Does this sound like it could be cerebal palsy?

[Themidnightpig]

Hello. Hope this is an ok place to post.

My DD is 9 months and I'm concerned she may have CP as she has started crawling a few weeks ago but it is an army crawl and she favours her right leg. She only uses her left leg to turn, the rest of the time it just drags along for the ride.

She has been sitting confidently since 6 months but shows no signs of proper crawling, pulling up to stand or cruising. She can stand holding onto the bars of her cot but that's it.

I've made a GP appointment but it isnt for a month so I was just hoping for some opinions on here.

Thanks x

[Foreverbaffled]

This is incredibly common so don’t panic. Pulling to stand and cruising come later for a lot of babies. Many children with CP have low axial muscle tone so tend to be delayed sitting. Asymmetry such as what you are describing is still in the realm of normal. By all means keep an eye on it but it sounds like your little one has many positives. Is she rolling both ways? When standing at the cot is she bearing weight equally in both legs?

[Themidnightpig]

Thank you for the reply @Foreverbaffled . She does roll both ways yes, although tummy to back came a lot earlier (3/4 months) than back to tummy which she only managed at about 8 months.

I think she bears weight equally on both legs when standing although I wouldn't really know how to tell!

I'm glad to know it isnt necessarily abnormal to crawl this way though.

[vodkaredbullgirl]

Normal, I was a bum shuffler.

[LadyCatStark]

it doesn’t sound like anything to be necessarily concerned about.

[FabulousKilljoys]

Normal, mine all did random versions of crawling from leg dragging to commando crawling and 10 month old only recently got a better hang of it, and he only just started sitting unaided. Perfectly healthy just doing it his own way!

[Themidnightpig]

This has made me feel so relieved. I will keep my GP appointment as it is 4 weeks away but hopefully she will have progressed a bit by the time it comes around.

[FabulousKilljoys]

@Themidnightpig You spend 9 months worrying about them on the inside, and the rest of your life worrying about them on the outside!

Hopefully the GP will be able to put your mind at ease

[TimeToChangeItUpNow]

Mine did the commando crawl for MONTHS!! He used to slither around. Didn't walk until 16 months. Now a healthy, running, climbing, 9 year old!

[AnyFucker]

From what you have said, you have nothing to worry about

Enjoy your baby 🧸👶

[Snickers94]

My baby is exactly the same! She's 11 months and commando crawling, with one leg doing all the work, but she's been able to bear weight on her legs since she was tiny and has been able to walk when we are holding her hands since 7 months. She's really good at walking while holding hands but can't fully pull up to stand yet, but if I place her standing on furniture she can stay there for ages and even slowly start cruising!

I don't think there's anything wrong with your baby, it seems so normal at 9 months.

[Floydthebarber]

Really, really normal. I was so worried that dd1 was a late crawler, then a late walker. She wasn't 'late' just not really early. Crawled about 10/11 months, walked about 15 months. Dd2 was the same but I was very happy for her to stay in one place for as long as possible!

[WaterBottle123]

My DD was exactly the same with crawling, just dragged her left leg! Never a proper crawl.

Healthy, strong 11 year old now, no issues at all.

[windowstothesoul]

For reassurance I would phone HV for a review they can send nursery nurses to do a check - will be possible quicker than GP and give you peace of mind of overall development.

[DuckDuckNo]

My son did that, only even later. Sort of a one sided commando crawl. He only learnt proper crawl at 12 months, started walking at 16 months. Is now a happy bright 5-year-old who reads and writes and climbs and rides his bike. No worries OP!

[MolkosTeenageAngst]

Cerebral palsy is typically caused when something causes damage to the brain during or shortly after birth (eg: lack of oxygen, prematurity, significant infection, head injury). Have you got any reason to think your baby has been at risk of serious injury or illness that could have effected brain developmental or caused damage?

If not and if there are no other developmental concerns and your DD is meeting all of her milestones then I think it’s unlikely to be cerebral palsy, it’s not unusual for babies to be a bit lopsided when they first learn to crawl.

[CustardGoodJamGoodMeatGood]

Completely normal. DD used to lay on her back and push herself to get around the room, she didn't even attempt crawling until 10 months and wouldn't bother bearing any weight on her legs. She finally pulled herself up to standing on her first birthday and didn't walk until 16 months, she's now a perfectly normal, overactive 2.5yo

[Themidnightpig]

@MolkosTeenageAngst no nothing like that, she was early but not premature altho it was a forceps delivery. We had to see a cranial osteopath for a bit tho as she struggled being led on her back but was discharged no issues.

Google seemed to point to CP and on my other thread someone said that dragging a leg isn't normal 🤔

[Littlesoul123]

How is she

[CoffeandTiaMaria]

DS bellyflopped like a seal until he managed to crawl properly 😀

[Themidnightpig]

Forgot about this thread!

She is fine. The doctor wasn’t concerned at her appointment, I’d say it was still another month or so from this post before she crawled ‘properly’ but she did eventually. Walked at 13 months and is unstoppable now.