9 months old not crawling or even going on hands and knees

[PfizerFan]

Posted this elsewhere but thought I might get more replies here...

My 9 month old daughter is:
Not crawling
Not going on knees
Not pulling to stand
Can't get into sitting position by herself

First baby and v concerned

Can: sit, recently started to pivot, babbles loads, clap, is v happy and loves sitting and playing with her toys

Health visitor not interested...but she seems v behind to me?

Mine wasn't doing any of this at 9 months. Very slightly starting to commando crawl, but some of her pals of the same age weren't.

She didn't start properly crawling until pretty much 11 months. Some of her pals are, some aren't. Some are super mobile and nearly walking, some barely move.

It's within the normal range. But if you're worried chat to health visitor.

Perfectly normal for 9 months. None of my three crawled at that age.

DD2 and DD3 never crawled or rolled at all and never pulled up to cruise around furniture. Both began bum-shuffling at around 10 months. DD2 walked at 23 months and DD3 at 21 months. Both in range of normal, if a little on the late side. Both very normal twenty something's now and no issues.

DD1 was my only crawler. She crawled at 12 months and walked at 14 months.

There was no such thing as tummy time when mine were babies and I'm not convinced I would have bothered with it anyway even if there had been. Not all babies like being put down on their tummies, and why should they. If your child doesn't mind it then fine, but if they dislike it then just don't bother with it. They'll do everything in their own time anyway.

I've got four children and they all reached their milestones at completely different times.

Doesn't sound concerning as long as she can sit unsupported? Some kids just take a bit longer. My youngest was just quite a chilled baby and loved just sitting watching her big sister, she all of a sudden crawled at 9 months but hadn't really tried to pull herself along before that or even roll much. Give plenty of tummy time and encourage her to crawl but don't get too worked up about it, mention to HV if still not crawling by 12 months

If she doesn't like tummy time, you would expect her to be behind average on these milestones. My eldest hated tummy time and wouldn't cooperate and didn't do any of these things at 9 months. Never did crawl. Walked at 11 months and totally normal in the long run. Not much good at sports but enjoys ballet and gymnastics. My boys were happier on their tummies so we're getting into sitting and crawling at 9 months. At 3yo they are no better at aything physical than their sister was.

Look for progress rather than milestones. Over a 3 monthperiod have they made noticeable progression in both fine and gross motor control?

Also: DD always stalled on physical milestone before making a communication leap. I was told by HV that this is quite common especially in girls of this age. Could this be the case for yours?

My little boy has just turned 10 months and he literally wasn’t doing anything you’ve posted until last week, he suddenly crawled out of the blue, can push up to sitting , get from sitting to crawling etc , he’s also starting playing in a kneeling position. It all came at once so try not to worry.

Urgh, she just saw the physio for her torticollis and the physio agreed she's behind on gross motor skills :(

Mine was exactly the same - crawled at 10 months and walking outside confidently by 12

Even if she is it doesn't mean there's any concern. My DD was behind all her gross motor skills till she was nearly 2 and she caught up.

Physio isn't a HV or a GP qualified to assess that anyway is he?

If your HV is interested and thinks there's any intervention needed that's one thing but otherwise I'd still not be concerned.

My youngest wasn't even sitting unaided at 9 months, sat at 10 months, bum shuffled at 12 months and crawled at about 14 months, didn't walk until 17 months.... she's now 3.5 and completely normal developmentally. It's easy to say (because I know I worried a lot at the time) but don't worry, she will get there in her own time!

Well, if that’s the case, so is DS2 and DS1 would have been the same. It doesn’t mean there is anything to diagnose, it’s just they are further along the bell curve of normal development. DS1 isn’t an athlete and likely never will be but he is perfectly normal. Are you in the UK?

@VivaVivaa yes I'm in the UK. She said she should be able to get in and out of sitting position by herself by now. Being scheduled in for more physio. Oh well, I suppose its good it's been highlighted. Just hope there isn't any underlying issue and she's just taking her time/hates tummy time.

There's no such thing as 'behind'. My eldest just sat like a potato doing bugger all until 18 months then just took off one day. Won a gymnastics medal at age 3 and now and 5 glowing school reports etc. Relax and enjoy your child.

My son didn't crawl until a week before his birthday and didn't walk till he was nearly two.
Don't worry, it'll come

Mine only started crawling at just over nine months. Before that, he'd shown zero interest and absolutely no middle ground skills. He just one day got on his knees and the next day crawled and pulled up. So don't necessarily expect it to be a gradual process that you should be seeing him building towards right now!

She said she should be able to get in and out of sitting position by herself by now

This is not a formal developmental milestone so really there is no ‘should’ - it’s the PTs opinion. Neither of mine have been close to doing this at 9 months.

Thanks all... Good to hear everyone else's experiences!

That's rubbish. Some babies can get in and out of the sitting position at that age but plenty can't. None of mine did. They all developed normally.

I know it's easy to say, but I think you really are worrying far too much and seeing issues where there almost certainly aren't any.

I hope so... She was on the 10th percentile on their gross motor scale curve...

My 9 month old son is similar except he can army crawl. He has made no attempt to get himself into a sitting position or pull up to stand. Can’t crawl on his hands and knees. I’m not overly concerned. Every baby is different. Some skip crawling altogether.

I had a child that barely moved off his arse because it was much easier to shout for what he wanted.

He is graduating this summer - from a good University.

Do not worry. They are all different.

Mine wasn't getting into sitting at 9 months. He was just about army crawling but hated it so hardly did it. He crawled properly and suddenly (literally just did it one day in front of me, he'd never made any rocking movements or even got on all fours before I don't think. I was stunned and confused, I'd also been worrying as all of his peers had been crawling for a while. He was 10.5 months when he crawled and honestly everyone said it to me but in my case he genuinely did just decide to do it one day. He's 1 in 4 days and he's RAPID at crawling now, cruising everything and walking along walls, he will be walking in the next month or so. Please try not to worry, I know it is easier said than done. They will do it.

My LO is 9 months next week, and this thread has reassured me! He doesn’t crawl, transition from sitting or pull up. Just shouts that hes cross about not being able to move 😂 he reaches as far forward as possible without getting off his bum 😂
He can sit well and rolls both ways, but hates tummy time (rolls back and forth constantly but won’t spend time on his tummy!).
I never crawled and walked ‘late’, so I’ve always assumed he’ll just get on with stuff in his own time, and this thread seems to back up that theory!

@Onelittleone216 that sounds exactly the same here! Including the reaching as far forward as possible without getting off her bum. and the rolling back and forth...will grab that toy and then immediately flip over onto her back to avoid being on her tummy too long!

@PfizerFan To me it does sound a little late to not be doing any of those things which has been confirmed by the physio. They are the experts on this area so it's great that you're having some more input on with them. Crawling isn't essential but it is good for coordination, shoulder stability and upper body strength.

If she has had an issue already though then that is possibly the reason for it. She probably finds it uncomfortable to get into certain positions so that's why. Hopefully you'll be given some exercises and activities to do with her to help her. On Instagram a good account to follow for gross motor stuff is Progress Through Play