8-month old not crawling... very very worried

[goddessofdawn]

My 8-month old DD has always *hated* tummy time. When I say *hated*, I don't mean fussing a bit, but can be easily distracted by toys etc.
I always got down on my tummy with her, like they tell you to do, and tried every trick in the book to distract her. She didn't care! She would *sob* and *scream* like she was being murdered!
I practice Gentle Parenting so this was especially hard on me, and tummy time was few and far between for a while.

About a month ago I felt like I needed to step it up, and she now tolerates it, and has quit sobbing and screaming. She fusses a bit, but I have to work hard to entertain her in various ways to try and keep her there. I try to give her an hour of tummy time a day, with two 30-minute sessions.
She can roll from tummy to back, but has absolutely no interest in rolling from back to tummy.
I think it is because she simply prefers her back, and has no desire to roll back to the horrid tummy position!

Now to the issue with crawling - I am worried that she isn't going to crawl at all, and despite health professionals telling me this is a normal variation, I also keep reading (well, Googling) that non-crawlers end up having speech problems, A.D.D., and dyslexia, just to name a few scary things.
I have been in tears many times about this.

I know the issues have something to do with right-left brain development, which non-crawlers do not get. But surely there are other ways to develop the brain in this way??? Anyone know?

Also, if anyone has any positive stories about non-crawlers who are now school-aged children, and who do not have any problems whatsoever, please share! I have heard every scary story in the book and don't need to hear any more...

[~Kim~]

nah hun, worry yourself not. Neither of mine like tummy time, neither crawled before 8months and both are fine in terms of miles stones.
My DD is nearly ready for school and she's been able to recite the alphabet since 18months and count to 10 since 1. She has not trouble talking whatsoever - could do it under concrete I reckon. She's also very left handed so uses much of her right brain. There is nothing wrong with her co-ordination and her fine and gross motor skills are A-OK too.

Does that help a little bit?

[feeb]

Hugs hun STOP googling!!! Its not your friend it gives you all sorts of things!!

DS1 rolled tummy to back 5 months and back to tummy at 8 months, was not crawling (commando) till 10 months and didnt get on hands and knees and crawl until 13 months and didnt walk till 21 months!! He is a happy 2 year old, when he did walk he was much more confident and balanced than others who had done it earlier!
He also was not fussed by tummy time would scream and cry after a very short amount of time, DS2 is the same well maybe tolerates slightly longer.

Not all kids crawl and some will only crawl for a few months then just walk.

Hope that helps to see that other kids do things on there own time line as well.

[~me~]

Hugs hun STOP googling!!! Its not your friend it gives you all sorts of things!!

I totally agree on that.

All children develop at different stages. My DS1 never crawled as in on his hands and knees. He only ever commando crawled and then walked. He walked when he was 20mths old, no development problem, it was just quicker for him to get to things commando crawling than attempting to walk. He is a very happy intelligent boy. My DS2 didn't walk until 18mths.
My DD is 8mths and doesn't crawl either. She rolls to get to things she wants.

It truly is nothing to worry about, and if you have any concerns don't google, talk to your Maternal Health Nurse.

Your DD will get there in her own time, that I can be sure of.

HTH

[Arimeh]

Wow since when is not crawling at 8 months a bad thing? My DS didn't crawl until 9 months, my DD1 didn't crawl until 10 months. DD2 is nearly 8 months and not crawling, and I'm not worried in the slightest.

My DS has excellent language skills, and like Kim's DD - could talk under concrete too.

[Arcadia]

Relaaaaxxxxx. Dd didn't crawl till ten months and then walked at one. She also hated tummy time, so I neve did it. She was furniture surfing long before crawlng anyway.

Crawling doesn't need to happen in babyhood anyway. If you little one skips crawling you can always teach them later...

[luna moth]

After ten years working with under-fives, I have LOTS of positive stories of littlies who didn't crawl at 8 months. Or 10 months. A few from 12 months. One as late as 16 months. I wouldn't be in the slightest bit concerned about it.

Tummy time - some kids do just hate it. It's not a BIG deal. As someone said, they can be taught to crawl later on - even 18 months is a fine time to learn to crawl (and what kid wouldn't want to get through a tunnel, into a cubby etc at that age?)

My sis was a non-crawler. Bum shuffling was just more efficient for her. She's working on her second degree at the moment. Sure, she's flaky and a little absent-minded, but that's personality. She certainly never had ADD.

[allycat06]

My sister never crawled...went from zip to walking. She is now 17 on a scholarship at a top private school. Apart from being a bit of a prima donna she's just fine

[FabFiona]

My mothers group has about 15 members. Only 2 bubs were crawling at 8 months.

Please don't stress. Your little one will get going when they are ready.

In the meantime you have the gift of knowing that when you put your little one on the floor they will be in the same spot as where you left them.

[butterfly_warrior]

Sam wouldn't consistently and deliberately roll until he was over 9 months old. He didn't crawl until he was 10 and a half months old. He then walked two weeks after his first birthday. Yes, he has a mild speach delay, but I think that comes down to being a dummy addict more than anything else.

As for me - I did not crawl. I skipped crawling and went straight to walking. I was dux of my school without even really trying so it didn't effect my intelligence at all!

Stop googling and let your baby be themselves. Enjoy being able to know that she will stay where you put her and keep out of mischief - because that won't last much longer regardless of what else you do!

BW

[YoYo]

My ds didnt crawl till 10.5 months, never rolled over without help and despised tummy time with a passion. He didnt walk till 16 months. He was happy getting around however he chose.

He is now the most active, talkative little man going around. He can read his name and can even speak some Spanish (thanks Dora)

I was worried too, but as long as you do ehat you can to encourage and teach your little one, you're on a winner!

[beckoes]

i couldnt agree more, kids do things SO differently and at such different times, if she was 1 maybe id be looking into it, but 8 months would be pretty normaly i think. DD didnt mind tummy time but didnt crawl till 10 1/2 months, and even then it wasnt a proper crawl....one leg bent one leg straight...looked very funny, but only did that for a few weeks and was walking by 11 months (well...wobbling) and is now 2 and pretty well rounded .

I remember when my DD was tiny and i was worried about milestones, a friend told me ''by the time they are three they have all pretty much got the the same level and it doesnt matter who did what first then'' i always remembered that and just let DD do her own thing! hugs to you.

[Sagres]

8 months is not late at all for crawling. My DD is a week shy of one year old and only does a half assed commando crawl, and out of my mother group only 2 babies are 'proper' crawling and only one is walking. BTW she loved tummy time and first rolled at about 4 weeks, so you see huge variations on development milestones which are all OK.
I know it is hard not to worry but on this one it really isn't time for concern, and it won't be time for concern for quite awhile yet.

[goddessofdawn]

Thank you SO much everyone.

Maybe I didn't express myself properly - it's not that I want DD to crawl *now*, I just became worried that she wouldn't crawl at all. I just read so much anecdotal evidence about non-crawlers, it freaked me out.

I don't think she will ever want to roll from back to tummy.... does it really matter??
Reading all your stories, it doesn't seem to.

DD can't get around by any means - she is just content to sit there. I was just worried that she might not have progressed by 1 year. Sounds stupid now that I'm writing this down....

Suffice it to say, I am no longer worried. And I have stopped googling.

P.S. This forum is amazing. I have used other sites and you might get 1 response... I have received so much support here in just a few hours. Thank you.

[mako]

My DS rolled tummy to back and back to tummy at 9 weeks and 12 weeks of age and continued to do so.He wasn't a huge fan of tummy time either so I just went with whatever he was comfortable doing. He commando crawled around 6 months but never crawled properly until well after he started walking at 15 months of age. He prefered to bum shuffle and drag one leg behind but he has met all his milestones and most certainly doesn't have a speech delay or ADD or anything else for that matter.
Please stop googling and enjoy your precious bub. She will do all the things she's supposed to in her own time

[Inertia]

To bring this to you from another angle - my DS1 who crawled at 6m, walked at 12m is dyspraxic. DS3 who crawled at 4m and walked at 7m is probably not going to be ready for school. I am still fighting with TT and he has some big time speech delay issues. He still does not hold a back and forth conversation with me at 4yo. A lot of what he says is illegible to everyone but me and DH. Everyone was certain when he started walking at 7mo that he was some kind of genius like my eldest sister who also started walking at 7m - admittedly including me. I tend to look at it as though I have failed him.

Not only is google not your friend, but anyone can publish anything online without censor. Is the information you are reading derived from years of peer reviewed study? Or just someones anecdotal observation which could actually be saying that in some cases parents are not helping their children with their milestones at all?

IF you see evidence that there is a delay with your DDs speech, seek help then. I don't think forcing her on her tummy is going to teach her anything useful, iykwim. Sit her down where she is comfortable and talk to her instead.

[wysiwyg]

At 8 months I would not worry but I know can be frustrating as my DD is 13.5 months and not crawling and only just commando crawling. I want a moving baby like all her little friends, so we can enjoy play centres and parks more. The past week she has shown signs of cruising and can go from sitting to tummy so she is getting there. She loved tummy time but has never rolled. Apparently she is very verbal so might be making up for lack of mobility in that regard. We do crawling exercises here and I crawl around and point at other babies crawling to encourage her but she is a fair bit older than your DD and not crawling at 12 months is less "normal". I have never googled so have not worried from that aspect, just resigned myself to fact she will do in her own time.

[goddessofdawn]

She loved tummy time but has never rolled. Apparently she is very verbal so might be making up for lack of mobility in that regard.

WYSIWYG, did your MCHN ever say that not rolling was an issue? Mine has said I can get a referral to a physio if DD hasn't rolled from back to front in a month or so. But I'm not sure if that's really necessary, or if it's just to put my mind at ease.
Also, my DD is already *very* verbal too, babbling all day. She has always been very, very alert, since the day she was born! I think she is just very observant... I can almost see her thinking... I think she will crawl if and when she feels like it.