10 month baby not weight bearing on arms?

[FromWalesAndBackAgain]

I have a baby who will soon be 10 months - he is bum shuffling but not crawling. I know not crawling at this age is not concerning but I have noticed he really won’t put any weight on his arms, he does use them to steady himself slightly but as soon as he is in a position that requires putting weight on them he falls down and cries. He seems desperate to crawl and pulls himself forward into a semi crawling position but as soon as his weight shifts from his bum to his arms he collapses. I’ve done lots of tummy time with him but he uses his back and core to keep his head up, you could lift his arms up and he would stay in the same position. I’ve tried putting him in a position where he needs to put some supported weight on his arms/hands and he screams crying so I stop (it’s more than a moan, a proper tears cry). He is weight bearing on his legs but also can’t pull himself up or lower himself down as he doesn’t have the strength in his arms. He is developing his fine motor skills like bashing small toys together and has a good pincer pinch and pokes at things - but also does not clap, wave, or point (but again I know this isn’t a concern until they are around 1). Should I be concerned about his arm strength? I can’t see how he is going to gain strength in them when he won’t bare any weight on them at all.

Anyone on this?

It does sound a bit unusual. Babies can be quirky little things, but it's probably worth a call to your health visitor or going to drop-in clinic if they have them in your area.

@skkyelark no drop in centres but will message my HV - thanks!

Hi OP! Did you hear back from your HV on this? My son is exactly the same and has just turned 9 months. I messaged my HV today and she said it doesn't sound concerning to her and wile will have the 10-12 month review soon so will follow up on that.

@@Fruitynug No the health visitor recommended we go to the GP, however the GP quickly dismissed any concern. However in the last few days my DS has started pulling himself up on lower surfaces which I think has built his arm strength and when doing tummy time today he was popping up on all fours and rocking, not for very long but it’s a start! He still doesn’t like to be encouraged into an all four’s position- I think he is strong willed and will do things in his own time. We have our 10 month HV development check on Wed

Hi @FromWalesAndBackAgain, I know this in an old post but just wondering if you could give an update on how your DS progressed? My 10 month old DD is very much the same (she can clap but that’s the only difference). She is wanting to crawl but she just doesn’t have the strength in her arms to keep herself up in a crawling position. Thanks!

Hi @Anxiousmammyagain - gosh your post has just reminded me of all this worry, it had completely left my memory! My son is 2 and half now and a very strong active boisterous boy. I can’t remember the ages exactly - I think shortly after this post he started pulling himself up on his cot and on furniture, at his first birthday he was just about crawling and then by 15 months he was walking! My son, in everything, seems to be a child whose development is not steady but is peaks and then stalls, so he will have a burst of development, then it seems to slow off and then he has a burst. Caused me a lot of worry over time, at 2 years and 2 months he was only saying two word sentences and wouldn’t engage with anyone he wasn’t super familiar with, and three months later he is speaking in full sentences, singing songs, interacting with other adults and kids loads - I have no concerns about any of his development now ❤️