9 1/2 month old, not sitting or crawling

[mummy2t]

i wasnt concerned about this as he is attemping both, will sit while supported and is trying to get knee's up under his belly but then slips backwards.
like i said i was concerned at this but anyone and everyone seems to be pointing out to me he is very late and should be doing these things by now. what do u think?
xxx

well - I know some children don't crawl at all - my daughter never crawled - just went straight into walking at about a year old. I can't remember about sitting though. No-one ever told me that letting them play on their tummy is a good idea (and she hated it when I did by the way) - which I always thought might have something to do with the lack of crawling.

yeah i thought that some dont crawl, just i am worried now cause of what people have said. people can be cruel

Mine (dts) weren't crawling at a year old, and now at 16m they aren't walking or talking, just babbling. No Mamas or Dadas.

They have their hearing tests at the hospital this afternoon in case they're not talking as they can't hear much to learn from, and at 18m I can have them referred to a physio if they're still not walking.

TBH my HV wasn't much help until the last appointment, but I kept saying I was worried and now she's taking it a bit more seriously. I hope beyond hope I am just a paranoid mother but it doesn't hurt to get things checked out, even if by Dr Mumsnet!

It's "a cause for concern" if they haven't sat by 12 months. Having experienced this I would go and demand a referral now to the paediatrician. (It took us 9 weeks to get to see one.) Don't be fobbed off by gp's platitudes/book checking. If your lo is sitting etc by then no harm done and you can cancel it.
FWIW my ds1 first sat at 8.5 months. Started crawling at 14 I think. My ds2 is 23 months and hasn't done either and I wish I'd started the ball rolling when he was your son's age. (Regardless of helping him earlier it would have saved loads of grief from everyone too.)

Thanks everyone, thats a great help xxx

I know what it is to worry about things like this, I am a neurotic first time mum with pnd - the worry has sent me round the twist,
I had / have some concerns about my ds although he's only 9 months, -anyway of course the medical profession will not take me seriously and fob me off with a wait and see line, - its frustrating and now they just write in notes that mum has pnd so I just look like a nutcase.
But basically the medical profession only treat things with medecines.

Developmental delays need something more. I'm not saying you should worry, I know nothing about this but you can only do something positive.

I thoroughly reccommend cranio - sacral oesteopathy, its brilliant and treats all manner of things and is especially beneficial for babies. My ds started crawling and cruising after a few sessions - of course thats not proof it could be co incidence and it won't work the same for everytbody, but its certainly worth doing and you will probably find that you are worrying about the worst case scenario but maybe its just a question of a small tension, or discomfort that needs addressing.

please think seriously about this because its a wonderful treatment and much more than any doctor will do.

(i'm not saying you are neurotic btw, just me but I don't want anyone else to go round the twist)

You need to crawl to show your baby and also when in tummy time put a cushion under their chest cos its very frustrating when they are lying down and can't lift up and the cushion gives the feeling of being elevated without it being exhausting for them

Have you got any other worries? My dd didn't sit until 9 months but she did have problems.

i have no other worries he is generally the happiest baby going! sleeps through night, has 2 decent naps aday and when he is awake he is full of smiles and giggles. he is very calm and relaxed.
i do crawl around when he is having tummy time and he looks and me and does push up on his hands, he isnt far of doing it ut everyone else has made worry over something i prop wouldnt have. thanks for advice about cushion, i will try that!
whats the cranio - sacral oesteopathy??

yomellamoHelly - how is your little one, do they know the reason behind ds not doing either yet? its strange, these little bundles arrive all healthy and you never give it a second thought that somehing could be wrong further down the line. i hope the docs are helping out now
xxx

you need to google cranio sacral oesteopathy for a good description - I will end up making it sound cranky but its actually pretty main stream.

thats great, thanks alot xxx

Hi

I took my 9mth DD to GP last week as she was not sitting up either. Let alone crawling!!

He said it was cause for concern but not worrying and said I should give it another 3wks then go back if no change and she will be referred.

However yesterday she finally sat by herself!! And today she managed 30mins before falling She is 10mths on Friday.

ahhhh congrats simpson!!! hopefully my ds2 will be there soon. i am going to mention it to hv next week and see what they say. xxx

mummy2t - They've said global development delay and cerebral palsy. On basis of observation only! By some miracle help is about to kick in (started ball rolling beginning of summer) but not sure how good it will be (spoken to too many people). I remain hopeful about future though despite some parties telling me I'm in denial about his prospects.
FWIW we're doing the osteopathy route too. Together with the physio there've been a lot of improvements recently, so would recommend it if you can afford it. I felt ds2 kept getting stuck on the same things despite all the work we are doing with him and the osteopathy has helped him get past those hurdles.
It does sound like he's doing the right things though - all stuff we're working on getting ds2 to do. Second advice about something under chest (rolled up towel will do too). We've also been advised to lock ds2's arms at shoulder height or slightly higher and encourage him to look in front. If necessary we also have to pull his shoulders up (obliquely out if that makes sense) to make him do this whilst also pinning his elbows to the ground to help him build up the strength in his shoulders. Can he happily support himself with elbows? He needs to be able to do that before he progresses to hands. A gym ball has also been invaluable - supporting hips and encouraging him to push himself up (arms and legs if poss, but ds2 not strong enough, so arms for us only). Aeroplanes are also good for limited times if you think your ds has enough head control. Also sitting with one arm supporting himself to side or slightly to the front (you have to lock out his shoulder and elbow and get him to put his hand flat - either on your leg or the ground - then getting him to play with the other hand. Think those are the most relevant to you. But there is loads you can be doing. Above all with us is tummy time tummy time tummy time. Am forever flipping ds2 on his front.