Will She Ever Crawl?

S.,
Be patient. I know it's hard,I'm the same way always worrying. My son was 9 and half months old before he started crawling and walked at 15 months. When he started walking he rarely fell down. I truly believe he is a profectionist (sp?) Enjoy they grow sooooo fast before you know it he'll be running all over the place and you'll want him to stay in one place.

Hi S.,

My son didn't crawl until 7 months and that's perfectly normal. And at first he used his arms to pull himself around on his tummy - he did that for a few weeks before he actually crawled. I know you got a lot of repsonses already, but I just wanted to tell you that. Take care.

This is completely normal. My daughter didn't crawl until she was 10 months old. She had no interest in it. Give her time, she will gain interest and want to be mobile. Don't rush her...once they crawl, nothing is safe. She sounds like she is completely normal for that age.

Be glad that she isn't crawling yet.(lol) When they start to move on their own you won't get a moments peace. However, I think your little one is perfectly normal. Don't worry about "tummy time", my little boy didn't spend much time on his tummy either and now he's running and jumping all over the place. She will start to crawl when she is ready. But a good way to encourage her is to put a favorite toy just out of her reach and have her work to get it. If she likes to be on her feet try an exersaucer or johnny jump up type swing. Alot of kids learn to pull their knees up under themselves first.

But please try not to compare you daughter to other children, it a trap that all us mothers fall into from time to time, just be happy with the stage she is at now.

I have twins that didn't start to crawl until about 11 months and crawled for 3 months before even wanting to walk. 6 months is early for all babies to start crawling, I would really worry until they are about a year and not showing any signs of crawling.

Hi S.,

I would not worry about her at all. 6 1/2 months is not that old. She will crawl when she is ready. If she has regular check-ups and the doctor says she is healthy and meeting her other milestones, then no worries. I found with my kids when they were babies if they see somthing they wanted bad enough in front of them, they would find a way to get there. Try putting some toys in front of her or things you know she likes, but don't have them within her reach so she has to eventually get them. My kids are 19,17,10 and 6 years old.
Hope this helps.
K.

The average age for a baby to crawl is 9 months, every baby is different. She should be able to sit up by herself by now, but not crawling yet is definitely okay! Just give her time! :)

Hi -- first I want to ask you if you have ever heard the adage about a watched pot? You know the one -" a watched pot never boils" I say this becasue you seem to be such an involved wonderful involved parent that maybe you are so busy watching for the "big moments" your forgetting to just let it all happen. They are babies for such a short time and trust me you will miss it when it is gone. However, for arms strentgh you can buy those large soft blocks and stack them near her and knowck them down on and in front of her (she'll love it) then slowly stack then a little father so she reaches to knock them herself eventually she will find a way to get to them as you keep moving them farther. Lastly -all babies, are so different my son (now 17) crawled for like an hour stod up and walked immediately at 7 months --my middle daughter (now 12) never crawled ( just like me) she sat and scooted around (I army crawled, draging my legs behind me)my littlest (now 3) did the whole learning to turn, rocking backand forth and crawling etc -- and they are all walking quite well today -- so dont swet it -trust me you will have so much to fret over later --as long as she is not stiff and can move her limbs and reaches to touchthem she is doing just fine ( kids with CP often cant) also remember when speacil ed and occupational therapists work with little ones they try to get them to crawl as long as possible as it is better for sensoimotor development --so dont rush her into walking --take care and may God bless you and your little family

Here's what our Pediatrician told us when our son did the same:

Our son is very large and refused to crawl. We would do tummy time and he would roll like a log everywhere or sit and play. Our doctor said some children go straight from sitting to walking. And what do you know, our son did exactly that, he never crawled but started walking at 10 months.

To develop his strength we got him several activity toys he could sit in like the exercise saucer and bounce swing for a doorway, he loved them and would play in them for long time frames, but still never crawled.

He's two now, with no physical problems. All kids are different, don't worry too much.

no worries! baby will crawl when she's ready... my daughter didn't start crawling till she was about 7 1/2-8 months old... starting walking when she was almost a year... she just got up one day and started taking a step or two... i couldn't believe it, but it was so exciting... i had to run and get the video camera... now she's into EVERYTHING... (she's 18 months now) appreciate the time she's still in the same place you left her... because soon enough... they'll be on the go... ALL the time... and you really won't have a moment to take your eyes off them... be patient. maybe put a toy in front of her that she likes... let her start to focus on moving towards that... when my daughter figured out walking would get her there faster than crawling... she started walking and in a weird way i was happy... yet sad she was growing up so fast! the first year of their life... i couldn't believe how many changes occurred in such a short amount of time... its truly amazing...

my daughter just turned 9 months and just started crawling. dont worry. everychild is different. she will crawl when she is ready. any doctor will tell u that each child develops differently. but give her time she will crawl.

Yes! all babies work at their own pace. I know a baby that is 9 months and is the exact same way. You still have a bit to go, I wouldn't worry so much but get her some sort of a toy where she can lay on her stomach and play with it, some sort of mat. It might help you, I know my daughter had the same problem at first, I personally feel you aren't giving her enough "tummy time". 10 minutes a day? she needs more, that is the only way she will get used to it. I wish you luck!!!!

Well you've heard it all but I'll say it again. Enjoy the non-mobile stage, they eventually go like mad and then you're in for it. I write for a living and wish for the old days when my boys would stay where I put them! I have become a genius at one handed typing. Like my hubby says, "If they're happy, leave 'em alone!"

My oldest daughter didn't crawl until she was 11 months old, and walked only 6 weeks later. Now she's an active and very coordinted 2 year old. I wouldn't worry too much - all babies deelop on their own schedules. My pediatrician actually told me that they don't consider crawling a milestone anymore in their practice.

I see that you've recieved a lot of feedback but I thought I would throw my own in as well. My DS never crawled. I felt so awful. He also hated tummy time, even though I really set a routine and made him lay there, it just made his anger worse. All of the other babies his age were crawling and he just really didn't care one bit. Then at 8 months he stood up and started walking, just bit by bit. He would walk alone without any support about halfway across a room before falling. Then right before 9 months he started walking well. I was so proud, all of those other babies I was kind of jealous of, still weren't walking yet and my non-crawling baby was. It was as if he didn't care to crawl and wasn't going to waste his energy until he could walk. lol

I find that a lot of babies who don't crawl often or at all, end up walking early. You may feel bad now even though you really shouldn't but before long you'll have a full fledged walker under your heels. :) My advice, enjoy the baby-ness while it lasts. :)

Just found a great book that answers these type of questions, and I agree with their answers. I only wish I had known about it when my son was younger. The name of the book is "If Kids Just Came With Instruction Sheets!" by Svea J. Gold, Fern Ridge Press ____@____.com

Try not to worry. I know it's hard but I remember it so well. My daughter didn't want to move unless I was doing the moving for her. She eventually walked when she was 10 months old and didn't crawl until she was 13 months old. She is doing fine and actually, looking back, I am glad that she didn't move around and get into everything.

S.,
I wouldn't be too concerned. If I've learned anything from my kids it's that they do everything in their own sweet time. My now 3 year old didn't crawl until 10 months old - then walked at 13 months. I was worried at first for the same reasons, but one day something finally interested him enough to decide he wanted to get there whether or not Mommy was going to help. Once he decided to crawl, that was it, he crawled everywhere. At times during the day, I would put his favorite toys far enough out of his reach that he would have to put some effort into it without discouraging him.

In my opinion - enjoy the moments where you can put her down and have her stay where you put her. :)

My son didn't even start scooting at that age. Try to stick something she is very much interested in out of her reach when she's on tummy time, or even sitting and playing, and then back off. Eventually she'll try to get that special toy or item. Alex didn't start scooting until almost 9 months, crawling shortly after. She'll come around. I've learned in my short time as a mother not to rush your kids. They work at their own pace.

Hey S.,

Your baby sounds normal. Most babies don't crawl until they are 8 months; being able to sit up and roll over at 6 1/2 months is very normal. It also sounds like your little girl is rather laid-back. This is a wonderful quality. Enjoy it. Some babies are born with highly active personalities. They often crawl/walk early because they get frustrated easily and just can't sit still. Nothing wrong with these babies, but mom and dad are sure kept busy!!

One thing that worked with my daughter (who was also rather laid-back) was being around babies/toddlers who were crawling and walking. She would actually study the way they moved and then try to mimic them.

Finally, my 2 cents on the "no-crawling baby having developmental problems later in life": two of my cousins never crawled, they went right to walking. They are both grown, are college educated, have great jobs and good marriages. Just thought I'd share that to put your mind at ease in case your little one decides to bypass crawling altogether!

my daughter didnt even sit up till she was 7 months old she didnt crawl till she was about 9 months and was very content with it till she was 14 months when she started walking... i would say that 6months would be a early crawler.. ask ur doc about it though

No worries! My son was in the same boat at the age of 6-1/2 months. At the time we were regularly attendees of a playgroup with 7 other children the same age as my son and they ALL started moving, sitting, rolling then crawling before he did. I never doubted his intelligence or ability, but I confess it was hard to watch all his friends move with increasing speed while he just lay there checking them out. Finally, he started dragging himself around (the "dead man's crawl", I think it's referred to) while all the other wee ones were on hands and knees speeding around.

Guess what! Shortly before his first birthday he stood up one day, took his first steps and beat all the others to that exciting phenomenon known as walking! He skipped crawling entirely.

Hang in there! I guarantee your daughter will be crawling - or walking! - before you know it!

I've never heard the phrase tummy time, I held my son constantly and hardly ever put him down, I never thought to worry about it, I laughed and joked that he may never learn to walk because I held him too much, I was addicted to holding him, but on his own, despite any ignorance I may have had, he started crawling at 10 months and walking shortly there after.

Don't worry, she will crawl when she is ready. Or if she is like my oldest, she will just get up and walk and skip crawling all together. Every baby does things their own way and at their own pace :)

My baby daughter was about 8 months before she started crawling and didnt walk till 15 months. She is almost 18 months now and running all over the place. You will probley notice she does more with her hands with toys or holding a bottle. We were so worried becasue I would take her to daycare and see kids her age crawling and shimming around furniture but then her teacher told me they are all different and most of them couldnt hold their own bottle yet but mine could. Each child picks up on didfferent things at different times. Now if she doesnt do anything at all doesnt notice toys isnt sitting when propped up and such just laying there then you will have something to be worried about! But I am sure everything is great so no worries just enjoy!! THey grow way too fast!

Hi S.

I can relate to the crawling issue. I have a now 15 month old and she didn't have the desire to crawl either. She would prefer to sit and play or watch her older siblings help her with toys she wanted. Soon like around 8 or 9 months she started scooting on her bum. She did this everywhere! Tough on clothes! Now, she just turned 15 months and she took her first steps last week. It has only been a week but she prefers to walk everywhere, even in the grocery store! My advice is to be patient and let her go at her own speed. She will soon figure out she how to get from here to there.

One thing you could try is to move a few toys just out of her reach to give her an incentive.

Hope this helps. My little one is now requesting up to push the buttons on the laptop so I gotta go.

Good luck. L. :0)

I wouldn't worry too much about your daughter, at 6.5 months, not showing any interest. I think that it is very normal. Something will spark her interest one day and she'll just go for it all on her own. If she's on the floor, try placing some toys just a little bit out of her reach so she would have to move towards them.

Hi,

I read your concern about your daughter not seeming to want to crawl. My daughter was the exact same. She HATED tummy time, she was almost nine months old and pulling up on things but not crawling, so I had resigned myself to the fact that maybe she would bypass the crawling, which some babies do. But all of a sudden she seemed to put it together and started crawling. Like I said, she was about nine months old. That was a month ago, and she is crawling like crazy now, as well as pulling up and walking around holding onto things. So, I would say not to worry, your little girl will get up and go when she is ready. I know this is cliche, but enjoy her not doing so now, when they can move around they sure do get into things! :)

You will be surprised, but things happen overnight. I had the same concern, but my daughter started crawling when she was 8 months old and it happened in the blink of an eye. So, don't worry and show your child that you trust her to develop at her own pace.

I wouldn't worry at this point because she is still so young. My 2nd child turned one Sept 1st and has only been crawling for 5 weeks now! He started pulling himself up two weeks later and is now walking around the furniture. I to had the same concerns for my son. I thought he was delayed because my daughter was sitting up at 4 months, crawling soon after and walking all over by her first birthday. I felt my son was lagging and might need therapy of some sort but today was his one year well baby check and his pediatrician said he is within the normal range developmentally.

Relax, enjoy, they grow terribly fast!

My daughter didn't crawl until 8 months and then started walking at 9 LOL

She will do it when she's ready.

I don't think this is uncommon. When she gets older you can try "Brain Gym" activities to strengthen coordination. See the
website at

http://www.braingym.org/

These activities help your right brain talk to your left brain which is how we learn to do things like crawl! Weird I know, but it works for all ages (well...except babies.)

well my daughtet was very much like yours. she did not even roll over untill six months, she hated tummy time and it only led to crying and fussiness. but she crawled on her own by seven months and she started it by moving bacward while sitting down. she walked around her birthday (2 weeks after) and everything went pretty normal. besided her doctor told me that crawling is no longer a development milestone because some babies totally skip it and walk right away. don't worry, good luck:)

When my oldest son was that age, he started rolling from one end of the house to the other! Hilarious! Then he pulled himself up on his high chair. My youngest would use his teeth to move around. And my mom says that I NEVER crawled and would make her pick me up to go places. Then one day I just got up and started running - right into the corner of the coffee table! Point is, we all worry about whether or not our kids are behaving "normally". And we get a little excited at times, but what's "normal" for me, may not be for you, so don't try to compare her to someone else's baby. If there's a problem, your child's doctor should catch it at a regular exam - unless, of course, something highly unusual or disturbing happens, then call. But all babies develop differently and we need to spend our time ENJOYING EVERY MOMENT, rather than worrying if Abbie is keeping up with Sam.

My son was the same way. It seemed he would never crawl or move. I remember even placeing him on the kitchen tile with no shirt hoping the coolness would get his little tummy up off of the floor. Don't worry she will crawl before you know it and will be getting into EVERYTHING....Be thankful, most of all it means she has a nice relaxed personality and she is content with who she is and where she is at!!

Hey S.! Not sure if you have time for gymboree but I found it to be wonderful. My daughter was doing this weird crawl for a while, and when we joined gymboree..just seeing the other children she soon began to walk. Maybe if you took your daughter to a class with children her age she might pick up on the crawling thing. Never know til you try!! Take care

I didn't get to read of the responses but many of the ones I did read focuses on the crawling issue. I wanted to respond to the question about building up arm strength. While agree with the other responses that there is a wide range of normal for crawling and walking, I just wanted to suggest playing games with her that focus on arm strngth. While I am sure when the time is right she will have the right strength to do what she needs to do ...it might be fun for both of you as well as help you feel like you are doing something if you do some excercises in a position she likes that also helps with arm strength. COuldn't hurt and might be fun.

S.,

You might want to check with your pediatrician but I think that is pretty normal. From what I remember, my son didn't crawl until around 8 months. There is a wide range of what is still normal. If you are still concerned, you can always contact Nevada Early Intervention at ###-###-####. NEI is a government agency that does free evaluations and services for developmentally delayed kids. You can self-refer and again, it is completely free. They do kids birth to age 3. They've been working with my son (speech therapy) for the past year (from 2-3).

My son also did not enjoy tummy time. I was afraid that his size (on the bigger side) would put him at a disadvantage. It turns out most of the crying was frustration at not being able to push up at 1st. Then when he learned to do that, it would be frustration from not getting to a crawling position. After that it was frustration from not being able to move.

Though some children do go straight to walking, I have heard some rumors/reports that if they skip the step of crawling it may lead to learning problems later. Some therapists will make the kids crawl to get them to catch up. Not sure how much "fact" is in that theory.

My husband would get down on the floor with our baby and show him how to push up, how to crawl, so that he would have an example on how it's done. I think it helped as babies are such great copy cats, he just wanted to do what his Daddy was doing.

As for me, I had to let him cry in order to let him figure the whole thing out for himself. It happened in his own time. His baby friend was great on her tummy, can push up since she was 1 month old and started crawling 1 month after our son finally got the hang of it all.

Every baby is different, and I also heard that girl babies tend to get their large motor skills slower, but talk sooner. Who knows :) I'm sure she's right on track as most kids I know don't start to crawl until about 8 months anyway.

My son did not crawl until he was 8 months old. He was also a late walker. The Doctors thought he was developmentally delayed. The gave him an MRI at 15 months because he was not walking on his own. The day after he got the MRI, he started walking. I notified the Doctor and they said his MRI came back normal. He may have crawled and walked later than some babies, but now they say he is above and beyond what he should be doing at his age. He is 18 months old and does most of what a 3 year old should be doing! I believe all kids are different, and in most cases they will do things when they are ready. Not when we are ready for them to do it. I hope this helps =)

Every baby is different, you certainly don't need to worry. :) I felt the same way, my son didn't crawl until he was almost a year! And he didn't walk until he was 16 months! I was so anxious for him to be on the move and now I can hardly keep up. He's two and a half, and he's all over the place. Don't be in too much of a hurry for your baby to grow up, it goes so fast!

This is entirely normal. My daughter did the same thing; we used to joke that she would walk before she would crawl. In fact, she didn't start crawling until 10 months and then walked at 11. Just give her some time and place toys just a little beyond her reach to see what she does. She will crawl when she is ready. Just give her some time.

It looks like you have gotten some good advice but I'll add my two cents too.
Not crawling yet at 6 1/2 months is PERFECTLY normal. As a mom of two and a daycare provider I can tell you I've seen everything from crawling at 6 months to not crawling at all and going straight to walking by a year. Babies always figure it out how to move. Once she realizes that she can move by crawling/walking she will get there. Don't worry! Then you'll wonder why you wanted her to be mobile because she is into everything. Most babies hate tummy time so don't worry about that. Just provide her that opportunity daily. Soon she will want to sit up on her own and on her own will figure out how to be mobile.
Enjoy her-and try not to worry so much! :o)

I didn't think my son would EVER crawl, and here he is, 10 months old, and pretty much walking. He really wasn't very fond of tummy time either. When he learned to roll, I was pretty sure all hope of crawling was lost, because he'd just roll wherever he wanted to go. . . but in time he did crawl on his own. I know this might not sound like real "advice" but do what feels natural to you, trust in yourself and your child, and she'll get it when she's ready. Every child is different -- and just because 'most' children crawl at a certain time, doesn't mean that she will. Besides, some kids skip crawling all together.

just wanted to add that my daughter never crawled until after she started walking which was around 10 months.