18 month old not walking, crawling or bum shuffling

[Claralaura]

My 18 month old daughter is still not moving. I brought her to GP and physio at 16 months and was given exercises for her do but it's not working she is still just sitting in one spot. She's getting really heavy to carry around now too.
In other ways she's developing really well, she's able to do baby puzzles and has plenty of words.

It's stressing me out so much seeing my cousins baby who's 2 months younger running, climbing and exploring in the playground while my little girl can only sit in one spot. My little one will stand for a few seconds if you put her standing but is not pulling herself up.
Has anyone had a baby who was like this? Not moving at all at 18 months.

I haven't but I believe that they can only concentrate on developing either motor or language skills at one time. My 16 month old can run around but has never said a word, neither can he do puzzles or building blocks etc. So i understand why you're worried but she will get there in the end, just as mine will eventually start talking.

Yes, I agree with pp. IME babies are often either early walkers or early talkers but not both. My DS2 was very active at 18 months but didn't really have any words until he was 2.

My 21 month old has only recently started walking. He has never crawled and bum shuffled very occasionally from around 16 months. I was really worried about him and we were referred for physio.
He started walking at 19 months with help and now is walking more confidently.
I understand your worries and feeling sad that they can’t join in with little ones at the park etc, it really got me down.
But he is slowly starting to catch up now thankfully, although he is only just starting to pull up to stand. I don’t think he’ll ever crawl!
Hope your little daughter starts getting more mobile soon!

Thanks guys xxx
She def has lots of words and she's so clever with puzzles etc. There is nothing wrong with her fine motor skills. But her gross motor skills are worrying me. The thing that's causing me most concern is that she is not moving at all, like even if she was shuffling or crawling it would be something. But at 18 months I don't think there are many babies still sitting in one spot.... has anyone else had a baby like this?

@Feeling83 thank you so much. Good to hear of someone in a similar situation. I know they all develop at their own pace but it is hard not to worry.

Has she been physically checked over by a GP or physio?

Was her lack of movement flagged at her 1 year check? (sorry that’s not a nice way to phrase is, I just couldn’t think of a better one). As far as I know, they’re not too concerned if not walking by 18 months (even though it’s the latter end of ‘normal’) if they are showing other signs of movement, ie crawling, pulling to stand etc.

I was you this time last year. My little boy started bum shuffling at around 18 months and didn’t walk until he was 21 months! He was 2 in May and he now runs everywhere! I really wish I didn’t spend so much time worrying about why he was moving, they usually all get there in the end.

My thinking is early intervention is amazing if there's a problem, and has no negatives if there isn't, so I'd go back to the GP. Did they tell you what to do if you didn't get anywhere with the exercises?

I'll be honest and say by 18 months all her cohort were walking to some degree, and I don't know any children who weren't moving at all at that age. My friend was really annoyed when her DD finally took her first steps at 18 months and her MIL casually mentioned her DH had been the same age when they'd both been getting a bit worried about it, and she is now three and v mobile but I do think she was at least bum shuffling and doing some crawling.

Its more likely than not its just a developmental stage thing as they don't all do the same things in the same order, and there's no underlying issue, but given how long waiting lists for investigations can be and how incredibly powerful early intervention can be if there's any kind of problem I'd go back to GP and ask their advise.

I live in Ireland and our 1 year developmental check was done over the phone because of covid. At 16 months she was checked by a GP after I got concerned, he said that she had low muscle tone in her legs and gave me a lecture about tummy time (which admittedly we hadn't done regularly with baby because she hated it). However he said there was no obvious reason for her lack of movement just that she wasn't strong enough yet. She is quite chubby. He referred us to physio.
The physio was pretty much the same and said it was all down to her muscle tone, and gave us exercises which we have been doing regularly but in 2 months there has been little improvement.

@Claralaura

I live in Ireland and our 1 year developmental check was done over the phone because of covid. At 16 months she was checked by a GP after I got concerned, he said that she had low muscle tone in her legs and gave me a lecture about tummy time (which admittedly we hadn't done regularly with baby because she hated it). However he said there was no obvious reason for her lack of movement just that she wasn't strong enough yet. She is quite chubby. He referred us to physio. The physio was pretty much the same and said it was all down to her muscle tone, and gave us exercises which we have been doing regularly but in 2 months there has been little improvement.

Ours was done On the phone too but there were questions around gross motor skills, particularly furniture cruising and pulling to stand. I agree with a PP, early intervention is key (if there’s a problem, there’s most likely not but the way I see it is that you’ve lost nothing by doing the investigation)

I’d go back to the GP, HV and physio and state no improvement in her movement. Was she remarked as having low muscle tone at birth?

X

Don’t know where you are in Ireland but we took our 12yr old to see someone here and they were really helpful. He’s exceptionally bright but has poor motor skills (gross and fine) and the therapist was really helpful. You have to pay for the service, but I think it was worthwhile.

www.sensationalkids.ie/childrens-services/sensational-kids-locations/

My youngest took a very long time to move. No walking crawling or shuffling for a long time and no rolling either. He was advanced in his speaking etc though. It was actually my dm who made me realise that I was never giving him reason to move. If he wanted picking up I picked him up, if he wanted something he would point and I would pass it etc. Have you tried putting things out of reach so that they have to move if you have been told its not a physical problem?