To say something to my sister about the baby

[Zcity]

She's gorgeous, 14 months old. She will shuffle on her bum to get around a little. She cannot crawl at all, or stand by herself, she has no inclination to move really, she's very happy just sat on a mat.

I do not have children and Google tells me very different things but I'm worried (as is our mum) as she said to me that baby should be crawling at least.

DM bought the subject up with her but she said she had been to the GP and GP said it's fine as she can stand unsupported- but thing is, she can't. She cannot stand by herself, if you gently pull her up so she's standing she will need to lean against something (sofa) and she only stays upright for seconds until her legs buckle.

Would you be concerned or am I overstepping as loving auntie and wind my neck in? All babies are different, which I understand! Maybe just a late walker? Hoping for reassurance!

Another voice saying there is nothing to worry about here. My DS only rolled over once - he was so shocked by it that he never did it again. He never pulled himself up on the furniture, never crawled only bum shuffled and didn't walk until he was 18 months. I was constantly worrying and comparing him with a friends child who hit all these mile stones (and other ones) super early.

Both of them are in their thirties now. By coincidence they followed the same profession and are doing very well but in addition to his paid work my son is also a very successful amateur athlete. Starting moving late has in no way held him back.

Just to reassure you neither of my children crawled either and one didn’t walk until later on. She was a princess and liked to be carried everywhere 🤣

You sound like a lovely auntie x

I was a bum shuffler and apparently we are late to walk - I don't know if this is true!

My DS never crawled - he went from not walking to getting up and walking!

I was told when my DS was small that as long as he was making progress in other things we had time not to worry. He was chatty, interested, ate well and was progressing in everything else.

It sounds like you really care and that is lovely but I really do not think your DN is behind at all. Babies develop as they develop unless there is something seriously wrong.

Aww! 😂

I was an extremely early stander/walker - 8 months!

I'm now an absolute clusterfuck of injuries and a bit overweight, with dyspraxia.

Keep your nose out, you need to be less transparently involved. I hate people being concerned on my behalf about things like this.

I didn't start walking till I was nearly 2 (bum shuffling!) honestly but my sister was walking much earlier. No mental or physical issues, just a bit late to walk. I wouldn't worry until she's closer to that age.

Mine didn’t walk until 22 months and was exactly as you describe your niece at 14 months.

as everyone has said it is within normal range.
BUT my dd was not using her legs properly at 12 months. She was commando crawling using arms and I was so worried. Her legs had always been not strong, she never wanted to put her feet down and stand on my lap. We were living overeas with no GP, and we seriously considered a trip back to uk to get a consultation.

So I spent a couple of months encouraging her. I used to play with her legs and feet and get her to push against me. I would hold her and encourage her to put her feet down etc.
Whether it helped or whether or not or whether she just was ready, she then started pulling up and walked all very quickly within a couple of weeks.

As you look after her several days per week, you could do lots of play with her to encourage her. Put toys just out of reach so she has to move to get them, hold her hands and enocurage standing and reaching up.

One of my DDs was a very early talker but bum-shuffled till she decided to get up and walk at 20 months. I had to put up with a lot of concern and comments from both family and strangers, but the health professionals assured me this was perfectly normal. In fact, I was told that bum-shuffling instead of crawling is often the sign of a bright and inquisitive child who always wants to see what’s going on around them.

I think it sounds like you have a happy involvement and it's fine ask.

As pp have said, it could be within normal range.

What concerns me is the GP sounds like s/he based their response on misinformation about the unaided standing? And I don't think you've mentioned the HV, that was a pp? In my area there are no HV visits anymore unless the parent requests an appointment.

In your shoes I would try and gently further enquire about how the GP's appointment really went or if your sister has any contact with a HV to be on the safe side. Not to cause worry, but to be reassured.

my DC didn’t walk until 14/15 months. My nephew skipped crawling and went straight to walking. A friend’s daughter didn’t walk until 19 months.
All within the realms of normal.

Completely normal to worry and I think great that family want to do the best and help each other out.

Fwiw I think you shouldn't say anything either. ESP if you've already mentioned it. My 1st didn't crawl really at all. No tummy time as hated it and started walking aged 1. My 2nd crawled at 8m but didn't walk til 16m.

Kids are all different. They get there in the end

My children walked at 21 and 24 months. At 14 months they just sat in one spot, no weight bearing, crawling, etc. It is totally fine! Life is not a race.

You're totally overstepping. Her development is very much within the normal range of milestones in babies who turn into superathletic marathon runner adults.

All babies develop at their own speed and should be enjoyed exactly as they are because it's such a precious stage of their life. Her babyhood will be gone all too soon and you'll never get it back.

A baby who can’t bear weight unaided at 14 months is not within the range of normal.

My son was sitting up at five months, crawling at seven months and walking by ten months. My nephew couldn't sit up until he was 13 months never crawled and was two before he could walk. My son is autistic and my nephew is not. Google can be a dangerous thing.

My DS2 was a bumb shuffler. He never crawled. At 16 months he decided to walk, run and play football all in one day!!!

DS1 walking at 9mths..

DS2 bum shuffler and didn't stand until at least 14mths.

DS1 - dyspraxic, ASD

DS2 - plays rugby, walks everywhere

Nonsense. Well within normal range.

Did ds1 crawl or go straight to walking out of curiosity?

I didn't crawl, I walked at 18 months according to my mother. I'm still lazy

My niece was a bum shuffler and this is what my sister was told - that they are nearly all late walkers. Maybe because it allows this to be upright so they see less need to be on their feet?

OP I think it's nice that you care so much about your niece. Ignore the misery guts telling you otherwise. For reassurance, my niece was also a bum shuffler and didn't walk until about 17 months - now a perfectly healthy and normal 11 year old.

He crawled

OP - have you got one of those door hanging bouncy things? That may encourage her to put weight through her legs as it's fun.

I'm interested to see your reference for the range. Inability to bear weight on flat feet at 12-15 months was the trigger for a physio referral for my DS.