Upset & worried about what I've heard regarding crawling

[joyfulsoul]

I posted a few days ago regarding my 8 month old girl not even attempting to crawl or even roll (shes never rolled). I have encouraged her but she doesn't want to do it. She sits unaided, stands at the sofa, reaches to grab things/toys etc...but hates lying down and getting on her tummy.

I spoke to the HV and she told me too keep encouraging it, which I am doing! But within 10 seconds she cries and rubs her face on the floor and gets frustrated.

I've been told and read that if my baby doesnt crawl then this will lead too future learning diffculties!! I'm really upset about this. I know babies do things at different ages/speeds so I have just left her to do what SHE wants/likes as I never worried about it before. I just assumed she wouldn't crawl, just go straight from sitting - bum shuffling - walking. But now I'm constantly thinking of putting her on her tummy and getting her to crawl but I feel like a bad mum as she hates it!! Apparently crawling is important because your baby is using physical and mental strenght at the same time.

I don't know what to do...shall I keep putting her on her tummy!! She just lies there like shes struggling and wants my help

 

[tommyg]

Hello
What nonsense to say that if he doesn't crawl it will cause learning difficults. Some studies have shown a link between dyspraxia and not crawling but dyspraxia is more to do with, for want of a better description, being clumsy and lack of body awareness like constantly banging themselfs of things.

Just noticed you wee girl was born on the same day as my boy. He doesn't crawl either. If he gets onto his front he'll roll onto his back then cry for me to sit him back up. If he's sat up and given a couple of fingers he'll pull himself up. I am fairly sure that he'll go straight to walking and be walking round the furniture before long.

 

[Faffalina]

Don't worry! My little girl started doing everything at once at nine months, she went from only rolling (she didn't like sitting much) to doing all the usual stuff literally overnight!

Maybe chat to GP instead of HV as well, as they might have better info than the scary stuff you find online x

 

[OmarsMum]

My brother who's 30 yrs never crawled or bum shuffled. He went from cruising to walking. He's a successful banker & never had learning or behaviour issues.

Crawling is not a milestone hun, many babies skip crawling & some crawl when they're older at 13-14 months. There is nothing to worry about xx

 

[hb1]

Don't know if that's true and am sure standing requires the same. And you are a fab mum

poss try baby yoga, it's meant to help mobility etc?

 

[sapphire1]

I know plenty of adults that never crawled, and they're just fine.

Holly didn't crawl til she was 8.5 months and my HV told me that was on the early side of average (9 months is around average). I did absolutely nothing to encourage her, and she showed no interest whatsoever - just upped and crawled one day. She didn't roll til she was 8 months either.

There's plenty of time for your LO to crawl, don't stress about it. And definitely don't worry if she goes straight to walking, some babies never crawl and it doesn't mean they'll develop problems. x x

 

[joyfulsoul]

Thanks Ladies. I guess I just needed to hear some kind words of encouragement as a few people I have asked have brought up the whole ' you should have encouraged tummy time more earlier on' which makes me feel bad and also the learning difficulties is what got to my heart strings I guess. Thank you for your replies, I am going to just let her do it in her own time which I was doing anyways. xxx

 

[GossipGirly]

ridiculous... some babies dont even crawl and go straight to walking x

 

[satine51]

Neither me or my sisters ever crawled. We went from sitting to walking-I know a lot of babies do! Nothing to worry about Hun.

 

[tommyg]

Thanks Ladies. I guess I just needed to hear some kind words of encouragement as a few people I have asked have brought up the whole ' you should have encouraged tummy time more earlier on' which makes me feel bad and also the learning difficulties is what got to my heart strings I guess. Thank you for your replies, I am going to just let her do it in her own time which I was doing anyways. xxx

Don't let the tummy time get to you. I never really did it either and tbh my HV never even mentioned it. One day when he was about 2 months maybe I asked her about it and she almost poopoo'd it as being a lot of nonsense.

You mention she sits and stands could it be that shes just a nosy wee sod who has the "Mummy don't lie me down I can't see anything" attitude? Therefore she's showing alertness and intrest in things.

If a child has dyspraxia, the lack of co-ordination to be able to crawl may be the first sign of it but not crawling won't cause it. IYKWIM.

Would have added that to my first post but LO was just waking up. Now bobbing in jumperoo.

 

[supertabby]

Some babies just don't crawl, they bum shuffle then walk. The worst thing I've heard about this is a tenuous link to dyspraxia which is a condition that can involve difficulties with spacial awareness or touch - so things like being clumsy and not being able to stand wearing tights etc. There's no proof there's a link yet though and even if there is, its still rare and the majority of non-crawlers don't have dyspraxia.

Ask your mum and MIL what you and oh did - apparently bum shuffling is hereditary, and if one of you was a bum shuffler and never crawled then your lo is highly likely to do the same.

My physics phd friend didn't crawl btw.

 

[Mizze]

As TommmyG said not crawling MIGHT be a sign of dysprasia but NOT crawling certainly wont cause it

Oh and an old BF, who has an IQ in the 170's, apparently never crawled and my very, very bright nephew never did either.

HTH

Mizze x

 

[MrsPoodle]

That's ridiculous. I didn't crawl and I've not got learning difficulties! I'm a bit clumsy but that's not a massive bind!

 

[fluffpuffin]

My mum said I never crawled and always hated tummy time, and went straight to standing and walking. I can assure you I have no learning difficulties whatsoever. What complete and utter dribble by the HV, to scare you as a mum like that. Don't worry if your LO doesn't crawl. He might just want to go straight to walking.

 

[Tilliepink]

My DD is 10 months old today and still no where near crawling! It does worry me a little but I try to not let it get to me.

My dh never crawled or shuffled and he's 25 and extremely intelligent, try not to worry sounds like your DD is brilliant just doing things her own way...like a true little lady! Xx

 

[AP]

Alex skipped the crawl!!! She was late, she used to throw herself about rolling, and that was it. She literally would plan where she was heading and roll to it. By the time she did crawl she was cruising and walking with help.

Your HV is shite. Basically.(if it's her that said that, that is!)

 

[Amyface]

Another here. I passed my 11 plus and went to grammar school and graduated from university 2 years ago, no history of any learning difficulties and I went straight to walking. I think it's up there with "chips cause cancer". They can make something out of anything if they want to - don't worry about it!

 

[nullaby]

Don't worry about it to much. Baby is showing interest in being mobile in other ways than crawling. All babies are different and i wouldn't worry to much!! My daughter rolled around like crazy and sat at 7mo but didn't walk till 13months! My son on the other hand sat at 5mo and trying to crawl now at 6, but HATES rolling lol! Theyre all individuals and do things there own way

 

[gumb69]

my lo didn't start crawling until she was nearly 10 months old
my neice is nearly 10 months old and has never rolled over or attempted to crawl
we all do things in our own time xxx

 

[milf2be]

i skipped crawling and went straight to walking. if it helps i got 4 A*s, 3 As, 3 Bs at GCSE, 2 As, 2 Bs at a level and currently doing a degree?