walking age & co-ordination

[AnyDream]

I think the question here is the relationship between not-crawling and later coordination problems, rather than earliness of walking (although many early walkers bypass crawling). I agree with Kimnastics, you can play crawling games later on if you're concerned about skipping the crawling phase, and you can start cross brain activities now, when you're singing songs/dancing together (ie doing something with L arm and R leg at same time, then R arm and L leg at the same time. HTH

[Artechim]

I skipped crawling and walked at 8.5months. I am mildly uncoordinated. I don't fall over but can't walk and drink at the same time without spilling lol. I can't catch or throw but I suspect that my nerdiness and lack of participation in anything sporty that is to blame rather than not crawling. As the others said, even if he does walk first you can still play crawling games with him.

[MantaRay]

I agree with MD Rhianon, it's more to do with the length of crawling than the early walking. Jack was walking at 9 1/2 months, but had been crawling for 4 months before then. Plus he started crawling again heaps when Tom started crawling LOL! Apparently doing wheelbarrows with them, and also for them to climb up ladders and things also develop that "left right" co-ordination, so you can make up for less crawling if need be.

[~Saram~]

Just my 2c worth

DS (has dev delay) crawled awkardly by 9mths walked 14mth is unbelievably unco (recently slammed into a parked car while walking/running)

DD crawled at 5 mths walked at 9-10mths and is amazingly coordinated, her fine motor skills outdo me on days, she kicks a ball and is trying her hardest to jump :-)

If you are worried about coordination try looking up a kindyroo/gymbaroo in your area

[teachmum]

Crawling is an important tool in helping children learn to cross their midline, as someone said some early walkers miss this stage but I'd be encouraging my baby to crawl first.

If you have concerns you can have your child assessed by a physio who specialises in child development (through a referral from CHN) and they can give you excercises to do. My SIL has had to do this with her DS in order to get him to sit indpendently and walk. Some kids take longer than others.

My DS was always falling over his own feet and had poor fine motor skills but he was always a big kid (110th percentile on the growth charts) and is just coming into his own now at 13. He crawled at 6mths and walked at 11mths. My DD crawled at 6mths and walked at 8mths and is well coordinated.