Worrying about my 9 month old

[Themidnightpig]

Hi, my DD has just turned 9 months.

We have just got back from visiting a friend who has a DS who is only days older than her, and I feel so utterly deflated and like my DD isn't where she should be. Her DS was crawling and cruising around the room, pulling himself up on the furniture, running rings around DD basically!

DD doesn't crawl properly on all fours, she commando crawls dragging one leg if she absolutely has to. She cant get up onto her knees or pull herself up. If I put her in the standing position holding on to something she can stand but doesnt take any steps or anything. She is mostly happy to just sit there with her toys!

According to my app she should be able to get herself into the sitting potion now and change positions with ease. She rolls both ways but I wouldnt say she does any of it with ease, she seems to find anything physical quite hard work.

I'm starting to worry about things like CP due to the leg dragging and general lack of gross motor skills.

Am I worrying over nothing or should I check in with my HV?

Hi op
Babies certainly cause a great deal of stress don't they?!
All children develop at different rates, I know its hard to not compare between peers at this age, but remember that.
For instance, I have 4 children..... They all said words at different ages, they all crawled at different ages, then they all walked at different ages (huge range between 10months and 15months)
But, absolutely speak to your HV to address your concerns. They will be able to assess if there is a problem or something that needs to monitored or if your DD is just talking her time!
Xx

If you're worried about something then definitely ask a medical professional to assess. All babies develop differently and they can't read the apps that tell them what they should be doing at that age (:

Just to reassure you, my first had no interest in gross motor skills until they were much older. At your LO's age they happily sat playing with toys and observing, but weren't rolling, weren't attempting to crawl or pull themselves up at all. In the end they never crawled and only walked at 18 months. They are perfectly healthy and a fast runner now at 4!

My second is the same, only baby at baby groups who isn't attempting to move at all. Honestly I love it! It's so much more tiring when they are mobile. I can take them anywhere and they are content to just sit there.

Babies just prioritise the skills they are most interested in and mine just don't care to move. They are also on the chunky side so that's probably why too.

I can't comment on the leg dragging so of course ask for advice for your peace of mind but attempting to commando crawl is way more than mine did at that age, so don't worry just because you're comparing to another child, they're all different.

All the best!

My 11 and a half month old creeps rather than crawls, has only just figured out getting into sitting, stands on my lap if I hold her upright but hasn't yet pulled into standing for herself and is not cruising round the furniture. She has just had her 1 year review and the HV is calling in a couple of months to see where we are at and if she hasn't progressed she will be referred to the physio. Her brother was doing all of these things by 9 months (and was walking by 10 months). She is fine in all other areas, she's just concentrating on other things for now.

None of my 4 took their first steps by a year old!

One couldn't even sit reliably at 11 months.

All very sporty active teenagers now.

10 month old has only just started sitting up unaided, whereas my older ones were all sat up between 6-9 months. 2yo was walking at 11 months but my older ones didn't start until 13-14 months. In essence, they all do things when they're ready. And none of them have crawled ever, more commando style on their belly.

Just looking at my 9 month old now. He can't crawl, can't cruise, can't move basically and never rolls! But he's fine I think and his sis was the same and is now fairly advanced. Don't worry and don't compare, enjoy the fact she's stationary and you can plonk her down and know she won't go anywhere! X

Everyone will tell you that all babies develop at their own speed and that is 100% correct, but the leg dragging isn't normal, and should be checked.

Thank you for the comments. Its reassuring to know not everyones babies are like my friends DS!

Re the leg dragging, I am tempted to have it checked out. My HV has no availability at the moment so itll have to be GP.

I've checked the creases in her legs as I read it could be a sign of hip problems but they seem perfectly even. She can use her non crawling leg fine for other things like rolling, standing, kicking and can push off with it if that makes it any better, and she uses it when belly crawling to turn in that direction. It's just when moving forward she favours the other.

I feel so unsure - my mum and DH have told me she's perfectly fine, as have you MNers and they all do things at their own pace but I dont want to leave it too long if there is anything wrong 😔