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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask about your bum shufflers

53 replies

cadburyegg · 20/04/2019 22:29

DS2 is 13 months and has always been a happy, chilled little one quite content to sit and watch. He has never crawled and started bum shuffling about a month ago. The lack of crawling doesn’t worry me but he can’t really weight bear and pull himself up at all. He just kicks his legs if we put him in a standing position and is obviously some way off walking. My DH is hypermobile and if DS2 is I know that can delay things a bit.

At his development check at 11 months the HV said she would send us a leaflet about encouraging movement etc but never did, I’ve tried to phone and email but no response.

I just don’t know if I should be worried? Is there anything we can do to help him along? Does anyone have any similar experiences? DS1 crawled at 7 months and walked at 14 months so this is new territory to us.

OP posts:

QuiteChic · 20/04/2019 22:47

I had a bum shuffler ! He didn't walk until nearly 18 months. He never attempted to crawl and had a big sister who would get him everything he pointed at :) The HV said he was a 'typical lazy boy' (24 years ago - not so much political correctness !) He was, however, very verbal and talked much earlier than DD. We did encourage him to stand as much as possible to build strength in his legs and eventually went from standing to walking around the furniture to walking in about a week.

What weight was he at birth ? I don't think it's uncommon for high centile children to not crawl. Could it be that crawling is uncomfortable if the baby is either heavier or taller than the average child ? I don't have the answer but DS is now 6ft 4in and far from lazy !

Bambamber · 20/04/2019 22:48

My daughter crawled quite early but didn't walk until 18 months. She could move bloody quick on all 4s so I think she didn't really feel the need to be slow and wobbly on her feet.

If he is happy to sit and watch he may just not feel the need to explore on his feet Just yet.

I myself have hypermobility syndrome so undrrstand the concerns. You could always get in contact with your GP with your concerns and see if there's some specific exercises you could try to help strengthen the muscles. Because babies are naturally so flexible when that young they would be unlikely to look into that just yet, but may be able to recommend strengthening exercises

Hecateh · 20/04/2019 22:52

My little sister was a bum shuffler and never crawled.
She's now 60 and goes Scottish Dancing at least once a week.

doingasurvey · 20/04/2019 22:52

My son bum shuffled from 10 months to 22 months, when he started walking. That was a long 12 months waiting him to learn how to take steps, not to mention stressful! You wouldn’t know looking at him now that he was a delayed walker, he’s as fast as every other toddler his age

zebrapig · 20/04/2019 22:54

My friend's DS is an epic bum shuffler.
He only started pulling up & cruising about a month ago but is now walking. He's just turned 18m.
On the other hand my DS has been crawling since his first birthday and pulling up/cruising confidently since 13m. He's 17m and still not walking. I reckon he'll be off within a month so approx 18m also.
I find it interesting how they've developed very differently but the outcome is roughly the same.

AwwNooo · 20/04/2019 22:55

3 of my 4 were bum shufflers, all ok now. Try not to worry.

Moondancer73 · 20/04/2019 22:56

I had a bum shuffler too, and my nephew was also one. My son actually walked just before his first birthday despite the hospital telling me he was likely to be late walking due to being a bum shuffler.
My nephew was 21 months but is fine developmentally, just lazy. It's really not a cause for concern.

SnapesGreasyHair · 20/04/2019 22:57

Ds2 was a bum shuffler. HV said they tend to be later walkers.

Have you got a door bouncer or something similar that he could go in that would encourage him to "feel" his feet and weight bare?

mcjx · 20/04/2019 22:57

I was a bum shuffler and a really late walker - think I was 3 when I first started to walk alone! I know my mum was worried so took me to the doctors who wanted to do investigations but I started walking on my own shortly after

cestlavielife · 20/04/2019 23:02

Get a community paed physio review he may be hypermobile and hypotonia.
If he cannot bear weight when you hold him to stand he may need physio input.
Ask the physio for exercises to do with him

Tolleshunt · 20/04/2019 23:03

Mine wasn't a bum-shuffler, but was on the late side with meeting gross motor milestones, and is very hypermobile. As both me and DH are too, this wasn't a great surprise, but was a bit concerning for development and long-term joint health.

Can you go see your GP for an assessment? Ours took my queries seriously, did a quick assessment, and referred DD for physio. We were given six sessions of hydrotherapy and Physiotherapy sessions/programme. It all really helped, and while DD is still slightly behind her peers in terms of climbing/running//scooting etc, it's not massively noticeable anymore, she is getting there, and enjoys all the physical activity we get her to do to build strength.

While you wait to see someone, you could do stuff like put a toy somewhere that he has to pull up to get it, etc? Just really simple stuff that encourages him to reach out, and do the actions he needs to learn to do next. We found the hydrotherapy lessons really helpful, as they taught us how to hold DD in the water so she had to engage her core muscles to keep her head above water. It was all done in a really fun way, though it was really tiring for DD (great for sleep!!).

greensnail · 20/04/2019 23:05

Dd2 was a bum shuffler, she walked at 15 months which surprised me as I expected her to be later than her sister who crawled and then walked at 16 months. She's 9 now and still not great at crawling ( was playing around with friends a while ago and having crawling races but couldn't keep up with the others ) but no other issues with her mobility.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 20/04/2019 23:07

My bum shuffler didn’t stand till 15months, never crawled and walked around 19months

UselessTrees · 20/04/2019 23:15

DD1 was a bum-shuffler and pretty much refused to bear weight on her legs for ages. The HV referred us to physio at the one-year review. By the time she was seen a few months later she had started to be happier on her feet (though still not actually pulling herself up or cruising) and the physio was satisfied that there weren't any serious issues. She finally started walking at about 21 months. I think she was mostly just a very cautious child and also quite adept at getting adults to fetch things for her!

NuffSaidSam · 20/04/2019 23:16

We had a bum shuffler.

He also didn't stand or pull himself up. If you tried to pick him up/put him in a standing position he'd just lift his feet off the floor.

He eventually walked at about 16/17 months.

He's 7 now and completely fine. Great walker, runner, climber.

ilovewelshrarebit123 · 20/04/2019 23:29

My DD was a bum shuffler, she never crawled, rolled or pulled herself up. Other people convinced me this wasn't normal so the HV referred us to a paeditrician who said there was nothing wrong.

She just got up one day at 18 months and walked. She's now 11 and a very talented dancer!

chipsnmayo · 20/04/2019 23:42

DD was a bum shuffler, she didn't walk until she was 19 months. She got referred at some point (maybe 17 months?) to a physio but nothing came of it. However this was in New Zealand 20 years ago, and no HV (or someone similar) seemed to be concerned.

Not to scare you but DD has had a few issues, probably a result of her bum shuffling. She had to pretty much relearn to walk properly in her early teens, her legs were way out of alignment. Her feet use to stick out like a clown, this caused numerous sprained ankles and she suffered severe shin splints playing hockey.

However DD was probably more of a severe case...

ShirleyAvenue · 20/04/2019 23:45

Both my DSs were bum shufflers. They walked at about 17 and 15 months and have developed completely normally into 17 and 11 year olds.

KittyWindbag · 20/04/2019 23:46

My baby was a bum shuffler, never crawled and didn’t walk really until 18 months. Now he runs EVERYWHERE, dances like a maniac and I miss the days where he was less mobile. I can’t believe I worried about him, and I am staggered by all the tiny little things I have and do worry about. I try to remember this when I’m comparing myself and him to others.

Planetian · 20/04/2019 23:48

I was a bum shuffler, as was my eldest. She walked at 16 months. DD2 is crawling/pulling herself up but still not walking at 17 months although I’d say it won’t be too much longer.

Drum2018 · 20/04/2019 23:50

Dd was also a bum shuffler and walked at 17 months.

MsFanackerPants · 20/04/2019 23:54

My dd was a bum shuffler. Like lots of the other kids mentioned she just walked one day at about 18 months. She was also a big baby and like me has hypermobile joints. I wasn't a bum shuffle but never did hands and knees crawl but did a commando crawl on my belly and walked at 16 months. No issues now except for being bendy

memaymamo · 20/04/2019 23:57

My bum shuffling DD walked just before her 2nd birthday. She was flagged at 9 months and in physiotherapy at about 14 months (hated it with a passion).

Now at 5, people say they wouldn't know, but I can tell there's a difference. She takes a lot longer to learn gross motor skills like skipping and throwing. I have to be conscious of taking her to playgrounds as much as possible to practise those skills.

It's so hard to balance the concerns with all those voices around you that say "she'll be fine, stop worrying".

8misskitty8 · 21/04/2019 00:11

Dd1 was a bum shuffler. She never crawled or rolled. She went from lying down to sitting before 5 months then bum shuffled to pulling up to stand and was walking by a year old. She did have a problem with one of her feet, it curled outwards. (Noticed when she started to walk )
Saw a specialist who said she was hypermobile. Eventually corrected itself.
Dd2 did everything textbook from rolling to crawling until she tried to walk. She was tiny and didnt have the strength or height to pull herself up to stand, eventually she walked at 18months.

morefoolyou · 21/04/2019 00:30

Nothing at all to worry about!!!
DD1 was a bum shuffler! Never crawled, not even once! Bum shuffling was quicker and easier for her to get around.
As a result I think walking was delayed bc it wasn't necessary.
She took off at 15 months.

DS crawled like a conventional baby and walked at 13 months.

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