Bum Shuffling and to know it's OK

[Katemcco]

Hi Fellow Mums,

I just wanted to share my experience of my daughter being a Bum Shuffler as I hadn't come across a baby being a bum shuffler before.
Bum Shuffling is a recognised variant of moving and although it's VERY common, I still feel there isn't enough information out there to reassure
parents.

My daughter was a text book pregnancy, text book delivery and her first two teether appeared exactly when she turned 6 months old. Everything she did was text book....until it came to walking. So I was VERY surprised when she didn't show any signs of putting weight on her feet heading towards her 1st Birthday. People would comment which made me worry even more!

Here's how the journey went for my daughter:

12 months old - I asked my GP for a scan or an X ray of my daughters hips to make sure all was OK. I have a lovely GP who referred her for an Xray and all came back normal - p hew!

14 months old - My GP also referred us to an amazing Physio (who works across GP surgeries)

15 months old - My daughter started to bum shuffle

We also had our first appt with the Physio and saw her every 6 weeks who would just give tips to encourage my daughter to move.

My daughters bum shuffling advanced as the months went on, to her pulling herself up onto things (albeit not of a great height) so her upper body strength was super strong. She also started crawlying, initally like a bunny hopping but then she crawled traditionally but still preffered to get around on her bottom.

20.5 months old – My daughter just pulled herself up against a chair. Then continued to pull herself up against chairs etc. Then she would practice standing up, sitting down, standing up (on the spot) etc. about 100x a day

23 months old – She Took her first steps but still very wobbly. She Did lots of cruising against furniture and preferred taking steps holding onto our hands for support.

24 months old and 1 week – my Daughter started walking very confidently all by herself :)

Everything my daughter did was by herself and when she was READY. You cannot rush a bum shuffler but I would encourage to getting some soft play blocks to use at home as they are really fun and they definitely encouraged my daughter to move, climb etc.

It's tough emotionally and especially when people mention your over 1yr old not standing, crawling or walking yet. But try your best NOT to listen to other people, just keep encouraging your baba and stay patient :)

Thank you so much for this. I have a 16 month old bum shuffler who absolutely hated tummy time, was late to roll, and so on

He can weight bear and cruise, but can’t pull up to stand because of course he doesn’t realise he needs to be in a kneeling position, because he’s never crawled. He also can’t get up to a sitting position from lying down, for the same reason - he never utilised these transitions in crawling.

Do you remember the activities the physios gave you, I’d be grateful for any tips? Were the physios ever concerned at all? Will there be any implications for your DD’s gross motor skills as she grows up?

Thank you again for posting and sharing your journey!

You're very welcome and it's good to share experiences, especially ones that there is little info about.

Most bum shufflers don't crawl, they skip it entirely as they don't need to really and that's why bum shufflers take longer to walk, as they don't need to as they can get everywhere via bum shuffling.

The physio has no concerns, she felt my daughters legs and ankles and said she will walk, when she's ready. The physio recommended putting toys (the ones they love) up on the sofa (towards the back) so they have to reach for them, and I used to turn a storage box upside down, so it was like a table with toys on it and then sit my daughter on a little stool and so she would reach (putting some weight on her feet) for the toy.

I then got her a little table and chairs from Dunelm which encouraged her to stand against etc. and then the soft play blocks (got from Robert Dyas) were REALLY good (the BEST THING) and really encouraged my daughter to move, climb, etc. You could get a play kitchen as that would encourage leaning, standing to open cupboards etc.

It is just a matter of time for most bum shufflers bless them :)