Walking before crawling and standing?

[FTM2020x]

DS is 17 months. As a newborn he never tolerated tummy time without screaming and as soon as he could roll, tummy time was over. He never came remotely close to crawling - he could push up on his hands but never mastered getting up on his knees, not even close.

He started walking at 15 months which is great - just let go of the sofa he’d cruised around for MONTHS and went for it. Thing is though, you can tell he never crawled - if he falls over he’s literally stuck on the floor until someone puts him back on his feet. He can’t stand up from the ground under his own steam at all.

Has anyone else’s child been like this and has it been ok? Lots of (mostly American physiotherapy) sites seem to say learning to walk before crawling and standing independently is a problem and can indicate learning difficulties down the line.

I was that child and my DC - we did not crawl - and we have no learning difficulties that I'd noticed and I am almost 60 now.
Make sure they move when they are older (sports clubs, swimming).

It's helpful to teach them to crawl because it's one of the things that builds pathways across the hemispheres of the brain. Babies who don't crawl can have a greater tendency to have things like dyspraxia later in life.

If you can make a game out of crawling it will help - something like a play tunnel might encourage him.

DD1 did this. Severe reflux so flipped back over instantly when she ended on her tummy, then usually puked everywhere. Sat at 5 months but was angrily immobile until 9 months when she pulled up on a coffee table and started cruising. She walked at 11 months by that system, pulling up on furniture. She too was stranded when she fell over until about 13 months, when she suddenly stood from sitting.

DD1 now age 3 is (according to nursery) exceptionally bright, has fantastic fine motor skills and no delays whatsoever. However, she is still very clumsy and is more likely to fall off something than be able to balance on it for example.

I mention the above skills not to boast, but to reassure you that not all is doomed if your child takes this route. I remember googling like mad myself too, and reading some worrying things about future issues. I hope this helps.

Not all babies crawl and it's totally normal

One of mine didn’t crawl. She just shuffled/kind of dragged herself around then stood up and walked. It didn’t seem to cause her any problems later. Maybe you could help him get from sitting to standing, encourage him to go on his knees and get himself up by holding your hand or something?

My baby never crawled/ bum shuffled or whatever, he just sat. Then one day I turned around to see he had stood up with the help of furniture and that was it, he was off like a rocket. No learning difficulties either - complete opposite in that he loved studying but interestingly wasn't a sporty person.

Ds could walk before standing independently (he could crawl though so would just crawl back to furniture and pull up). I used to sit him on my lap just in front of the sofa and he started to stand himself up from sitting as he felt more confident that he wouldn't fall as he had something to grab onto. Then I moved further and further back. About a month later he could stand up from the ground fine by himself!

Perfectly normal never to crawl, however I'd be concerned he can't get up by himself if he can walk properly. I would ask your health visitor about this.

DD (16) went straight from pulling herself up on furniture to walking, didn't bother with crawling. She's in advanced classes at school and is very sporty, always been coordinated even as a toddler - perhaps that's why she went straight to walking? So, don't assume it's an indication of learning difficulties.

I went straight to walking without crawling, I'm 23 now and have no learning difficulties etc so please don't worry!

My DDs didn't crawl. They just got up and walked. Unless there are other things that concern you I'd just accept sometimes they just can't wait to get going. Maybe watch Bluey the baby race episode for reassurance

@lynntheyresexpeople

Perfectly normal never to crawl, however I'd be concerned he can't get up by himself if he can walk properly. I would ask your health visitor about this.

I agree. The not crawling is fine, but I'd check with a health visitor about the not pulling up.

Will he bounce up and down (bend his knees) in a bouncer or if you hold his hands?

To help him along sit him on your knee or a low step and put something very interesting up on the sofa/a low table so he has to pull himself up from half-standing to see it. That will be easier for him than pulling up from the floor.

My sister could crawl, stand, walk and talk at 18 months but couldn't bend to go from standing to sitting or to push herself upward from sitting to standing!

It was very odd but after 2 physio sessions focussing on her abdominal muscles she got it. Sometimes it's just a little thing that hasn't quite clicked yet but it will.

Thank you all so much for your posts. I should clarify, he can pull to stand if sat on the floor by a low enough object. What he can’t do is that thing most toddlers do - if he falls over he can’t catch himself on his hands, then tuck his feet beneath and push through both to stand back up. He just face plants the floor then awaits rescue. He’s never sat on his knees or pushed up through his knees. He can only sit on his bum with his legs out in front of him.

@User5252727 I feel we have tried everything - it’s not like he is close to crawling but just needs a bit of encouragement. He literally has no clue - he’s as close to crawling as a 4 month old. He has never commando crawled or pushed up onto his hands and knees, for example. Just flounders on his front getting increasingly irate.

@Timeturnerplease thank you, this does make me feel a bit better. DS sounds like your DD but just later again. He’s horrendously clumsy but very good at fine motor and speech. He gets full marks on the age appropriate ASQ for everything bar gross motor, where he is lucky to score a single point

He’s a very big boy, I’m not sure if that makes a difference? Anyway maybe I’ll speak to my HV. Thanks once again everyone.