’s not worth the headspace at all. Take a few minutes to consider the parents whose babies have actual issues with reaching milestones, and try to keep perspective

It's not even slightly ridiculous to worry about how your child is developing, is it? I have 3 dcs and worried and worry about each and every one of them and how they are growing and developing. One of them did turn out to have 'actual issues' it didn't really diminish my worry over the others.....I thought it was just part of being a parent!

incy ah honestly, that’s more unusual (that they’re all “normal”) than the unusual crawling. Just listen to everyone here saying it’s normal to do it a bit differently. That’s why I always recommend parents I work with to go to groups, as it’s reassuring to see the differences between the babies and mums and parenting styles etc etc. If that doesn’t work, ask the mumsnet collective.

I hate all the comparing. And I get texts from other nct mums asking 'how's the crawling going' and it grates on me.

So stop comparing. I’m guessing they ask because you’ve talked about how much of a problem you think it is.

My dd1 crawled. My dd2 did what we call the ‘monkey shuffle’. It’s really funny to watch and actually means she gets from a-b quicker than a crawl. She has started walking (and will be 13 months in a week) and started walking 1 week after her 1st birthday whereas DD1 was walking at 10months.

Each child is different. DD2 doesn’t roll over (never has!) but she’s very chubby.

Each child is different and it seems like nowadays, a lot of children don’t crawl from speaking with other parents. DD1 never really attempted the stairs whereas DD2 is able to fly up them thanks to her ‘crawl’.

We all compare (and it’s annoying!) but enjoy the commando crawl.

my daughter crawled at 6 months walked at 10 months, my son never crawled, just walked. Every baby is diff but i understand your worry OP - try not to, every baby is different

McSmug mum is probably lonely and using the crawling as a point of common interest (clutches at straws). If you think it's genuine competitive parenting, gently take the mick by telling her you have moved onto squatting!

Honestly by the second child you are praying they remain immobile for as long as possible. I am fighting a battle at the moment with my two year old who wants my tea.

OP totally agree on the NCT thing. My group had a smug one too, its all calmed down now. Mine crawled last out of the group too and walked last/second to last, but he was 14/15 months...perfectly normal and within range! One of them will have to be last at things. Now some of us have our second her smug attitude has disappeared! Everyone has chilled out a little bit. Most people who are competitive are anxious underneath, try to remember its her problem not yours.

Crawling is not a developmental milestone as not all babies do it. Walking doesn't hit the end of the window until about 18 months. Don't worry - your baby sounds just fine :)

@Yabbers I can categorically say I have never said anything about being worried. Rightly or wrongly I wouldn't say to this particular group that I thought anything was wrong. Ever.

@TheABC with DS2 the GP at his 6 week check commented on his strong legs and said he might be an early walker. I said 'nooo' and think she might have judged me a little