How concerned would you be?!?!?

JBDamonM · February 2014

Question for you fine ladies.

LO is 10.5 months and is not crawling. I of course told her pedi this at her 9 month appt. and he was not remotely concerned. He explained that she should start pulling herself up and cruising btwn 10-12 months and walking between 12 - 14. I was never really concerned either. I crawled at 11 months. DH never crawled. And my sister and niece only scooted. I carried on like normal.

Well, last week when I picked up LO at daycare her teacher started telling me how she had another little girl just like here and how they brought in birth to 3 (early intervention) and she was over it in 3 weeks. She also asked me what happens when we do tummy time at home. Confession, and I feel like an awul mom for this but we don't do tummy time. I mistakingly thought that was only for head control and that she would go from sitting to crawling. (I now of course realize the error of my ways). So I told her we'd start working on it more at home, and she agreed to stay on top of it at school. I stayed true to my word over the weekend and on Sunday morning LO actually started scooting. She was only doing it to get to what she wanted (which was the phone) but I still took it as a great sign and figured once she got more comfortable she would probably start doing it more.

Wednesday when I picked her up at daycare (and note she got sent home early Monday with a fever and was home with me on tuesday for said reason)... I got cornered by her teacher and the director again about birth 2 3. At this time I was a little annoyed. I realize I have a lot to learn (like the importance of continuing tummy time) but I"m not an idiot and am monitoring LO based on what the pedi told me.

So I am wondering if anyone else out there had a non crawler? Or a late mover? If so, did you do anything in terms of EI? or even PT? I know I can call my pedi, but I suspect I'll get the same answer I got at her 9 month appt. However I don't need the pedi's approval to call EI.

My take on this is that in my heart I do not believe there is any issue. I've always said LO would hit her physical milestones on the end of the normal range. She's a clone of my now 3 year old niece in terms of movement (who never crawled), and like I said her daddy never crawled. The other 4 kids in her daycare all all pulling themselves up, cruising, etc. but two of them are also a month older than LO. While I don't think there is an issue, I will feel even worse if she does wind up needing assistance and I drag my feet on getting it.

Also wondering if anyone has suggestions for strength training excercising I could do with her? When I lay her on her tummy she either lifts into the pushup position and then stops, or rolls over..... She has gotten noticably stronger with standing (when I put her in position) and can do it unassisted with something to hold on to for about 5 minutes at a time. She has tried a few times to start pulling herself up but hasn't yet found something that can support her weight to really let her explore. And not that sure if it matters, but LO is tiny.

I'd love to hear some thoughts or suggestions.

Thanks for listening

JBDamonM · February 2014

I just want to add one more thing to my book above.

I am not opposed to using EI, however I feel very strongly about calling them in to soon. I hate the thought of setting a precedent with Molly that you're just not qutie perfect so let's bring in a team of therapists to fix things so early on, unless there is a concrete reason to do so, and in my opinion there is not one....yet. I hope that makes sense.

luvboston · February 2014

There is no reason to call EL if she isn't crawling but it meeting all other milestones. Also I never crawled and went straight to walking at 12 mos. My Lo is not going to crawl according to the pedi and neurologist and thats just fine, she is gonna walk they are 95% sure since she only insists on standing. Don't let these people pressure you unless you actually think their is a problem.

imoverit · February 2014

I agree not to call in EI. She seems like she is on the right path with the scooting. My DS didnt crawl until 12/13 months and walked at 18 months. Every one is different. Id just tell them that you appreciate their concern but decline services at this time. Your pedi and yourself are not concerned. Sorry for the pressure they put on you. Not cool.

itsmevkb · February 2014

I tend to think that in today's world the answer to every little thing is "call someone" when so often babies/kids will work this stuff out on their own in their own time. That's not to say some babies don't need help, two of mine have needed a bunch of help, but I just see a definite trend towards expecting too much too soon. Like you said, some babies never crawl, and if your baby can stand that is huge and shows muscle and core strength. I knew there was something definitely wrong with Quinn when she refused to bear weight on her legs/feet and so that is when I went and talked to the pedi.

I say keep up with the tummy time and the standing. Place things just out of reach and she'll move to get them. Maybe get a little push cart for her to stand behind and begin to balance more on her own and start to walk a bit. She'll be walking in no time.

JBDamonM · February 2014

itsmevkb said:

I tend to think that in today's world the answer to every little thing is "call someone" when so often babies/kids will work this stuff out on their own in their own time. That's not to say some babies don't need help, two of mine have needed a bunch of help, but I just see a definite trend towards expecting too much too soon. Like you said, some babies never crawl, and if your baby can stand that is huge and shows muscle and core strength. I knew there was something definitely wrong with Quinn when she refused to bear weight on her legs/feet and so that is when I went and talked to the pedi.

I say keep up with the tummy time and the standing. Place things just out of reach and she'll move to get them. Maybe get a little push cart for her to stand behind and begin to balance more on her own and start to walk a bit. She'll be walking in no time.

This is EXACTLY how I felt when the daycare cornered me. I like my daycare and I know they didn't mean to be anything but helpful but truthfully I felt like they were encouraging me to take an easy way out. one of my best friends used the EI program our state offers and told me she's not even sure we'd be accepted right now based on our issue.

She definitely puts weight down - we have a cart/walking toy, but she hasn't quite figured it out yet - when you stand her behind it she reaches over the top to play with the toys that are on the front side.....

JBDamonM · February 2014

Also, one more thing to add - before she scooted she did this thing where she would spin her body around....continously until she could reach out and rake in what she wanted. So the point is - she is finding ways to get her needs met without crawling.

I realize I don't have to defend my thinking to you ladies, I just want to be sure I put all of the facts out there.

TJ1979 · February 2014

I agree with everything @itsmevkb said. You and M are doing just fine. Like you said, she's figuring things out her own way. I wouldn't worry, just keep working. Do you have a coffee table or anything she can practice cruising around? Or along the edge of the couch?

JBDamonM · February 2014

TJ1979 said:

I agree with everything @itsmevkb said. You and M are doing just fine. Like you said, she's figuring things out her own way. I wouldn't worry, just keep working. Do you have a coffee table or anything she can practice cruising around? Or along the edge of the couch?

We have a coffee table, but it's just a little bit too tall for her.....We have an old ottaman in the basement - perhaps it's time to bring it upstairs for the next few weeks....

Ruthie04 · February 2014

I wouldn't worry. DS1 didn't army crawl until around 9/10 months and didn't really crawl until 1. He started walking at 13 months, but has always been a little slower to meet milestones than DS2. I was really surprised he walked as early as he did. He was in PT for torticollis and his physical therapist was never concerned that he wasn't wanting to lift his belly off the ground to really crawl. Both of my boys never stood alone until after they started walking- backwards order! LOs just all do things at their own pace and in their own way. With twins, I constantly see this in action. I was a social worker and wrote dozens of service plans for infants and toddlers. One thing I learned is that a mother's intuition is a key part of identifying developmental issues. If you are confident that all is well, I'd say there's a pretty good chance things are okay. Of course, we all miss things and it is important to call in EI if you do suspect issues. But, if your pedi is comfortable, I wouldn't call EI in just yet.

Robeano · February 2014

I totally agree with PP. I understand why your daycare suggested EI but I don't think you need it. Hannah didn't learn to crawl "properly" until after she was a cruising machine. You're doing the right thing

Dragonfly1226 · February 2014

The thing about crawling is that it is sort if a fuzzy milestone. Some don't even consider it a milestone. Some babies never crawl. Some find their own ways to scoot around. I have three kids and each has "crawled" in his or her own way. DS army crawled forever. We went to a Halloween party when he was almost 10 months whee all the other babies were crawling. The next day he decided to start crawling on his hands and knees. A sometimes crawls on her hands and knees and sometimes crawls using one knee and one foot (kind of Luke half a bear walk). K army crawls too. She is so fast. Once in a while she will start out crawling in her hands and knees but then collapses to her belly when she wants to go fast. I will say that we did a ton of tummy time with our kids. I definitely wouldn't worry. Just keep doing tummy time and putting objects out if reach.

mnj05 · February 2014

I didn't read all of the responses but I agree with not calling anyone. H will be 1 in fourteen days and he just started crawling this week. We've been working on this for months now at physical therapy and it just started. My niece didn't crawl until a week before her first birthday.

JBDamonM · February 2014

@mnj05 - cani ask why he started in PT? Was it connected to the not crawling?

mnj05 · February 2014

@JBDamonM - he started right around 6 months due to torticollis (tight neck muscles). The way he was positioned while I was pregnant forced his head to tilt in one direction so we had to correct that in order for him to have full rotation of his neck and to flatten out his head. With those muscles connected all the way down his back, it affected the way he sat and his development of that milestone. I'm not sure if the crawling is necessarily affected because he's been army crawling for a long time and sometimes using his knees. PT wants him to crawl and not skip it because apparently crawling has a link to reading development; not crawling can cause reading problems. I have been meaning to look into that and see what that connection is, but I just haven't yet.

JBDamonM · February 2014

Thanks for the info @mnj05!

mcgeeva · February 2014

I wouldn't call. Your child sounds normal to me. And they all do move at different times. DS army crawled only with belly on the ground till 11 months. He couldn't sit up alone or get into the situp position until almost 10 months. My mother said I had zero interest in even trying to scoot and walk until 14 months. So I never crawled at all. Trust your gut..your doing nothing wrong mama. Especially when your pedi is telling you all is fine. They see kids/babies do things at all different times so I feel they would know best if there was an issue.

JBDamonM · February 2014

It may just be in my head but I swear she is showing a lot more interest this week in trying to move. I turned my back for one minute tonight and caught her trying to pull herself up on her Zanie Zoo....I helped her and then she took three steps cruising btwn that and her activity table

once she got down she managed to slide herself to a small table where the cable box is- grab it and try pulling herself up again. Moral of the story - I just don't think she will ever crawl. Thanks for the ear ladies

BabyKsMommy · February 2014

I would still try to encourage crawling. DS army crawled before learning how to "really" crawl. I would put her on her tummy and put something she wants close to her and try to show her. I would also model crawling so she sees it being done. Are there kids she can see crawling at DC?

I wasn't super concerned about crawling either but I took soon to a PT at 4 months and she said it is an important milestone. She said she sees a lot of teenagers now that have issues with their upper body strength because they didn't crawl. She said also kids the crawled had better scores in reading. Or something like that its been a long time but I wouldn't freak out about it but just try to encourage it.

DS also was a little slower with the physical milestones. He didn't walk full time till 14 months but as a 2 yr old you would never know that. Just try to encourage what you can.

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