12 month old can't crawl or change positions, should I worry?

[Gemzooks]

My DD just turned 1. She is very active, healthy and lively, and is very clever with her hands (lifting flaps in books, eating raisins out of the box etc), says different words etc BUT she doesn't crawl, just bum-shuffles everywhere, loves to sit and play but can't change her position, so can't sit herself up from lying, can't lie down from sitting, can just about roll but only if really encouraged, doesn't do it herself. No attempts to pull herself up or stand or any of those things that you expect at that age. She goes in a bouncer sometimes and kicks strongly, and also loves swimming and kicks then, but basically can't be bothered or doesn't have the strength in her legs to get mobile. My DS was not particularly early with anything but at 1 he was crawling of course, and pulling himself up to stand. I'm now starting to get quite worried about it.

Anyone had similar? and did your child start to crawl eventually?

If she's bum shuffling then I'd try not to worry too much, she mightn't crawl at all.

If memory serves me well (which is doesn't always!) crawling isn't a expected developmental stage

Some children never crawl, some just do a comando crawl mainly on their bellies, others bum shuffle they are all different, can she support her weight when you put her feet down e.g if you stood her against the sofa, or held her up under her arms??

hmm i suspect it's all fine and within the realms of "normal"- whatever that might be!

bumshuffling is normal, and i wouldn't necessarily be worried about not crawling, she is doing the bumshuffling instead and lots of bumshufflers go straight to walking

i think i might be a little concerned about the not doing other stuff though,like not being able to roll easily or lie down froma sitting position.

I think it's definitely worth a chat with your HV, if nothing else it'll put your mind at rest! and if s/he does think there is possible cause for concern then it's best to get a referral to the right people sooner rather than later. you're far better being referred and nothing being wrong, than leaving it and not getting any help she might need iyswim?

My DD just turned 1 and is walking, but doesn't say a word.

DH never crawled, bum shuffled then stood up and walked at about 13mo.

They are all different and develop at different rates. I think your DD will be fine.

Sorry I ddin't read you post fully the parts about her not being able to lie from sitting, roll easily with these I would be concerned. I'd contact your HV

DS2 sounds quite similar to your DD - he's 11 months, just sitting up though, no bum shuffling. Completely different to DS1 who crawled at seven months! I've decided that I'll take him to the HV at 1 year if he's still not mobile in some way. He seems to be getting very frustrated with not being able to move so maybe he'll have a developmental growth spurt.

I'm really trying not to be concerned as I do remember other children at the same age as DS1 who had this and are now running about aged 3yrs with everyone else.

Don't know if that helps you, Gemzooks, but wanted to sympathise.

thanks for your replies! She has a check up in a few weeks, will bring it up then.. If I stand her against the sofa or bath, she can stand for a minute or so, but doesn't like it. I think what you've all said is quite true, it's not so much the bum shuffling as the fact she can't change her position in any way, she tries to pull herself up to sit on the changing table which has side bits, but can't quite do it. She lies and I say 'rolly, rolly!" and she knows what I mean but is reluctant to roll because she thinks she'll bang her head.. I worry she's been too much of a buggy baby because she's my second and she's been kind of plonked somewhere while I sort my DS out, maybe haven't done enough exercise with her..

DD1 did not crawl or roll over, started bum shuffling from 1-ish and walked at 16 months very steadily. She could walk with us holding our hands around 13 months. My DD2 is displaying the same sort of traits as she is 9 months and shows no interest in crawling either. Your baby sounds quite like them.

My DD bumshuffled at 13 months (didnt move an inch beforehand) and walked at 16 months. She then discovered how to crawl after she could walk. But like your DD was good at other things (looking at books/playing with toys etc) and her speech has always been very good. Shes coming up to 3 now and has the same physical skills as her peers but better than average speech etc which I really do put down to her focusing her energy on doing things other than moving. At the time I was really worried but now realise they all do things when they want to. Keep with the swimming, I found it really helped DD to build up the strength in her legs.

My DD was a talker rather than a mover too.

We did a few simple physio things for the areas you mentioned - e.g. 'taught' her to sit up by rolling her onto her side then putting one arm out on the ground so she could push herself up. She cottoned on to that really quickly.

Also encouraged rolling with things she really loved like keys just out of reach.

Loads of tummy time too as we hadn't really persevered with it before. She hated tummy time but tolerated it if I put a plate of snacks in front of her so she could eat while she was doing it!

I'm worried about this too as DD - nearly 1 - doesn't seem to be either a walker or a talker. HV said not to get too anxious about moving before 16-18 months but I'm more concerned that she doesn't seem motivated to do things: putting favourite toys just out of reach doesn't galvanise her into action, she doesn't seem to get the idea of wanting to pull herself up, though she loves standing...
I'm going to try some of the exercises suggested here and go back to HV in a couple of weeks or so. Very grateful for reassuring stories on here and for suggestions - thanks for starting the thread, Gemzooks.

I think the trouble changing positions is unusual at this age. Have you spoken to your HV?

saw HV probably 6 weeks or so ago and she wasn't worried but we are in Holland and they are pretty laid back.. Have another appointment towards end of May, I think for her MMR.. but can phone any time, maybe I'll just phone up..

I have a 14 month old bum shuffler!

At 13 months she pulled herself up and can take steps on a brick trolley. We have seen her crawl properly but she prefers the bum shuffle to anything else.

When she moves she looks a bit like a dog with infected anal glands no but it's very sweet really.

Don't worry, they are all so different, and i think 18 months is the time health care professionals look at gross motor skills and STart to be concerned.

Try not to worry too much my niece did not walk until she was over 24 months and also could not get from lying to sitting until nearly two. she was checked at the hospital and they said that she was just a late developer. she has two younger sisters one who walked at 12 months and the other was nearly two before she walked.

Don't worry, DD didn't crawl until her first birthday and didn't walk until 17 months. Her best friend never crawled at all, just bum shuffled and walked at 16 months. Both now very healthy 6 years olds (but neither of them good a ballet ie not perfectly coordinated!)

I have another friend and none of her 4 DC could walk before age 2 and all healthy.

If she has problems weight-bearing then I'd say it's worth getting her properly checked out - they're usually keen to stand up, whether or not they can cruise/crawl/get themselves around. If nothing else it would set your mind at rest. The other movement things I wouldn't mind too much about, but I think at a year she should probably be comfortable taking her own weight on her legs and feet - distributed equally and without causing her discomfort.

Bit of a random question - was she an emergency section?

Probably way off the mark but if it isn't it might turn out worth while my asking!!!

She sounds just like DD (now 4 years old) at the same age, except DD wouldn't even bum shuffle! I also had concerns about the fact that she couldn't change position in any way, shape or form, and so I took her to see the HV at around 13 months. They were very much of the "wait and see" opinion, but agreed to refer on to GP/Orthopaedics as we have a family history of congential dislocation of the hip. Orthopaedics found all to be ok (although they didn't really listen to my concerns - simply checked the hip for the 3rd time in her little life) and DD did finally start to commando crawl at 14 months, with "proper" crawling following at 15 months. She didn't walk independently until 20 months, and is still on the far edge of "normal" when it comes to physical developmental stages, but she always catches up her peers eventually. For example, she has in the last couple of weeks finally learnt to come down stairs using alternate feet, whilst most of her friends have been able to do so for the last 6 - 12 months.

If you're at all concerned, do go to your GP / HV, but be prepared for the "we don't worry about walking until they are 2 years old" line to be trotted out.....

thanks all for the encouraging stories. It just gets worrying as the other children of her age leave her behind and people think she's younger because of her movement.

Joeybettany, at the dog anal glands!

Buddleja, no, she was an idyllic (well, as idyllic as a birth can be), home water birth with doula, could not have gone better, and she is so bright and good with her hands, like she will copy loads of sounds, says a few words, she will try to give toys drinks of water and can almost feed herself, none of which my son could do at 12 months but he could do the physical things.

octaviapink, I agree about the weight bearing, it worries me more than the actual crawling. She can stand up against something if I put her there and doesn't collapse, it's just she doesn't try to get up in any way or pull herself. if something's out of reach she'll just cry or just resign herself to not getting it. she bum shuffles pretty quickly and gets to everything she wants, but more like what you expect in an 8 month old... will try not to worry for now and will phone the HV, if she hasn't made what I feel is 'enough' progress in a month or so I will consider getting her seen by a specialist or something...

dinster, is your DD your first or second? I do think the fact DD is a second child has played a role, with my DS I spent ages playing with him and doing more physical stuff, and with her she's been amusing herself a lot more and not being 'stimulated' or whatever..

Generally by 1yo a baby should be able to change positions independently and pull to stand, even take a few steps. Check out this chart from Pathways Awareness with infant speech, play and physical milestones: bit.ly/6NUpfi. If you?re concerned, bring your concerns and the chart to your doctor sooner rather than later. Sometimes a bit of physical therapy is needed to help ?catch up?.

For physio referrals, we were told they would be looking for a delay of at least 2/3 months in physical ability. Not read whole thread but HV's can do a SOGS assessment at 12 months so you can see how she is progressing against the 'normal range'.

My dd has a weak trunk so was not crawling or sitting up from a lying position at 12 months. She could cruise however. She crawled at 15 months and walked at 20 months.