Not Crawling, Not Walking

I would definitely be concerned and have her checked out with a pediatrician or a pediatric orthopedist. I work with 0-3 year olds and it is very concerning that she seems to not be using her legs. She should at least be able to bear weight. A lot of people think that it's ok that babies don't crawl, but it is very important in their overall development and future abilities with climbing and writing etc. Good Luck.

2 moms found this helpful

is the babies dr concerned by this?. i know my daughter was walking by 10 months and cruising since 6 months and crawled at 4. the rolling to get everywhere is concidered crawling its just not what comes to mind as normal crawling. what your nieces mom and dad can do is encourage her to walk hand and hand with them around the house and outside as much as possible to help strengthen her legs. i wouldnt reckomend a walker because babies need to see their feet to make the connection that they are walking. i wouldnt worry just yet. if she doesnt start to walk by her 15 month check up i would have her parents mention it to their babies dr. all kids develope differently. since you have a history of slow walkers she shoutl be a ok. :)

1 mom found this helpful

Thought i had just responded to this so excuse me if this is a repeat.

My first feeling was that she should be checked by a doctor. Also crawling is very important part of development they even will have adults crawl if they didn't as a baby. I'm wondering if she kicks her legs at all or moves them around much. Hope you'll get some good answers. I'm surprised the mother hasn't had her checked yet.

1 mom found this helpful

Does she "pull-up" yet? Does she "stand"? Can she "stand" assisted or not? Can she sit-up unassisted?

If she is 1 yr. old and has never crawled...well some babies don't crawl. But, in this case, since she is already 1 year old... it should be discussed with their Pediatrician... to rule out anything.

Is her overall development "normal?" Does she talk yet or do other things that ARE age appropriate? Had she met her other "milestones" at the appropriate age? All of these things needs to be considered, in light of her seemingly inability to stand/walk on her legs. You mentioned that her legs do NOT seem to be able to bear any weight on them, and she does not use her legs much... so I would really get this looked at. It could be nothing, but it could signal something else.

Since you mentioned also that her legs seems to "buckle" under her and then she just sits down... I would bring this up to the Pediatrician. It seems puzzling... I think you are not over-reacting... but it needs to be brought up at least to a Doctor. At this age, a child SHOULD be able to "stand" up... and bear weight on their legs, and at least use furniture to "walk" along it.

You might want to look up developmental milestones/skills that a 1 year old should be hitting... a good website for this is:
www.babycenter.com Look at it and see if your niece is on par, in light of the inability with her legs.

All the best,
Susan

1 mom found this helpful

You may want to contact the Regional Center nearest you. My youngest daughter was born at 28 weeks. She has really been helped by the services provided for her from early intervention services. She has gotten PT and that has helped a lot in learning to walk, etc.

Best of luck.

M.,

Her parents should visit their pediatrician and see if there is a medical reason she's not walking or bearing any weight on her legs. They can also have her evaluated by Early Intervention - you can self refer for an evaluation, the evaluation is free and if they determine she's eligible, the services are free too. I really don't care what everyone else in the family did and when. If my child was 13 months old and not putting any weight on her legs, I'd want to know why and if she needed therapy, I'd get on with it right away.

T.

Have your niece's parent call the Regional Center for her area. She can be evaluated and treated for free. Good luck!

I'm not sure where your neice is located but the state has an early intervention program, and it is free to the parents. They will assess her to see what her needs are and probably do therapy with her, and show her parents ways to help her. My daughter didn't crawl until 10 months and didn't walk until 17 months, but she is Epileptic and had many other delays. I do know from experience that she should be seen by these examiners and the childs pediatrician should know how to get in touch with them. Good luck to her!!!
K.

What does her doctor say? Each state has some kind of early intervention services that are FREE if the child is evaluated and exhibits some kind of developmental delay. This service is normally for kids who are under 3 years old. Both of my kids received services and it was a very positive experience. They even came to my home for the therapy sessions. Usually, the parent and/or doctor will refer the child to the early intervention service for evaluation. Start with the pediatrician to see if this is recommended.

It may be nothing to worry about. Her pediatrician will be able to give more info. My mom says I never crawled much - I rolled where I wanted to go and then went to walking. I had no developmental delays. My friends have a daughter who didn't walk until later(She may have started crawling at about 11 months? and walking later) - she was content to sit and watch everything. She is now a happy and smart 4 year old who moves like a whirlwind and you would never know that she was so content to sit still when she was younger. Since she is getting where she wants to go through rolling I think there isn't much to worry about. She will walk when she is ready.

Don't worry. I thought the same thing about my niece and she is pefect. She started walking at 15 months. She also would sit down when you stood her up.

We have relatives with late walking and crawling history. If the doctor isn't worried.don't worry. I think it has something to do with the center of gravity of the child. Once they start walking everything is OK.
My niece by marriage couldn't walk until 18 months and her daughter named M. couldn't walk at 17months, but could talk in sentences at that time. They all develop a little differently.

B. V.

Hi,

My friend's daughter never crawled, she just went right to walking. You'd never know it by how she gets about now.

I wouldn't worry about it--but if I were your sister/sister-in-law, I'd ask my pediatrician about it. Some kids just never crawl--I don't think it's that unusual.

:-) D.

my friend's baby did the same thing. they found out she had repeated ear infections, which caused her to not have good enough balance. she also rolled everywhere. they had thought she was just lazy. as soon as she got tubes put in her ears to drain the fluid at 12 or 13 months- she immediately started walking.

Hello M.. I didn't see a question in your post, however, based on the fact that you did post, I'm going to presume (hopefully correctly!!!) that you want to hear about our children and their walking habits. My daughter sat up, crawled, walked and ran all before she was a year old. My son on the other hand, never crawled, and didn't walk until he was 15 months old. He didn't even sit up until he was 7 months old. He has no developmental delays at all, in fact, he excels in all areas. He is at the top of his class in 995 of the subjects. My father nicknamed me "snake" when I was a baby because he said i never crawled, just used my arms to get where I needed to go. No developmental delays here, either :) I've always been an excellent student and on the honor roll, and have no trouble walking or running (except with this pregnancy! lol).

Hi
I know several children who didn't walk until 18 months. That is within the normal range. However, I would speak to her pediatrician if you are really concerned
Good luck

Hi M.,

my son was only rolling from age 6 month to about 14 month.
Perfectly developing, every doctor visit was A OK. Then he started pulling himself up, but only every now and then. At age 17 month he got up and walked; everywhweres! steps and all. Never fell over. He was just a "late bloomer". My sisters son didn't start walking until he was 14 month old, her daughter was walking totally balanced at age 12months.
I have a niece, she had some form of Hip Displasia, an orthopedic doctor made her a special device to wear like underwear, then as the hip was correctly aligned, she started walking at age 14 month. I hope, that your niece is under the care of a pediatrician. That doctor should be questioned regarding her situation.

Best of luck, many blessings

T.

Hi M.,

My son also was a late crawler (11 months) and crawled "commando style" using only his arms. He then 2 weeks later started walking. He was a big baby and I think he just couldn't hold his weight. My niece didn't start walking until 17 months and then just took off from there. All of our children get to the milestones at some point so try not to be too concerned I'm sure your niece will get there when she is ready.

My son crawled at around 5 months old, and then started holding himself up and cruising shortly after 8 months...and then started scooting. I brought this up to his Pediatrician, and we had him checked by and Occupational Therapist who figured out that from being breech at birth (8 weeks early, emergency c-section) his joints were experiences tension and he immediately started physical therapy...

I would encourage your niece's Mom to bring this up to her doctor...some kids don't crawl, but if she's 1 and is still not making the moves to lift herself there could be a developmental challenge she needs assistance with.

Good Luck.