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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

12 months today and not crawling .. very worried mum

22 replies

Amy72 · 11/03/2011 13:37

Hello, my gorgeous little boy is 1 year old today but is still not crawling (definitely not walking although he will now hold his weight on his legs). I feel so anxious about it, and today, with him turning one I feel really upset and worried that there is something wrong. He can roll over but doesn't do it very often and I'm just getting more and more concerned. It seems all of the other babies are walking but mine is still just sitting there! Has anyone else had this experience or have any advice or words of reassurance .... If so I would really appreciate them.

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CharlotteBronteSaurus · 11/03/2011 13:39

my nephew neither crawled nor cruised.
at 14mo he just got up one day and ran.

i think that if your ds is weight bearing and showing signs of progressing towards mobility then he will get there.

Imnotaslimjim · 11/03/2011 13:42

Please try not to worry too much. My DS was a slow starter. He didn't crawl til 13 months, walked at 19 moinths and didn't start talking properly til he was nearly 3. He is now 5 and very nearly at the same level as his peers. I do think another 12 months will see him level pegging.

I was very concerned about how slow he was to do stuff, and HV was out seeing him every few weeks. I think the term is "watchful waiting" as there isn't much they can do at that age apart from wait and see.

If you are really worried, mention it to the HV when he has his 1 year check, and see what she says. He could well just be at the slower end of development like my DS

VLST · 11/03/2011 13:50

Hello, my DD is about 11.5 months and equally not doing any crawling at all, let alone walking. She sits very happily and will spin herself around on the spot on her bottom but objects hugely if I put her on her front and if she fall onto it from sitting, she hates it (even though she sleeps on her front). And honestly, I'm really not worried. At times, it feels like she's the only one not to be moving and when I meet up with NCT babies etc they are all crawling all over her and quite a few are walking and I'm someone who usually would care about this sort of thing as I've always had a reasonably competitive side when it comes to my achievements and yet I'm really not anxious. Maybe I should be! But I don't think you should worry - although I don't have words of reassurance because she is in the same position, so I can't say that she's grown out of it, I'm sure it is the case that she'll do it in her own time. She's more vocal than a lot of the babies we spend time with and can articulate all sorts of different sounds and I've been told that they do tend to develop either speech or movement first, so perhaps that's the same with your boy? But please don't worry - I just keep thinking how much easier it is for us as I don't have to baby proof the entire house and can leave her playing for a bit, knowing that she'll still be there when I go back! He'll do it when he's ready, I'm sure.....(at least that's what I'm telling myself!).

Original poster

Amy72 · 11/03/2011 13:58

Thank you so much for your messages. I cant tell you how much better reading them has made me feel, he isn't the only one !!

VLST - it sounds uncanny, my little boy will spin on his bum, he's just started moving backwards, and also hates it on his tummy, always has done. And again yes, he too 'chatters' away. He makes loads of vocal noises and seems desperate to talk.

I think it was reaching his 1st birthday that has just made me worried and a bit emotional. I should just give him time.

OP posts:

Tee2072 · 11/03/2011 14:00

My son never crawled. Now at 21 months, he doesn't walk...he runs! Everywhere! And climbs! Everything!!

I really wouldn't worry. One day he'll stand up, give you a cheeky little grin and take off!

randomimposter · 11/03/2011 14:22

My best friend's little boy didn't crawl until 18 months, just showed NO interest in moving!

By contrast my DS was always active and on the move, and physically at or ahead of the milestones (hate all those btw). BUT at 2y10m his language is very delayed, and we are now having speech therapy.

I suppose I'm saying that I empathise with your worry, it's only natural. But they do all develop at different stages and I'm sure he will catch up.

Enjoy his birthday by the way. x

wolfhound · 11/03/2011 14:26

One of my son's NCT groupmates was like this - only one of the group not crawling at a year. A few months later he went straight to walking. He was also an early talker and potty trained earlier than the rest of the group. Now they're all 3+, racing around together, talking/using the loo and you can't tell who did what first. Enjoy the birthday!

clitorisorclitoraint · 11/03/2011 14:36

Aw, it's impossible not to let it get to you.

DD is 13.5 months and not walking..she has only just begun to bear weight on her legs. I swear every other child at groups and classes is running around - even the 10 month olds are ahead of her from a mobility point of view. Some of the other mums take much glee in pointing this out to me

However, she has quite a few words and soon stopped them gloating in their tracks with her burgeoning vocabulary

They do what they want when they want it seems!

CaptainNancy · 11/03/2011 14:44

Another one here- DD didn't crawl until 16mo, stood up and walked a week later... she just didn't want to move until she was ready!

MmeLindt · 11/03/2011 14:47

Another non-crawler baby here, DD shuffled about a bit but never crawled. She got up and walked one day, and there was no stopping her.

Jan2 · 11/03/2011 15:03

My DD1 didn't crawl until 13 months and only starting walking at 16 months. I did worry at the time but now really wish I hadn't as I wasted precious time fretting about something that wasn't a problem.

At the time everyone else's children seemed to be crawling and walking really early but I have since met loads of people who say theirs didn't move until much later as well.

My DD1 will be 4 in a couple of months and has no problems whatsoever in any areas of development - quite the opposite! So please try not to worry. I have a 7 month old DD2 now and I am not going to waste time comparing her to others as they are all just so different!

MoragG · 11/03/2011 16:15

If he is spinning round he may well start bum shuffling very soon. DD (now 13 months) did this just before she started to shuffle (at 12 months minus a few days!).

itstheyearzero · 11/03/2011 16:34

Sounds like you have a potential bum shuffler. My DS (now 2.2) hated being on his tummy, and started spinning round on his bum at about 15 months (and yes I was getting concerned!). He then perfected the art of bum shuffling until he reached 2.1 when he just got up and walked like he had been doing it for months! Try not to worry.

CJ2010 · 11/03/2011 16:41

My DD is 14 mths and still not walking, I know exactly how you feel, but I think that we both need to relax and the DC's will do it when they are ready. The HV said it is a genetic thing, I started at 13 mths so perhaps she takes after me.

I do understand your concerns tho.

TryingVeryHard · 11/03/2011 16:49

Another bum shuffler here, he walked at 14 months and yes it all happenend rather quickly!
Try not to worry to much, as someone said, watchful waiting is probably a good idea :)

smashingtime · 11/03/2011 19:41

If he is sitting well and weight bearing these are very good signs that all is well. I agree with others that it sounds like he is going to bum shuffle - he'll find the best way for him to get around so please try not to worry

suburbophobe · 11/03/2011 19:51

My son never crawled at all, not once!

He just started pulling himself up and got walking (and wobbling first!)

Don't worry, even to start walking at 14 months is quite normal

mine went out to play basketball today, he's 19 now!

confuddledDOTcom · 11/03/2011 20:01

My eldest never did anything until she was ready to do it properly. From BLW where she would eat everything given to her from day one, to moving when she waited until she could walk, to talking when she came out with full sentences. It was quite obvious with her she was choosing not to go there.

My youngest wasn't sitting until 7 or 8 months, didn't crawl until 14 months and didn't walk until the week of her second birthday. She's very small, can do things with her legs that would make your eyes water (like putting her feet flat on her cheeks whilst sitting upright and rocking them like dolls - complete with the "ahh...") when she walks it's a waddle more than a walk and she falls over often. She's been diagnosed recently as hypermobile and is waiting to be seen by a rheumatologist. It was always obvious that she couldn't do things, she seems to be about 6 months, physically, behind her sister but is still pretty intelligent.

The point I'm trying to make is that if you can see this is just getting there in his own time and not something he really can't do then don't worry. Crawling is not something every baby does anyway.

Bulkypeepants · 07/05/2024 16:13

@Amy72 13 years later.... When did your little one eventually crawl/walk?

Original poster

Amy72 · 07/05/2024 18:24

Hello @Bulkypeepants i really can’t remember now it was very late. He has just turned 14 and it seems so distant yet I clearly remember the angst the time. He was just late to crawl (I fact I don’t know if he ever did) and to walk. Now he’s an a-team rugby, hockey and cricket boy. Please don’t worry. And dm me if you want any more reassurance.

OP posts:

Bulkypeepants · 07/05/2024 19:21

Wow, thanks for responding! So pleased it all worked out in the end :)

Purple89 · 07/05/2024 19:36

So lovely that OP has come back to update!
I saw this and wanted to add my two penneth- I was similarly worried about my DD who has been late with all physical milestones apart from sitting (but an exceptionally good talker). Bum shuffled at 11 months, didn't crawl till gone 12 months and only started walking a couple of weeks ago. They will get there even though it feels very worrying at the time!

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