12 answers

Toddler with Curved Spine

My toddler has been scooting around on her bottom for at least 7 months now. She is 16 months old. She started sitting up early, but never crawled until this last month. She scoots on her bottom using one hand to push from behind and her legs to propel her in front, lifting her bottom slightly. She uses the same hand to push herself all the time. She's started pulling herself into a stand position in the last 2 weeks, and now she wants to climb on everything. But she doesn't want to walk.
This week, my husband and I noticed that her spine isn't as straight as it should be up between her shoulders. I'm worried that sitting up early and scooting all the time have caused this. Her spine was straight when she was born.
Does anyone know if this is something I should be seriously worried about? She stands just fine, and can take steps, she just needs help with her balance. But her primary way of getting around is scooting on her bottom.
Should I push her to try to walk more? She can crawl, she just doesn't like to all the time.
If anyone has experienced this or has any advice, please let me know.

What can I do next?

Featured Answers

Get her to the pediatrician now. If you took her in for her one year exam and the doctor did not say anything, then find a new pediatrician. You need to find out about her spine and why she is not walking yet. The sooner you get some answers, the sooner you can help her reach her developmental milestones.

More Answers

Don't mess around. Taker her to her pediatrician and have them assess her. If you are not careful and it gets worse she will have major problems growing up and could include having to have surgery.

Take care and good luck.

I would recommend talking to the pediatrician and asking for a referral to an occupational therapist. My twins were born premature and one was delayed in his gross motor skills. An OT came to our house twice a month and gave us exercises for him. He is now 14 months old and has caught up developmentally. Also, I would highly recommend seeing a chiropractor.

16 months old and not walking? and scooting? and you are asking this list instead of seeing a doctor?!?!?!?!?!?
really?!?!?!

Deinately make an appointment for the pediatrician ASAP! Also, your child may have inner ear complications that are creating the balance issue. Have your pediatrician check her ears. Hope this little tid-bit helps.

Get her to the pediatrician now. If you took her in for her one year exam and the doctor did not say anything, then find a new pediatrician. You need to find out about her spine and why she is not walking yet. The sooner you get some answers, the sooner you can help her reach her developmental milestones.

Our older son didn't walk completely & confidently til he was 17 months old. Your daughter, like our son, is just doing it on the outside of the 3 month window period. Her scooting around is not uncommon. And I doubt it has anything to do w/her spine. But, I'd make sure the ped.looked at her spine during your next apppointment.

If it is curvature of the spine she should see a chiropractor. This could correct her spine so she crawls straight and grows straight. Do not take a wait and see attitude as one person said they had done. The sooner it is corrected the sooner she'll develop more symmetrically. Children correct much more quickly then adults and you don't want her neurology to develop this way. Cross crawling is important for nervous system development and can affect learning and reading disabilities.

Try a chiropractor. Many work on children, even newborns. They won't "crack" them, they just feel the vertebrae and maybe do some gentle touch. Contact me directly if you'd like a referral. Good luck!

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