Personal Experiences with Non Crawlers

My daughter that crawled at 5 months old has the speech and sensory issues. My other daughter that did a kind of arm crawl and walked at 11 months has had no issues. Tell the person to butt out. Being able to crawlings has no bearing on what a kid can and can't do. All of these issues are things that kids are born with not develope due to not crawling before walking.

My daughter didn't crawl until after her first birthday. And it wasn't the typical crawl, it was army crawl. She crawled for a few months then she started walking. Physical therapists say that crawling helps work out certain muscles. That's the only plus I've heard regarding trying to get a child to crawl. My daughter doesn't have learning difficulties or sensory issues.

Don't you just hate those people who tell you that you need to "teach" your child X or Y or Z or you will screw them up for life? Sheesh - where's her diploma for her Ph.D. in child development?

Mind didn't crawl. He cruised a lot - he flipped over the infant seat and used the handle as if he were pushing a lawnmower. He was on his feet independently at 8 months, taking steps at 8.5, and walking confidently at 9 months. He only crawled for short distances if he was in one of those play tunnels or some similar enclosed space where crawling was the only option - and only until he was out the other end. That's it. I'm not sure it has anything at all to do with sleeping on his back, or his front, or his side.

He grew up to be completely normal, no learning problems, no "serious issues" (whatever she means by that), he got a college degree, is a civil engineer, and runs long distances. He has friends and can put sentences together and he eats vegetables and whatever other markers your "friend" thinks would be missing.

He put all his energy into gross motor skills, and wasn't a talker until 16 months. They all do something "early, something "late", and pretty much all catch up at some point. Doesn't matter what order they do it in. Relax if you can.

My nephew rolled around the house like a bowling ball, never crawled, then ran instead of walking, and has no problems of any kind (he's now 26). My son, age 27, never crawled, flopped on his back like a flipped-over turtle that couldn't get back on its feet, then figured out how to walk at age 14 months and never stopped. That boy is now 6'3", graduated from a very demanding technical college with a near-perfect GPA, and is successfully employed as an audio engineer and sound technician.

Leave the random lady out of your equations altogether. She's probably got a hundred other old wives' tales she could tell you, like don't look at a mouse when you're pregnant or your baby will be born with whiskers and a mouse nose.

I do think that in certain cases, where a baby is born with muscle weakness or cerebral palsy, or certain disabilities, that crawling exercises and therapy can be one tool in the therapist's program to help stimulate the brain or strengthen the baby's body or help with balance.

But for a child who does not have muscular weaknesses or balance issues or significant developmental delays in many areas, there are nearly as many ways to crawl/run/roll/hop/slither/jump or otherwise get from point A to point B as there are babies.

Developmental delays, sensory issues and learning difficulties don't occur because the baby skipped chapter 2 in the "how to be a baby" book and therefore didn't get the "now you have to crawl" instructions.

Don't worry and ignore the "helpful" advice. We have 3 kids, two didn't crawl (one started holding on and walking along the furniture @ 11 mos, the other got in the middle of the room, formed a tripod with his hands and feet, and then got upright, wobbled, and started to walk @ 8 mos) and the third crawled really well until he was 15+ months and then started walking. Guess who's my most athletic kid? The one who got up and walked @ 8 months. No learning disabilities or anything. He's now 17 and a Running Start student at the local community college. When he was doing his non-crawling thing I was told to send him to crawl therapy or he would have problems... bunch of nonsense. He's also our most analytical kid, he likes to observe first... He just figured out how to shortcut the process.

Crawling is not a developmental milestone. Random lady doesn't know what she is talking about. Enjoy your baby and get the book "What to Expect the First Year"

I never heard about learning or sensory issues. I thought it was just wrist control and strength and learning how to use the right side, then the left - later used in walking.

My niece scooted on her bottom like a crab, and just finished her master's degree and was a top athlete.

None of my kids crawled the same. One was a slither-er. One only ever crawled backwards. I spent a month re-positioning him. I did all the things like stick a toy in front of him to encourage him to go forward. I even tried gently nudging him that way, and getting down on all fours trying to model how to crawl. My friend, who works in pediatrics told me I was wasting my time. Kids figure stuff out a lot of times by chance. They do something once and it works and they stick with it because - it works. So your baby gets around his way. It works. He doesn't know he is supposed to be up more on his knees and hands. He doesn't know there is a correct way :)

My slither-er is a top student. The child I have who has to go to OT crawled the best. So .. I personally would not worry, but yes, check with your pediatrician if you are still concerned when you see them. Good luck

I think the lady who said that should mind her business, unless you actually asked her what she thought...

If he is doing the army crawl style, that's what my son did. He pulled up and cruised around the table, and at 13 months, walked.

I did not encourage him to walk. It's hard enough when they are crawling around and getting into everything. I wanted his legs to be strong enough. I have seen moms who held their kids up (especially heavier babies) before they should have been walking, and the kids ended up looking bow-legged. Sorry for my opinion, but those moms are idiotic...

My son did not have any sensory issues or learning difficulties, if that makes you feel better. I do know that the experts say that when they are working on one developmental milestone, other milestones can end up on the back burner. For instance, walking and talking. It certainly isn't the case for every child, but enough that the doc might say "Well, he's not working on one because he's working on the other..."

My opinion is not to push it at all, make sure that he is safe, and let him go at his own pace. I think your ped would give the same advice...

My son never crawled. He scooted on his butt instead. He scooted for several months before learning to walk, so it was a similar experience to crawling but a completely different motion. He is almost 9 years old and doesn't have a single developmental problem at all. No sensory issues or learning difficulties. He is very smart and a good athlete.

I think you have absolutely nothing at all to worry about. Your son will not miss out on anything. He is mobile and exploring his world, he's just doing it on his belly instead of his knees (or his butt). He'll walk soon enough and eventually he'll learn how to crawl too.

Don't let crazy old ladies get to you. It isn't a lack of crawling to worry about, it's a lack of exploration, which is certainly not an issue for your son.

My first never did the standard crawl. As soon as he could pull up, he was off. He did this kind of army crawl, but for a very, very brief time. Having said that, he does have some sensory issues. Nothing that interferes with his daily life, but there nevertheless. He also had extreme colic. I know all colic seems extreme, but he cried 8+ hours a day for months. He was overstimulated so easily and still is to a lesser extent now. So, whatever sensory issues he has were present before any of the crawling/walking stages started. I feel like his fine motor skills were not where they should be when he was younger, but as he got older, he caught up and by the time he entered school, he was on par with other kids his age. Academically speaking- he's bright, creative, and intelligent and excels in school. Being so young in his class, we were worried about that, but there have been no issues with his learning whatsoever. So, try not to worry about what other people say. Babies are unique and not all of them fit into the standard mold.

My cousin didn't crawl. She did what we called the snake. She would slide her body across the floor. Her sister and I are 4 yrs older so we would slide with her because we thought it was fun. She is now in her 40s and was 3rd out of over 500 in her class. She went to college on full scholarship and is now a partner in one of the top law firms in the country. I say that to say she did fine not crawling. Your son will be fine as well.

Exhale deeply and don't worry. Our first was standing in his crib at four months, no interest in crawling. After he took his first steps independently around 11 months he finally learned to crawl, but didn't care for it. It was a much slower way to travel, and he wanted to get where he was going quickly. Your son sounds like that. Prepare yourself for a bright, curious child, and ignore the "milestone" timelines. He'll be fine. ;-)

My daughter did not crawl. She walked at 18 months and she had speech and sensory issues. She is 12 now and just exited out of speech services at her school since she has made so much progress. Her sensory issues have also improved greatly. The specialists she saw as a toddler explained that there MAY be a connection between not crawling and speech disorders. It's actually pretty fascinating. However, every baby is unique and sometimes their challenges are totally random. I had an extremely traumatic pregnancy. That may have contributed to her sensory struggles. Who knows? Take one day at a time.

Hi my son never crawled and started walking at 13 months. Don't be scared of what him about to say but at three he lost his voice and was diagnosed with autism til this day (he will be seven soon) he still doesn't speak. All I wish was for someone who would have guided me. Early intervention!! Please look into that. I'm not a dr and I know moms that kids never crawled and are typical kids. Hope my answer helped.

Hey there -- my son wasn't crawling, scooting, or anything by his first bday -- I had him evaluated, and put him in physical therapy twice a week -- he hated being on his tummy, and I begged the therapists to let him just skip crawling and move straight to walking, but they all insisted it was best for him to crawl. They had him crawling after one month of therapy, and walking after two months of therapy! He's been good to go ever since, and is a smart little boy -- I don't know if the crawling improved his development, or not, but it certainly didn't hurt! Good luck!

They will eventually crawl. They might just crawl over across the carpet to grab a toy instead of getting up. Crawling is a necessary step in their brain development.

I know a guy that was having problems with something and the doc decided he was having this issue because he never crawled. So the doc told him to go home and crawl around his house a few weeks. Came back and the issue was fixed.

Some random lady should keep her wrong opinions to herself unless she's a childhood development specialist. Studies by some professionals that show kids are missing out developmentally because they sleep on their back? I'm calling BS on that since you can put them on their back but after a few months they'll roll over and sleep any way they want.

Granddaughter #2 rolled everywhere. She's roll herself over to the table and pull herself up to walk. Was more interested in walking than learning to crawl. Granddaughter #3 is doing the same thing although she recently started pulling herself along with her arms to move in a more forward direction.

There are a lot of things to worry about. No crawling on his hands and knees isn't one of them.

I have heard that theory. My niece scooted on her bottom (used her heels to pull herself forward while in a seated position). She never crawled. She graduates in May and has no developmental or sensory issues.

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But like another poster mentioned, the only issues I ever heard mentioned associated with not crawling was crossing the plane, as she mentioned. Not that I necessarily buy it, but that is what I heard. Never anything about sensory issues. And if he's army crawling, then he's doing the opposite side alternate movements and that's what the claim is that they miss if they don't crawl. Whether it's on their bellies or up on all fours, they are still using their opposite side (cross plane) limbs in concerted effort to be mobile.

as a home daycare provider I have seen lots of kids that never crawl, instead they butt scoot, roll, army crawl, or any other means of getting from one place to another they can come up with and ALL of them are just fine as they get older, they all are very physically active and skilled - one is now 16 and is in marching band, was in dance and a ton of other physical things like that. Another is 13 and is a very good gymnast. Others were average in every physical movement way, not behind at all, and not behind in other ways like mental or whatever.

So, your kid is fine. In fact the developmental milestone of ''crawling'' is really medically defined at ''moving with purpose from one place to another'', not alternating arm/leg traditional crawling.

My son never crawled. He just wanted to pull up and stand while holding on to something. Then he went straight to walking at 11 months and was soon running around. He had no learning delays...in fact he talked early and sounded like a little adult at age 3! He was reading at a young adult level by 3rd grade and now goes to an all advanced academics school. He was very sensitive to sounds but outgrew this before starting school. He also was sensitive to how clothes felt and still does not like to wear jeans. He has never been diagnosed with anything...but he has always been very sensitive, smart, emotional, and strong willed. He has always had a lot of friends because he is very empathetic to others. He's also very confident. He used to be very quick to anger when he didn't get his way and he would be very stubborn about things. For a couple years he saw a therapist which helped him to manage his strong feelings and he has really matured out of most of his impossible behaviors. He's a very funny, bright 6th grader now. I read that it is a myth about kids needing to crawl. Who knows.

Old Wives Tale AND what my Granni told me: if a baby doesn't crawl, it will most likely be dyslexic. That is exactly what happened to my oldest son. Also, there is some merit about babies not crawling and having some issues. They don't learn to 'cross the plane' with their arms and legs alternating as they crawl. There is supposed to be some type of coordination issue with that. Saying that, the only issue my son has had is dyslexia.

Tell the busy body to pound sand. My oldest crawled for about a day, then got up and walked at 8.5 months, then started running everywhere. He is 21 years old now and never had any difficulties. He is now a division 1 runner in college and is on the dean's list. He did great all through school and took 4 ap classes in high school. He was also good in sports and did not miss any milestones. His only issues I can think of are he did not say his s sounds for a while in kindergarten, took until about 4 or so to be dry at night all the time, and takes about 3 hours to find a pair of shoes to buy (trying on and on and on), but that's about it. Are these because he didn't crawl or just his human quirks? Who knows. My doctor never said anything about it being critical for him to crawl, so I never worried about it.

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Tell the busy body to pound sand. My oldest crawled for about a day, then got up and walked at 8.5 months, then started running everywhere. He is 21 years old now and never had any difficulties. He is now a division 1 runner in college and is on the dean's list. He did great all through school and took 4 ap classes in high school. He was also good in sports and did not miss any milestones. His only issues I can think of are he did not say his s sounds for a while in kindergarten, took until about 4 or so to be dry at night all the time, and takes about 3 hours to find a pair of shoes to buy (trying on and on and on), but that's about it. Are these because he didn't crawl or just his human quirks? Who knows. My doctor never said anything about it being critical for him to crawl, so I never worried about it.

some random lady is uneducated about your child. and needs to shutup! your child will be fine. not crawling is no big deal. army crawlling instead is fine too.
every child is different so bring it up with the pedi and move on.