Almost 1 year old can't get about

[Mylittlesandwich]

DS will be 1 in a fortnight. He doesn't crawl or walk. I wasn't overly concerned. We encourage him to stand and take steps at home. He pulls up holding our hands and some furniture if it's the right height for him.

Nursery are concerned however and so now so am I. I thought he was just taking his time but how I'm worried. I've tried to call my health visitor but I can't get a hold of her. He just seems contented where he is. He's a happy little boy. Nursery have started putting him in a bouncer to strengthen his legs. I got rid of ours because he was too heavy for it and now I'm wondering if I should have kept it? Maybe that's why he can't walk yet?

DS didn't walk until he was around 15 months. He did stand occasionally, but would then just sit down again.
I don't think 12 months is particularly late not to be walking. You say he pulls himself up so he seems to be on the right track.

I don't know if it's because he can't crawl either? He can get himself into a position to crawl but he just doesn't. He'll sit there and smile at you but usually just puts himself back onto his knees or bum when he's had enough.

Crawling isn't a developmental milestone.

Walkers aren't recommended either. Not sure what the nursery getting at

Can your child roll etc? That's a form of travelling.

The nursery are really nice and they're positive about it. I can see what they mean. I'd be happier for him if he could get about too. He can roll. He went through a phase of rolling everywhere. He just seems fairly content where he is and the other children at nursery come over to him so they can interact. He seems more focused on other skills if that makes sense? He's really chatty and we've figured out a couple of things that he has specific noises for so I think that's where his brainpower is going.

DS never crawled. He wriggled on his belly like a worm, propelling himself along with his arms. Lots of children shuffle on their bum, or wriggle, but never crawl. Does he move around at all? What does he do if he wants a toy that's just out of reach?

I'd try the HV again re the crawling - does he bum shuffle instead? Both my niece and nephew were bum shufflers and a friend had a kid who just sat there! Nothing wrong, just liked sitting.

I wouldn't be too too worried about the walking just yet - my DD didn't walk till 16 months. I think the advice is anything up to 18 months is ok and then after that would need checking out.

I cross posted with you.
Well, if the other children are coming to him, he won't need to go anywhere will he? I personally wouldn't worry at this stage.
My DS is nearly 11 and extremely athletic. 'Late' walking hasn't held him back.

Walking isn't late until they're about 24 months. So 1 year would be relatively early anyway.

My 3rd son didn’t walk until he was 19 months, other 3 were 12/13 months. He is hypermobile so it took him a little longer but you’d never know now and he’s 10.

It’s worth keeping an eye on, he may just cruise then walk or bum shuffle it’s unusual but not unheard of, my 3rd son spoke much earlier than the others, try and speak to your health visitor flag it up and see what she has to say if anything but I’m sure he’s just happy where he is for now he sounds a lovely wee boy.

DS didn't crawl until 13 months but just got up and crawled like a pro without any of the trials and tribulations associated with learning. Was 19 months when he walked - again, no cruising, very little falling down, just stood up one day and got on with it. It was almost like he didn't want to be seen making a tit of himself til he was good at it - and he still has that mind set now 😁.

Your lad could well be similar.

@YesItsMeIDontCare its funny you say that. He was the same with sitting and rolling. Hadn't really given it much of a go then one day just seemed to have it mastered. He didn't really roll at all until he could roll perfectly in either direction and was fairly late to sit too but once he did he rarely toppled. I wonder if that's just how he does things?

You've all put my mind at ease. I will try and get a hold of the health visitor again just to see what she says but I'm sure he'll be fine. He's super chilled which is not a bad thing. I think not knowing many other mums and there not being baby classes and things just leaves me not having those comparisons and reassurance but Mumsnet is great for that.

Is he extra chubby? Anecdotally I think bigger babies are later to crawl as all those fat rolls get in the way of bending and moving limbs.

Does he have a toy he really really loves? You could try putting it just a little out of his reach when he gets into crawling position and see if getting the toy is enough motivation to get him to try crawling.

My Youngest DD never crawled, she dragged herself on her arse [:smile]. She walked at 18 months - she stood up and walked. I have that recorded on some tape...I was recording something else to send to my mum and DD started walking

He's not chubby but he's really really tall. Length wise he's almost in 18-24 month clothes but they're a bit too wide for him. Most of his length is in his torso.

I got one of his favourite toys (an old Xbox controller, obviously none of the baby toys we've bought for him). He smiled at me for ages and was rocking in a crawling position but didn't actually move. He lay out on his belly and stretched for it. Which to be fair at his height often works.

Does he have a toy he really really loves? You could try putting it just a little out of his reach when he gets into crawling position and see if getting the toy is enough motivation to get him to try crawling.

I tried that with my DS - little bugger just pulled the blanket he was on til it was in his reach. 😂

At the same age as yours, my ds didnt even roll to get around, and showed no signs of crawling.
Then, the week before he was 1, I brought him home from nursery, put him down on the mat, and he crawled off at high speed. I asked nursery if they hadn't told me, but no, he'd just decided to crawl right then. He walked a few weeks later, and again didn't really toddle, he was just off and running and never crawled again.

Bouncers and walkers (the sit-in ones, not the push along ones) aren’t recommended as they’re not good for hip and spine development, and don’t encourage the right posture for walking

Be warned, my DS was late to walk and now he runs and bounces everywhere!

People who commented at the time, "Oh, is he still not walking yet?" have well and truly shut up now!

DS didn't crawl until around 10 months and then suddenly one day just went from one side of the room to the other

Same with walking. Around 13-14 months just suddenly started.

I wouldn't worry.

DH didn't crawl or walk until about 1 year old when he just started walking. Your DS seems strong to be pulling himself up. And I assume he sits well.

I wouldn't like my child to be on a bouncer. They were outlawed in Australia (I think) they're not good for development of the hips. You can get a walker instead.

In a couple of months do mention to the GP if he's still not walking to make sure everything is ok.

Tbh, we all get scared about development milestones but they are just guidelines. DD1 started talking late amd the whole family was stressing me

I wouldn't worry, he's so little still. My DD was only just beginning to crawl at this age and she definitely wasn't cruising or even standing much. Nursery didn't mention it to be fair. She walked at 15 months in the end, she hadn't made any attempts but I did a family zoom during lockdown where my mum and sisters were asking about it in the way family tend to.

She was sitting on my knee listening intently to them and when we ended the zoom she started walking across the room! Really made me laugh.

My DS crawled occasionally from about 12 months and walked at 17 months. He was happy and chilled and would prefer to watch the world go by.
DD walked at 9 months and was into everything.
DS is now 10 and is absolutely fine, but would still happily spend the day in his onesie watching tv or reading and has to be dragged out on walks. DD, 8, is never still and needs exercise several times a day and even when watching TV is somersaulting! 😂

He will be fine.

DD never crawled and didn't walk until 18 months. I don't know why your nursery are freaking you out over something completely normal

Have you considered a private physio consultation? DD wasn't crawling until she was 15 months - by 13 months i was highly concerned because her peers were walking whilst she would roll across the floor. The physio said she was fine but had higher than average flexibility and lower than average muscle tone. Not enough for concern though. We started leaving chocolate buttons of the kitchen floor just out of reach to encourage her to put her arms out and crawl. She then crawled until 25 months, taking her first steps 2 weeks after her 2nd birthday.

DD couldn't get about by herself when she started nursery at 14 months. She could take a few steps by herself from about 12 months, but didn't learn to crawl or pull up to standing until 15 months, so she could only walk if you stood her up, and if she fell down again she was stuck. Very odd!

Nursery didn't seem particularly concerned at that age and the health visitor said to call again if she wasn't pulling up or crawling by 18 months, but weren't too concerned at that age as she could easily walk around holding onto our hands.