Crawling - I have questions!

[mizzles]

Hi all.

My 9 mo daughter hasn't started crawling yet and I am a bit concerned about her. She rolled in one direction at 4 months, was doing both before she was 6 months and otherwise seems to be developmentally on track for her age. But she just can't seem to get it together when it comes to crawling. I've read posts from other mums with late crawlers who have said their babies didn't seem interested in crawling. But poor DD seems desperate to get moving. She can push herself round in circles propped up on her arms but with her stomach on the floor. But she can't seem to get her legs underneath herself. She has lots of tummy time and spends most of her awake time (other than meals) playing on the mat, so it's not from lack of opportunity. I own a Jumperoo but hardly ever use it (it's weeks since she's been in it).

I do realise that many babies don't crawl until this age or older - but she seems to get so upset and frustrated.

1. Is there anything I can do to help her?
2. Anyone whose children did similar - how long did it take them to crawl? I just want to know how long I will have a grumpy, frustrated baby!

Putting toys just out of reach and putting a mirror on the floor just ahead of her might help. My friends little boy learnt after watching ds do it!

I could've written this about my DS! He really wants to get going but doesn't yet seems to have the strength to do it, he does manage to move but it's more of a creeping bumshuffle I suppose , he is constantly trying to pull himself up on things too.

Is she rocking on all fours? My ds gets on all fours then kind of stops and whinges .

I'm sure they'll get there in the end!

My DD is exactly the same!

I’m hoping she gets on the move soon!

My DS was exactly the same. He started crawling at about 9.5 months but did it commando style, on his belly and never moved on to more traditional crawling. Your DD will get the hang of it, probably very suddenly, and it’s certainly nothing to worry about at this age.

Mine both crawled earlier so I don't have experience of that, however I did find it was a bit of a 'penny drop' thing with both of them. DD1 was up and 'revving' for weeks, then just going in reverse for even more weeks before suddenly just getting it: the penny dropped! DD2 was similar although it seemed less painful and frustrating to watch, plus she dragged herself around like a half-dead zombie (she was surprisingly quick!) for a couple of months before opting for a traditional crawl at around 9m-ish.
Your DC will be off before you know it 9mo really isn't so old to not be crawling yet.

How to encourage crawling: I found in both cases the cat provided the greatest incentive to get moving.

A lot of my friends babies and my niece and nephew never crawled and it didn’t impact them at all, they did the same as your child, rolled on time, otherwise fine developmentally, however just went from rolling and sitting to pulling themselves up on furniture, walking with a walker, then just walking, one of my friends babies even crawled backwards but never forwards and walked 3 days after his 1st birthday! I wouldn’t worry about it!

My 10 and a half month old only started crawling two weeks ago. Before then he showed no signs. Hated being on his tummy and would shuffle everywhere but one day he just seemed to do it. Don't worry they do it in their own time. 😊

Oldest DC, my DH and me all skipped crawling altogether! DH just rolled to get places. DC and I just skipped crawling and walked early (10 months) instead. You could see if your baby would like to try walking instead? Mine could both stand holding on at about 5-6 months, before they could sit up and the older one was cruising round furniture at 9 months, if you stood him up in the first place, which gave him a method of movement and reduced the frustration. The only problem was that when he fell down he was stuck because he couldn't crawl or get up again if he wasn't next to something to pull up on!

My DS couldn't crawl AT ALL, even get on all fours, until 14.5 months when off he went. He was walking within another 6 weeks and now at just turned two is running and jumping along with all his peers. From 10 months - crawling was a crappy time for us both as he was so frustrated and grumpy the whole time. We were referred to physio and had some exercises to do but I'm pretty sure none of it made any difference!