Questions re bumshuffling

[gypsy79]

DS is just about to turn 1. He has never been one to move around much (can roll but doesn't, doesn't move around in cot, etc) but in the past week he has started bum shuffling. He doesn't crawl. He also has never been much of a stander - he's only really just starting to stand up reasonably well on his own (while holding on to something).

We've just been to the MCHN for his 12 month check up and she says that the reason babies bumshuffle is that they don't get enough tummy time. I'm wondering what other parents with bumshufflers think about that? I haven't given DS much tummy time lately as we've been away and busy, but up until about 6 weeks ago he did used to get tummy time. Not heaps and heaps, but a reasonable amount I think.

The MCHN also suggested that babies shouldn't spend a great deal of time sitting until they can get into and out of that position themselves. DS learned to sit reasonably young, so now I'm wondering if it's all my 'fault' for putting him in a sitting position too often.

I guess i've always thought of his non-crawling/walking as one issue, but I don't see how too much sitting would prevent him from standing or walking??? Maybe it's 2 separate issues?

Anyway, the MCHN has recommended we see a paediatric physio, so I guess I'll see what they say. Just wanting to get other people's opinions.

Oh yeah, also, the MCHN said (and I have heard from other sources) that kids who don't crawl miss out on developing important neural pathways. But my 27yo sister was a bumshuffler and there's nothing wrong with her!

[briggsy's girl]

i was a bumshuffler and i'm ok (but then mum looked after kids as i was growing up so i spent time playing with them and have probably developed those skills) - have a friend whose son was a bumshuffler, and now, at 8, he's having to learn to crawl as his hand-eye coordination (i think) is shot and he needs to relearn that degree of coordination.

i think, as he gets older, it would be smart to encourage him to engage in play that involves crawling so that he learns that coordination. engaging him in games that force him to crawl (like chasing under tables and things where he is too tall to shuffle) might help him develop that skill.

i have a DD that has been sitting up unaided for several months already (she is only 7 months now) - we do what we can to encourage her onto her tummy. she is startin to learn the crawling skills she needs - but if given the choice, she would rather be sitting up or on her feet so if she decides not to crawl, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!

keep in mind that all kidlets develop at different rates. your son is developing in his own way - his lack of interest in standing isnt abnormal at all! just keep an eye on him and do all you can to encourage him to engage in all activities - even if it's just a little each day at nappy time or something...

[jackrose]

Wow, what a stress!!

I think if you feel it would set your mind at ease, by all means make the appointment with the paediatric physio, but please don't think you personally had anything to do with his different developmental pathway! From waht you have described, he sounds well within normal and you seem to be doing all the right things. FWIW my mother had 4 children all within 18months of eachother. She always jokes that my youngest brother was slow to walk as he spent so much time in the car seat while she drove us all to various kinder or other appointments! It is not really a problem in most cases and most children adapt.

There are a million and one different ways babies develop and it is perfectly acceptable to be 'outside the norm' in many circumstances. Having said that, it is great when a child does have a real developmental disability, for it to be picked up nice and early and have early intervention.

WRT tummy time, I have read many opinions that it is not all it is cracked up to be and is a big cause of big time mummy guilt!! (Honestly, I think it is the buzz word in MCH circles at the moment and it will pass in time!)

So your DS learnt to sit early? Good for him, it probably meant he wasn't as motivated to crawl etc as he already had worked out a way to check out the world! My DD was very much the same and a bum shuffler too. She began to walk at about 15 months - later than most babies but still within normal. I figured it was because she had figured out how to get around and carry things in her hands too! Win win for her. She never crawled in the normal way.

the MCHN said (and I have heard from other sources) that kids who don't crawl miss out on developing important neural pathways. But my 27yo sister was a bumshuffler and there's nothing wrong with her!

There is certainly some truth to this but it is by no means the end of the world and a real detriment to your son's development. My mother is a Kindergarten teacher and she says she can sometimes pick the bum shufflers as they do have trouble with cross brain coordination. This means they haven't developed the ability to use the opposite side of the body in a normal way. For example, when painting a picture, they might use their right hand and only paint on the right side of the paper. If they want to paint on the left they will often swap the brush to the left hand to do this, ie they just don't do the cross over thing. She takes the kids through some simple cross over play and gets them to do things such as crawling around like a tiger (They in effect revisit the crawling stage this way) or pretending to climb ladders etc. There is heaps one can do at a later stage if it is an issue.

FWIW my DD is now 2 and sometimes likes to crawl around like a tiger now, I encourage it and figure she is getting that development in now!

Your son should be fine and it sounds like you are doing a great job, the fact that you are looking into it and concerned shows this. However, I wouldn't worry too much about what the MCH told you. They have to toe the line so to speak with the agenda of the early childhood dept which is over cautious. As i said at the start, it can't hurt to see a physio if you are really concerned, and I think you are a good judge of what is best in that regard.