Woman in Tescos: "Ooh, if he's an early walker he might have cognitive problems"

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My DS (7 and a half months) has been crawling for a few weeks, and is now pulling himself up to standing against furniture and seems quite confident and steady on his feet. So I'm guessing walking might not be too far away (eeeek!), although who knows, he'll do it when he's ready

A well-meaning woman in Tescos was telling me that her son had been an early walker, and therefore had cognitive problems - and she felt it was her fault because he hadn't spent long enough on the crawling phase, which is apparently highly meaningful for cognitive development; said she'd made him 'too strong, too early' by putting him in his bouncer a lot

I don't believe that she could have had such an influence on his development with a bit of bouncer action - loads of babies spend time in bouncers. Besides, DS hasn't spent an inordinate amount of time in his so I don't think that accounts for his early(ish) crawling/standing. The only part I was interested in was the possible correlation between early walking and cognitive issues.

Does anyone have any idea of whether or not there is some truth to this? Slightly worried (please tell me I'm being completely daft! )

Thanks

All of mine walked early, and they all have problems. Can't say I've noticed they're cognitive ones, but maybe I walked early too?

My daughter is severely dyslexic and crawled at 8 months walking at 11

It's the smiley face she drawn on the ovary that makes my head spin.....Oovoo

I thought there was something in this. I'm sure ds's OT asked if he'd crawled. It's to do with flexion or somesuch though, and bugger all to do with cognitive problems.

Hang on, I'll Google...

Ummm, no good links, sorry.

Basically though a lot of dyspraxic children skip the crawling stage, but this is a symptom I think rather than a cause.

God! I had some numpty kindly tell me in public that DD was really big for her age yesterday. She's on the 25th percentile, height and weight, and always has been.

DD crawled at 6 months and took her first steps at 10 months. While this Tesco woman should clearly mind her own business, I do think there's a smidgin of truth in that DD was a bit later with her words than other babies of the same age. I put this down to the fact that her early mobility meant that she was less frustrated and could therefore do/have what she wanted very early on without having to vocalise her frustrations. Of course she's caught up completely now and you can't shut her up. Certainly no 'cognitive' problems to report but maybe that's what the woman was getting at?

You can't 'make' a baby do anything anyway!

And you could have months and months of the pulling up stage.

They're all different.

Amen.

Mine eldest two crawled for like, two weeks, before walking.

I've already tied my youngest down with body weights, to ensure crawling lasts longer.

My ds stood up at 6 months and walked with furniture from 7. He erm looks "ok"?

Can I please point out that the cognitive failure involved is dyslexia.
Dyslexics are not thick, in fact many like my Ds are highly intelligent.

Nor do they look funny

bruffin of course not! (Am the OP) My DH is dyslexic and has a crazily high IQ - an amazing mind. And I like to think he doesn't look that funny

That wasn't my original question. I don't consider dyslexia a 'cognitive issue'. If DS turns out to be dyslexic my only thought will be how to ensure the school system serves him appropriately (DH had an awful experience at school).

Besides I am now reassured - was the paranoia of an afternoon, inspired by someone who, I think, meant well.

I think what was mentioned here was dyspraxia, not dyslexia. Generally dyspraxia causes issues with coordination, motor skills, poor balance, difficulty in holding a pen, cutting etc, difficulty riding a bike and swimming.

I haven't read all the posts, but my MIL had exactly the same view as the lady in Tesco - it was I think a theory from the 70s. It basically takes a lot of coordination for a baby to move right arm, left leg - left arm, right leg and it was believed that the movement of crawling would help a specific part of the brain develop better, and that babies who crawled would have better coordination and balance later on. I think that view is not really accepted anymore.

Also, back then, babies slept much more on their front and generally (I think) crawled faster and a baby that didn't crawl was seen as unusual.

Dyspraxia - www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/services/dys_dyspraxia.php

Sorry it was the last post by pinkyp that got to me but i did slightly misread it.

DH also had awful problems at school due to dyslexia, but DS 16 has thrived.

BlueberryPancake so it's a theory from the 70s; that explains why I couldn't find any decent links! Thank you :)

Oh yes I htink the theory behind this is from a very popular book from the 60s - 70s and doctor called Glenn Doman. I could be wrong, but he is the same guy who invented the 'teach your baby to read' method.

www.gentlerevolution.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=G&Category_Code=PhysDev

bruffin that's so great about your DS, the school system must have improved a lot with regards to dyslexia.

Blueberry v enlightening re that theory. Must be the root of what Tescos woman was saying, surely.

www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/services/gu_symptoms.php

a small note that children with Dyspraxia often skip the crawling phase - but I think dyspraxia is a cause for children not crawling, not the result of it.

ohhhhh, Doman was the patterning bloke, wasn't he? Derived from the Peto Institute in Budapest?

That technique was very helpful for brain-damaged children iirc - is it still practised?

yes I think!