Crawling...or Lack There Of...

Try chiropratic care. If he was a C-section birth than you may really want to consider it. My son was and he had a hard time crawling..... he was a outstanding roller however. I guess with a C-section the shoulders are pinned together to allow an easier exit through the opening. It took about 6 weeks before we saw what he should have been able to do from birth (with his shoulder).
Good luck!

Everything I've read says that many kids skip crawling, and instead use their own unique way of moving around (roll, scoot, wiggle, etc) until they go to the walking stage.
(My son is 7+ month old & doesn't look like he'll ever attempt to crawl...He spins around by using his hands to rotate himself!)
When my sister's had their kids my mom said it was vital they crawl before walking, so I was worried. But that's no longer the belief. The 2 pediatricians I've spoken to (at 2 diff practices) both said it'll be just fine--whether they crawl at a "late" age or if they don't crawl at all.
Best of luck!

He IS fine, and he WILL develop at his own pace. (I know I'm a teacher!) A couple of things that may help... a little motivation. Put a forbidden toy in front of him 6-7 feet (say a remote control, some paper, or a cell phone). If/once he gets it, let him play with it monitored for a few minutes (let's face it remote controls, cell phones, and paper are not so safe alone, but are oh-so-fun and safe if you're watching.) Another thing that really helped my little guy was lots of independent play time on the floor. Spread toys out all over the place and let him be unless he wants you. You've probably already done this, but I always hear people complain about their kids not crawling, and come to find out the child spends most of the day in the exersaucer, walker, jumparoo, ect. or spends most of the day with someone at his or her beck and call. Kids crawl out of a need and desire to explore their world. If the need and desire aren't quite there, it may help to instill some with independent floor playtime and some monitored motivators!! Best of luck--can't wait to hear when he crawls!
:)M.

My son is 8 1/2 months old and does the same thing. I'm not too worried about it, because I believe he will do it when he's ready. I'm starting to wonder if he will skip crawling altogether and just walk. Some babies do that; maybe Grant will.

L.

J.-
I know it can be frustrating when your baby isn't doing everything that the books or everyone else is saying s/he should be doing, but I really wouldn't worry about it at all. My four year old started crawling early at about 5 months, but then my now two year old didn't crawl at all. She just scooted around backwards and kind of army crawled around until she was 9 1/2 months and then just got up and started walking. I can guarantee that both my girls are very physically able, well adjusted and intelligent little girls. Everyone has their own style of getting to where they need to go...the main thing is that they get there. It's hard when our little babies aren't doing exactly what the 'norm' is, but think of it this way...maybe he is just going to surprise you and get up and start walking on you soon. Besides...normal is kind of boring. ;) Try to be lighthearted about it and remember to enjoy this time, it goes soooo fast. :)

Hi J.,
I'm sure you've gotten a few emails already, but I wanted to reassure you that your son is doing great. Kids just start moving whenever they're ready. My nephew didn't crawl until he was 11 months old and walked at 12 1/2 months. He's now 5 years old and perfectly normal, running, jumping, playing soccer. He's also very smart for his age.

And my son started crawling right at 8 months and walked at 9 months. He was a little later to crawl, but very early to walk, so I really wouldn't worry about it.

Besides, your life will get much more challenging once you have a little crawler in the house! Try to enjoy the little time you have left before crawling. Once they start moving around, they start to lose interest in cuddling. Get as many hugs and cuddles as you can!

Best of luck!
E. (Mom of Devin 3 1/2 and Joey 19 months)

Hi J.,

I know you've gotten a lot of responses already, but I just wanted to back them up with a word from my husband, who is a pediatrician. As others have said, crawling actually isn't a developmental milestone that kids ever have to reach. Surprising, isn't it? I think we all have images of our babies crawling around. But as long as he is getting himself around somehow, he's doing fine. My husband, himself, never crawled, but just rolled from place to place until he learned to walk, and one of his brothers went straight from scooching to walking.

"Everyone" is right.....don't worry, he is doing just fine. I raised 4 children and have a 15-month old granddaughter and see you going through the same things my son and wife have gone through....anxious that your child be first and do everything just when the books say, etc. Remember, the books give AVERAGES. Don't ever worry about your son being behind unless it he is very blatantly and noticably not doing something. We need to let our children develop at their rate and be themselves. It's obvious that you love your little boy a lot and I know some of your anxiousness probably stems from loving him so much. Sometimes the best way we can love our children is by letting them be who they are and not who we or others think they should be. I am so glad you love staying home with him....it truly is a privilege in this day and age to do so.......so relax and enjoy every minute of it because (and I'm sure you've heard THIS before!!:) they grow up so fast and in a blink they're gone. So don't be so anxious for him to do everything right away...enjoy each stage as it happens.

My son Charlie didn't crawl until he was 11 months old. He did the "army crawl/scoot" starting around 7 months and that suited him just fine until we got a new huge rug for our living room and he couldn't scoot anymore, so he started crawling. Sometimes I wonder if he would have gone straight to walking if I had left the wood floors :)

My nephew is 11 months and doesn't move at all! Granted he is a chubby guy (nearly 30 lb's of breastfed baby chub - so cute), and his pediatrician isn't worried about him.

My good friends daughter learned to push herself around on her back, and she went from that to walking, never crawled traditionally.

I wouldn't worry, at 8 months, many babies are not yet crawling.

J. - SAHM to 2 year old (on Sat.) Charlie and 3 1/2 month old Joey.

I understand the concern, but please don't worry. I know it's easier said than done. My son NEVER crawled, he is now almost 4 years old. He rolled everywhere and did the army crawl. He did not even walk until he was 17-1/2 months old. Like you, I was very concerned, but he is just fine. Boys do tend to do things a little slower than girls. My other son is now 6-1/2 months old and he has no desire in the crawling at all.

J.,
Each child develops differently. I know an 11 month old that just started crawling. Mine crawled at 5 months. They're all just so different. You don't want to push him because he could develop problems later in life with his knees, hips, shoulders, wrists. He'll crawl when he is comfortable. I know about wanting your child to do something, but they don't do it for you. They do it for themselves. Give it time. If he's scooting around, he'll get there soon enough.
N.

you are not alone my son never wanted to crawl he rolled scooted everything then one day out of the blue he decided he was going to try walking instead (about 1 year old) he never crawled the pediatrician say that is how some kids are especially ones with older siblings who walk or 1st timers with no other kids around to show them how.
Good luck and try not to get too frustrated everything will come in time.

It's ok. He knows how to get to where he is going and how to get what he wants by himself. Just watch and giggle. All kids are different and prefer different things. Maybe he doesn't like the way the floor feels on his knees. My grndpa never crawled, always scooted his bottom on the floor (making my great grandmother very mad - more because of the holes in the butts of pants, then the lack of crawling) and my friendd nephew would roll everywhere, thne army crawled (pulled himself with legs flat and just used his arm/elbows to pull himself) and we all just giggled. The good thing is that your son doesn't just lay around and expect every one else to get him things. There are more and more babies now that just skip the whole crawling stage. Have fun!

I have an 11 month girl who army crawls like a champion and can say about 10 different words, but has little interest in crawling upright. She has taken a few "steps" in the standard crawling mode, but seems to like the army crawl best. Every kid is different. Nothing to worry about.

Don't worry. My daughter wouldn't crawl either, she would snake along on her belly quickly. Just when I had given up expecting her to crawl she did! She was 9 months old. My friends son didn't crawl till 10. They just do it at there own pace. Now my daughter whips around the house so quick and is working on her walking. (she is 12months now) He will do everything in his own time :) just enjoy watching him!

Hello! I totally understand where you are coming from. My 4 year old never crawled! He scooted on his butt. It was hilarious. He got really good at it too, because he didn't walk until he was 16 months old. He hated being on his stomach. He threw huge fits. In reality my son was behind, because he never crawled and didn't walk until he was 16 months. But he had his own way of moving and getting where he needed to go and get what he wanted. He got very fast at it and his little legs were so strong. He also was better with hand and eye coordination because he wasn't using his hands to crawl, he used them to catch a ball and to use a bat. He could swing a bat and hit the ball before he was 12 months. Now my 14 month old, crawled at 5 months and was walking before he was 1 and he cannot catch a ball or swing a bat anywhere near what my 4 year old could at his age. So all in all, I guess I will repeat what you have heard everyone else say, don't worry about it, they all develop their own way and have their own way of doing things. They are unique. I hope this makes you feel a little better! Good Luck!

My niece never crawled. She scooted everywhere on her but. She was collicky and never liked to be on her stomach. She was either in her car seat, a swing or a walker. And she just got up one day and started walking.

i have 4 kids. one walked around everything at 9mo, one did not want to walk or crawl up to the age 1, two would not crawl anywhere, just rolled and started walking at 14mo. so dont fret it is almost better to wait because as soon as they decide to crawl and walk, they are into everything. it will come naturally.

My son is 9 and half months old, and he will not crawl, he just started to learn how to roll from his back to his tummy, and he will move around with his feet by scooting him self, and he will wiggle to where he want to be, but be he may never crawl, and he may just start walking instead. He does a lot of babbling, and I think that he is ahead of where he should be with that, so he put most of his energy in talking. Every baby is different and learns things in their own time and when they are ready. Give him time he will amaze you when you least expect it. :)

Baby's body's can usually only concentrate on one major developmental task at a time. So, talking, eating solids, crawling, learning faces, etc. So, perhaps your baby is accomplishing another important developmental task at the moment. Watch for it, and I bet you'll notice that he is busy working on something else. He'll catch up to the crawling when his body needs it. Don't worry. :)

Some kids NEVER crawl and go straight to walking.

Only 50% of babies walk before their first birthday.(just saw that in a parenting magazine)

If he's moving and gettting around he's right on track. Don't compare your baby to other's it will only drive you nuts or make you jealous. Everyone wants their child to be doing things early or just like everyone else. They truely are all different. Most kids are great in one area and not so great in another.

My cousin's first baby walked at 9mos. and then her second baby refused to walk until way way after her first birthday. My cousin was so upset, and frustrated. I kept telling her to relax and chill out. She'll walk when she walks.

My niece never crawled. She would sit and spin around in one spot to get at what she wanted, but never got down on all fours. My sister's pediatrician told her that developmentally they actually count this as crawling!

Hi there,
I would make sure that he is physically OK. Hips, knees etc..
But then I wouldn't worry. If he can get where he wants to go and isn't frustrated, I think he'll just get up and walk one day soon. My son never crawled. Went from scooting to a weird sort of hand and feet crawling at 8-9 months and at 11 months, got up and followed me into the kitchen. Hasn't stopped yet and is now a 3rd year college student.
Enjoy young child life...Best of luck.
L.

Hi J.!

Actually, there are some kids that never crawl and go right to walking so I wouldn't worry about it!

Good luck!

Hi J., my kids are older now, 10 and 15. My 10 year old daughter did not ever crawl. She scooted on her bottom across the floor. She looked like an amputee. She just never wanted or tried to crawl. I've talked to other mothers since whose children have done the same thing. It's normal and there's nothing to be worried about!
B. Wahlquist

i actually read up on crawling. it actually is not a milestone. my daughter is 7 months and isnt crawling either but instead she rolls or plays leap frog by herself. atleast that is what she looks like she's doing. maybe the toy you put out of reach wasn't a toy that he wanted at the time. dont worry he'll crawl when he is ready or youll be one of the lucky ones and he'll just get up and walk/run. i hope you find this helpful at all.

my son did the same thing and when he finally started to crawl he did it for 2 days. he hated it. i am not kidding you, then he got up and started to walk. he walked at 9 months old like he had been doing it forever. don't worry about it. not every baby has to crawl and not every baby is the same. your baby is not "behind" because he won't crawl!!!!
M.

My daughter walked at 9 months and never really crawled. She learned to crawl after walking but never really had any interest.

Hope that helps.

I'm with everyone else, J.. I'd say don't worry about it. When he finally decides to crawl... or more likely walk, you will wish he was still scootin' around! I've known several children that wouldn't do ANYTHING until about a year and then heaven help their parents! Grant is normal... on his own schedule... so relax and enjoy chuckling as he scoots around the house! ;o)

Hi J.,
My name is J. also. I have a wonderful 11 1/2 month old girl named Sophia. She to seemed behind all the other little ones in her daycare as far as crawling. She seemed so content just sitting in her spot. I was starting to wonder as well, even with everyone saying each child has their own schedule. Hopefully to make you feel better, she just started crawling about 3 weeks ago. So she was almost 11 months. And once they start...look out....she has progressed her skill level about 10 percent every day. Now she is dabbling with standing....pulling herself up...kneeling without holding onto anything. So believe me...it'll happen, just like everyone says. Then you really get to watch and chase them. :) It is a lot of fun, but enjoy where you are now. It'll happen.
Good luck and enjoy every stage! I know I am.
J. A.

We had this same issue with our son who decided that he was not going to crawl, did the scooting thing and rolled wherever he wanted to go and ended up just up and walking at 10 months. He's now 14 years old and perfectly fine. :) Our second son, who is now 3 crawled for about 2 days before he decided walking was easier. We approached our doctor about this with our 14 year old when he was little and the doc said not to worry about it, as long as they are getting around in whatever way works for them, it's fine. Don't worry yourself too much, before you know it he'll be walking and you won't even think twice about the fact that he didn't crawl.

Crawling is not one of those developmental things they have to do, so please do not worry! My son took forever to crawl...I think he was almost 10 months. Then he started walking around 11 months. Enjoy the time you have now. Soon you'll be chasing him all over the house!

My daughter was about to start crawling at 6 1/2 months and then wound up with a broken leg. She just got her cast off this week(on her 8month b-day) and now has to relearn how to sit up. I was hoping she would be crawling by now also, but she will do it when she is ready.

I did not crawl at all as a baby. And I accually didn't walk until I was 2!(had a sister that did everything for me). On the other hand, I could whistle at 6months and talk fluently at 1year. So the other mommies are right, your baby is probably working on other developments and will work on mobility when it becomes more important.