8 month old reluctant to move about

[Autumn13]

My DD has always been a fast learner and apparently is a fast developer. By 5 months she was sitting unassisted, she can wave, say some words, had two teeth at almost 6 months and has great hand/eye coordination... But she shows little interest in crawling, she will now stand up a little when held onto and she's only just learned how to roll from front to back. She can't roll back to front. If I put her on her tummy to encourage crawling she just rolls back over or cries (she's always hated being on her tummy). Is this normal?

Very. She's only 8 months old.

I think it's unusual that she could sit unassisted but not able to roll over - have you used sitting aids (like a bumbo seat)? These can interfere with the progress of physical development meaning some milestones are met too early. Totally normal that she can't crawl yet, but sounds like she might need more tummy time.

https://capitalchirodsm.com/bumbo-seats-to-use-or-not-to-use/

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/media/168243/bhcypittoolkittsectior2eyyfactors1_pr1.pdf

Actually I'm wrong, babies can just skip out on rolling and go straight to sitting. Ignore me.

Dd sat independently at 4months crawled at 12 months and walked at 15 months. She’s now a competitive gymnast and very physically capable. Baby’s do their own thing.

Totally normal. DN walked really early (11 months) but it was a huge shock to everyone because he didn’t crawl, turn, or even sit. He was booked in to see a pediatrician and by then was running around and sitting back on his knees and we all ended up looking like fools.

But if you are worried I would talk to your HV. Always do this as they will be more than happy to book you in for a consultant appointment

At my daughters 1 year review, she couldn’t bum shuffle, crawl or bear her own weight standing against something. At 14 months she just walked. My son was walking at 10 months. They’re equally bright and have developed well. I think that my daughter was just busy developing in other ways.

She's 8 months old - she'll get there. Plus once they start moving you don't get to sit down again!

Completely normal, isn't about 9 months average for crawling? My DS crawled just before 8 months and that seemed quite early relative to same aged babies at groups etc. He walked at 13m. Conversely DD crawled at 11m and walked at 15m, HV said both were completely within normal ranges.

Ds was the same, he could sit unassisted steadily at 5 months (I had to place him into the sitting position, he couldn't get there by himself) but he didn't crawl until 10 months. In hindsight I think I probably let him sit too early as he got so used to balancing that I don't think he liked the sensation of tipping over onto his arms and into the crawling position. You couldn't even push him over, he was like a weeble! His fine motor skills were fantastic though from having his hands free all the time! He didn't roll front to back until 8 months as he wouldn't really lift up onto full extended arms either. He could put himself onto his front from 6 months however. Just before he turned 10 months he started dragging himself around in really awkward looking worm crawl but once he got the idea that his arms could be used for support he was crawling like a pro within days! First unassisted steps at 12 months and was running by 15 months so he has clearly caught up with his gross motor skills :) don't panic, one day it will just click!

Sounds very similar to my DD who is almost 10 months old.. she only learnt to roll back to front at 8.5 months and she still hates being on her tummy, just cries or rolls back over. I’m not overly concerned since my mum tells me I didn’t crawl, I bum shuffled instead.

My first ds hardly moved at all until he was 11 months. He sat perfectly stable. He did not roll, at all. Then at 11 months he used to flop sideways from sitting and sort of humped the carpet for a week or so. Then once he'd worked out to get his knees up he rocked back and forth, and then he was off! He also walked about 6 weeks later, just all came at once.