9 Months Old and Not Crawling or Even Trying

Might want to try some "games" to engage the physical......rotate legs as if riding a bike, etc. The more you "prompt" and prime the muscles, the quicker things develop. I had this issues with another infant (I teach) and mom didn't stimulate or play much at all with her daughter. She was 10 months old.

After playing and working with her for 3-4 weeks, she had no problems crawling on her own. Also remember......children learn at different paces.

I don't think he sounds very behind. Children vary and usually developmental stats are averages, not rules. My oldest daugthers were crawling early and walking at 11 months. My babies were crawling at 9 months and didn't walk until after they were a year. My friends son didn't crawl until he was almost a year and he didn't walk until he was nearly 18 months. But, he is NORMAL, he's very bright and is just fine. Also, some kids just skip crawling all together.

I've heard that kids who take longer are more intelligent becuase they observe more and want to make sure they are able to do things properly before they try.

By the way, count your blessings. Once the crawling starts you will be wishing he would sit still. lol.

I would definately bring it up at the next appointment. Is he able to sit up on his own. Unless your son is at the 90th percentile or bigger I would be concerned. Especially if he is not able to push up onto his hand and knees.

I would discuss it next week with his pediatrician. All kids are different.

Our pediatrician indicated that kids will either talk a lot and motor around later, or motor around a lot and then talk later. We have 2 daughters. Our oldest talked early and took her first steps "actual steps" around 13-14 months. (She had been "cruising" - walking around the coffee table while holding on to it - but not actually "walking".)

Our second went straight to walking and never turned back, but didn't talk much - now we about can't shut her up.

Kids develop at different rates - just keep encouraging movement, and it'll come.

I wouldn't worry too much B..
Crawling is not a milestone.
My son crawled at 11 months (and walked at 16- very late!) but was considered in the normal range. He has always been a quiet person. He is now a happy toddler. He enjoys running in the park, jumping and climbing but much prefers reading, drawing or making puzzles.
Every child has his/her own personality. Don't worry yet. It seems like your son is hitting all the milestones on time. He doesn't seem behind to me.

I am a physcial therapist and it is fine to not be crawling yet. Kids go from their hands to push up and move backwards to be on their knees then they choo choo and rock back and forth. they go backwards first. Do it your self on the floor then you will understand. Walking at 9 months is way too early. The longer and more thorough the development the more through the development in the babies brain which is better for all kinds of cognitive functions later like reading etc...I had to have my daughter crawl more by playing games because she walked too early.Is he sitting with two hand propping in front of him. he will not crawl until his trunk is strong. You can always ask for a prescription from your doc for physcial therapy evaluation, then have several sessions. If you can find a feldenkrais practioner who works on kids that is the best they have a much deeper knowledge of developmental sequencing. Google feldenkrais guild and find someone in your area. if it is a PT and Feldenkrais practioner thats even better. Good luck

All babies develop at different rates don’t worry he will catch up. In my opinion you are being a good mom to worry, but soon enough you will be back to worrying about him hitting his head from all those stubbly bubbly baby steps. My children all had their own agenda for development (Did not follow the books or standard development) those core motor skills are developing that’s important. And hay he may talk before your other son did. Sometimes other skills are developing faster than others it’s all part of their own personality. Don’t let your friends pride in there children’s development scare you that your son is behind. His bones will get stronger as will his muscles. It is good to have supervised play times with both children together. The baby will want to keep up and do what big bro is doing. Just be patient and focus on your children’s happiness not the speed at which they development. Do express your concerns with the doctor because if there is an issue they will have basic test to determine if there is an issue.

It's so hard to judge normal/abnormal based on the little bit of information we get here. Talk to his doctor, the doctor sees him in person and has a degree in such things.
But here's a story for you anyway.
My son and I went to visit family up north when he was about 8 months old one of the people we visited with was my cousin and her son (who is two weeks younger than mine) and MAN was her kid crawling all over the place. My kid would lay there on his belly holding his little head up, smiling away, while my cousin's kid crawled right over him. We have video and pictures of this. And I was amazed when I picked up my cousin's son at how STRONG his little legs were, he tried to climb up over my shoulder to see what was going on behind me. My kid, not so much, he'd just cuddle and look at me, babbling away. He was a late crawler and a late walker my son - especially when compared with my cousin's kid. But they're both normal happy, healthy kids. Some stuff my son has done faster (talking) and some thing her's has done faster (walking). It's been interesting to have them so close in age and watch them develop so differently.

B.,

It is a common myth that kids don't develop skills of their own because older sibs will do things like talk or walk for them. That has zero to do with what is going on here. Your mommy sense has kicked in for good reason, bump up your doctors visist to as soon as your pediatrician can see him for an in depth evaluation. Make it clear that you want the pediatrician to have enough time to check this issue for you and make all the referrals that you will need.

What you are describing is not just the failure to develop a skill, but the loss of a skill that he once had, which makes this a whole different ball game than simpley developing slowly, being lazy or going at his own pace.

Good luck, and listen to that voice, it is saying what you need to hear.

M.

I wouldn't push him. My son didn't crawl until 11 months old & he is very smart & normal. I know you want to encourage his development, but no rush, he'll be walking soon too! As long as he is meeting all of his major developmental milestones (your pediatrician should know) & seems happy, I wouldn't be concerned. I don't think he is lazy either.... it's probably that he's just has a mellow temperment, many parents would love to have a mellow baby!

I wouldn't worry , you are seeing the doctor next week so you can check then but I say he's pretty normal , I have 3 kids , the first 2 were both crawling at 7 months , the 3rd didn't crawl until 12 months (she didn't sit unaided until she was 8 months).

My third didn't crawl until 10 months. He moved all of his muscles well and was strong, just lazy. I would mention it at your next appointment, but don't stress too much about it. Enjoy having him sit in one place for as long as you can. I had forgotten how much stuff the get into and in their mouths once they move!!! (Now the baby is 13 months and crawls like a champ but is making no moves to walk - he's just slow to do things.)

I have to agree with some previous posts.. if this is the only concern it is no cause for concern.
My daughter was 9 months on the 13th and just yesterday and today is starting to get up on all fours and attempt to crawl. She cried when I previously tried to encourage her with more tummy time and just seems content to sit on her bottom.
There are "tummy flyers" that you can buy but I found mine to be of no help with my daughter. I as well have a friend who's daughter is a couple weeks younger than mine and her daughter is all over the place but I'm not worried.
My little one has a great vocabulary and is better than average size and I think that in itself is what's holding her back in my case.. is your little guy a little chunky?
He'll crawl soon enough.. hope all goes well with the check-up!

My older daughter had no interest at all in rolling or crawling. She LOVED to stand up. Turns out she is one of those kids who observes adults and wants to be just like us. We didn't crawl around, so she didn't want to. She went straight to walking at about 10 months. Just stood up one day, and off she went! Now she is 7 and one of the most coordinated children I know. I wouldn't worry about him. If he likes to stand up and can support himself, maybe he just doesn't feel like crawling. He'll probably pull up to standing given the opportunity and will cruise instead of crawling. Every kid does their own thing.

Crawling is not a developmental milestone. Many babies skip it completely and go straight to standing up and walking. The developmental milestone for moving is walking by 18 months... but that 18 months is an >average< so you know some kids need to do it later. But most docs will take a look at that point to make sure the kid is developing well in other areas.

My first 2 kids didn't attempt to crawl until 9-10 months. Actually, my 1st never really crawled. He army crawled from 10-11 months and then stood up and took off running. My 3 kid crawled at 6 months - probably to try to get away from her big brother. :-)

Starting to crawl at 9-12 months is totally within the norm and is nothing to worry about.

Is he sitting up? When you hold him in front of you does he push on your lap with his feet? I would certainly mention your concerns to his doctor when you see him. If he listens to you, ask about having him tested for physical development. Insist on it. If it were me I would be concerned.

He sounds just fine to me. All babies are different some are just faster then others with that stuff. My first daughter started walking at 9 months but she never crawled and only rolled a couple of times. At around 8 months I was worried because she wasn't even rolling to things but then she just got up and started walking. My sister's son didn't start crawling until he was 12 months and wasn't walking until 16 months. She was so worried but the doctor assured her he was fine. He is 4 now and is very smart and active. His doctor also told her some babies focus on some skills more than others. Some babies start talking and memorizing things much earlier than others but they take forever to start crawling/walking and some kids are the opposite of that. So really try not to worry he is just fine. He is still young and has a long time before you really need to start worrying.

I am not sure what area you live in but if you are in Terre haute call Hamilton centers early intervention program ###-###-####
Be sure to give your child time on the floor supervised on his stomache.
to encourage him to crawl roll up a towel or recieving blanket or even use your knee to put under stomache and have him "roll" on it. He will cry they almost all do but will "get over it" if you pat his back and talk softly to him. Have your other child or someone in his vision a foot or so away and shake a toy or something he likes.
Hamilton center has a great program to assist with your child development to show you the excercise to do to encourage development. provide developmental information etc. You will enjoy knowing you are doing the right things, meeting other parents and having someone to talk with.
Best wishes

B., ask your doctor to look at his muscle tone. My son had was developmentally delayed b/c of low tone. It was especially low in his upper back and arms and therefore, he was unable to crawl until he was almost 13 months - two weeks before he started cruising. There is also a baby book (oldie, but a goodie that is probably at your local library) that we were referred to for baby exercises called The Baby Exercise Book by Janine Levy which will has great exercises to improve strength that you can do easily at home. Good luck!

It may not be any concern, but to be safe, I would have him looked at by a physical therapy doctor, as they can tell for sure if this specific problem is anything to worry about or not.
Look into it now, for if there is something to worry about, you want to get as much of a head start on it as possible!!!!!!!!

Is the crawling issue the main concern? Why do you think he is "very behind"? He just turned 9 months right? Most kids start to crawl around 7 or 8 months. My son was over 9 months old when he crawled. I would not be worried.