Crawling/pulling self up

[E899]

My son is 9 months and showing no signs of crawling, bum shuffling or pulling self up. I know some say they skip crawling and go to walking but he’s not showing any signs of that either. He can sit up fine, has lots of tummy time too (even though he’s not really a fan) but just nothing!

I know I shouldn’t compare but a lot of my friends babies or babies at classes I go to his age, are crawling. Is there anything I can do to encourage this?

Lots of tummy time and putting toys just out of reach.

We do this and he just ends up rolling to them!

My son is about the same age and not doing too much moving wise either! My dd was walking in a couple of weeks time! I'm not too worried though as I quite like this phase... plus because he sits still and concentrates on playing with things his fine motor skills are really good - I figure they all develop different things in different orders...

My DD is 9 months & not showing any signs of crawling/ pulling up either. If it makes you feel better crawling isn’t part of the 10month check HV do. I downloaded it so I could see if she was really behind. Pulling up kind of is but the questionnaire is from 9-11months so I figure she still has time & in any case it says not to worry if they don’t do some of the things. Maybe it’ll help you to have a look at it and see what your baby does do might stop you worrying? Do you know if your HV will be doing a 10month check? That’s what I’m waiting for to raise any concerns. DD is really good at rolling so I think she can’t be bothered to do anything else haha.

The HV tend to do the 10 month and one year one at once. Mine was literally the day DD was 9 months, but over the phone due to Covid. It took me by surprise as they can do it anytime from 9 month to 13 months. But if no concerns then they won't get back to you. If they think they are behind on something they will give you some tips and check back in in a few months.

To encourage crawling ... If you put something just out of their reach will they stretch to get it? Food on the table instead of high chair tray or your phone or keys on the carpet? You need something high value to them they see you with and want. Just watch them if they get hold of it! So they try to move forward. Although both my DCs went backwards, when they started to try to crawl, but the intention was to go forwards.

Also try standing them up to play on the sofa as a table or on the actual sofa with you holding them- as weight baring will strengthen their legs and core.

This is quite a good toy ... it moves about ... And it's true they all take their own time and it evens out. My first was early to do all the physical stuff, but very slow on his speech. He then seemed to stall a bit physically as the speech picked up!

Thank you for all the replies!

I didn’t know there was a questionnaire for the check up, due to covid and first time mom I haven’t really been informed of much so that’s great! Looks as though his fine motor skills are good and he’s hitting them, but it’s the gross motor ones he’s not.

Oh yeah he loves the phone, the keys and the remotes. And he does reach for things all the time, he just then normally ends up rolling to them. I’ve heard about getting/creating a tunnel so I may do that so he’s got less flexibility to roll. And I’ll look at that you, thank you!

He is very strong on his legs but won’t stand on his own leaning on the sofa or anything yet. Will keep trying and hopefully get used to it. This lockdown will be horrible again but least gives me more of an opportunity to focus on things like this.

Forgot to say, he’s very very vocal so at least I’m not worried about that bit! He’s hardly ever quiet, and he can say (although doesn’t know what they mean) mama and dada.

Mine was climbing everything from about 7 months and walked at exactly 10 months. Be very careful what you wish for!

Dd is 10 months and bum shuffles but no crawling or pulling up. I had her check recently and the HV said the most important thing at this stage is weight bearing - so if you stand him up, will he bear weight on his legs while you hold him, or he holds on. If they are happy doing this then HV said there's nothing to worry about. But dd hates weight bearing so she said she will review her at 13 months as they would want her to be seen if she's not happier doing it by then.

@NotThiisAgaiin

Mine was climbing everything from about 7 months and walked at exactly 10 months. Be very careful what you wish for!

This!

I bet when he is crawling at speed towards the Christmas tree for the tenth time in a morning with steely determination in his eyes you will remember this thread and laugh.

My son is almost 11 months and only started showing interest in crawling and pulling up in past two weeks. Don't panic.

You said he rolls. I know some babies do this as a means of getting about.

My mother said that I was a roller for quite a while before even trying to crawl. She lost me for a few minutes once because I rolled underneath the sofa and she had to get down and slide me out. 🙄😃

I did crawl briefly after that, but not for long. My sister was a bum-shuffler, as were two out of my three DDs. Not all babies crawl by any means and I don't think there is that much you can do if they are set on doing something else.

Believe me, I absolutely did try to discourage bum-shuffling, but mine were a pair of stubborn mules and just went ahead with it anyway. Bum-shuffling is hard on clothes and wear through the seat of a pair of trousers within an afternoon, not to mention the nappy as well.

@Topseyt my DD is 10 months as is my second child, she bum shuffles at speed. Her favourite thing is to get one of her brothers toys and bum shuffle as fast as she can off with it in her hand. My oldest only crawled.

I can't remember exactly why, but a physio told me standing activity things ( not the walkers) are better than jumperoo / bouncing ones. It could be the weight bearing thing as @Findahouse21 said.