When Did Your Babies Crawl?

When my daughter wasn't crawling by 9 mos. the pediatrician referred us to a chiro. They said it can lead to dyslexia, if I child doesn't crawl before walking. We were directed to do exercizes at each diaper change - only a minute. With them laying on their back you touch their right foot to their left hand and then the left foot to right hand. Do each side five times. My daughter started crawling within days of starting this.

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hi J.!
my son was a preemie by 2 monthes so he did crawl late but i was really anxious to get him motivated as well! :) this worked for ME...maybe it will spark an idea or you could just try it for yourself! :) We did as you did...push his legs under him but also went in front and pulled his arms, get that up for a bit and with-in a few weeks he was crawling...it does take some time and he did get upset at first but when he realized he was getting places on his own, he got excited! :) Crawling really is important for right/left brain function! :) i have always been told (and read) that crawling for as long as possible is good! As soon as they walk....they are into EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME! :) enjoy this time you have now b/c trust me....they just keep getting into all kind of things! good luck and i hope i may have helped some!
S.

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I have heard that some babies skip crawling all together and move on to walking. My son was crawling at 6 1/2 mths. and did not take his first steps until 12 mths., but still wasn't interested in walking until 15 mths. I think they all do their own thing. At least he is pulling up on things...that could lead to cruising and walking! I wouldn't worry just yet! I know it makes you nervous though, when your child isn't doing things as soon as you think they should.
Good Luck!

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Hi J.,

You didn't mention how big your son is. A child developes at his/her own rate. It is difficult to look at norms and decide that is where your child should be. If he is smaller than most 9 months old then he will develope a little slower. If he is bigger than his weight may be making crawling dificult. If he of average size and weight, he may just not be ready. An infant knows what comes next. If you are worried, then give him plenty of "tummy time". This will allow him to build the necesary muscles in his neck, arms, and legs. There is a chance he may skip crawling and start walking... it happens.

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My daughter just turned 11 months yesterday and also just started walking about 3 days ago. She never crawled! She would get into the crawling position and then roll over and sit. She did this over and over since she was about 9 1/2 months. She just never seemed interested in crawling. I tried to help her out and she would just get frustrated. So I just left her alone with it all. Then at about 10 months she started to pull herself up on anything that was near and would cruise all over the couch and ottoman. Still one of her favorite things to do. Then for Christmas she got a "sit to stand" push walker and she loves it. But still no crawling. Now she prefers to hold my hand and take me on a tour of the house.
I would just keep doing what you are doing. He seems to be doing the same thing my daughter did at his age. He might just skip crawling all together and start walking earlier!
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

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He is fine! My first son crawled at 91/2 months and my now 9 month old hasn't crawled yet at all. As a first time mom (and even a second or third time mom) it's very easy to get worried about your baby keeping up with what's "normal" but believe me, in the long run you'll look back and wish so much that you hadn't wasted your time worrying about such things.
Always just ask your doctor if you're worried about something and then don't listen to relatives and other moms at the park who say you should do somthing different with your baby.

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My oldest son was around 8-9 months before he began crawling. He didn't walk until he was 14 months. He excelled in other areas like speaking, so the doctor just said that his mobility wasn't the top of his list. My youngest son was the exact opposite. He was crawling at 4 months and walked at 8 months, yet he didn't utter a understandable word until he was 2. They're now 4 and almost 7 and my older boy still would rather sit and talk while my 4 year old is all over the place! I wouldn't sweat it just yet, but if it does concern you, talk to the doctor at your next check up.

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Don't worry about what other babies do! If your dr isn't worried, you shouldn't be. (I have to tune my sisters out when they ask if he is doing something or another).
That being said, my son started to crawl yesterday and he was born March 11th. So he is just shy of 10 months and he only started crawling yesterday. So I think you son is just fine and dandy! Don't push him to do anything to hard, let him find his own way!

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Our youngest grandchild just turned 11 months this week. She has been crawling for about five weeks now. I thought I remembered they did at around 8 months, but she was almost ten months. Now she is all over the place and fast. She, too, pulls up to a standing position to play, and did that first as your son does and about the same age. It will be interesting to see other replies.

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I didn't read all 43 of the replies but, my now 2 year old daughter didn't crawl until around 11 months and did not start to walk until almost 18 months. Being a special ed teacher, I was completely freaked out when she wasn't crawling thinking of everything that could be wrong. It was definitely a case of knowing too much. After many reassuring visits to the doc and panicked calls to ECI, I realized she would just have to do it in her own time. Which of course she did. Now she speaks in full sentences and runs and climbs and does all of the things she's supposed to do and more. 9 months is not "behind the curve". I was told repeatedly to call back (both Dr. and ECI) if she was not crawling by 18 months. I know that we all are waiting for these milestones and it is frustrating when you see other kids passing yours up but he will do what he needs to do when he is ready. I know its easy to say and probably impossible to do but don't worry.

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All three of my girls crawled at about 10 months. But they achieved walking at different ages -- my eldest was 13 months, my middle was 11 months and my youngest was 17 months!

Don't fret, you're son is not "behind the curve" in the least!

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I thought my son would never crawl! And when he finally did around 10 months, it was an "army crawl" - he used his arms to drag the rest of his body along without getting up on his knees. We tried not to worry about it (other than my little "human swiffer" picked up every dust particle on our hardwoods, and I was so mortified at that!), and sure enough he was crawling all over the place on hands and knees before his first birthday. He didn't walk until around 14 months, and now he's 2 and unstoppable.

There are so many factors that affect this (taller baby? bigger baby? preemie?), so I don't think there is any reason to worry any time soon. Before long, you'll be chasing him all over the place and wondering why you were so eager for him to be mobile! :)

God bless!

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my pedi told me that most babies crawl between 9 and 10 months, but not all babies crawl, and some don't crawl until after they walk! My 9-month-old doesn't crawl either. Does that just make us lucky? ;)

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Your baby is not behind at all like all the other moms said every child is different..as a matter of fact my almost 3 year old crawled at 8 months and walked by 10..my 13 month old is STILL not crawling and is not close to walking..she is scooting on her bottom ALL over the place but could care less about crawling or walking! I freaked out because my son did everything so much sooner and so now this company called ECI has come out and said she has low muscle tone so it is going to take her a little longer...don't worry yours is pulling up and mine still doesn't do that...the doctor also told me that 5% of children don't crawl at all...so don't worry and believe me before you know it he will be on the move :)

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I know kids that never crawled. My oldest child walked at 9 months and my youngest didn't walk till 14 months. Every child is different. My youngest crawled much later than the oldest closer to a year, but he is not behind the other at all.

If you are really concerned talk to your doctor, but I don't think you have a problem.

Hi J.! I went through the same thing. For all practical purposes, my son never crawled. "Military crawled" without using his legs at 11 months, then at 13 months started walking. One month later, running at full speed. I'm sure your precious boy is just fine. :-)

My son started crawling at a little over 10 months and started walking a little over 13 months. Don't worry, he isn't behind! Be glad, once they get mobile, life gets tougher for you!

All babies are definitely different! Crawling is not really a developmental milestone so he may skip it altogether. My son waited until he was 11 months old - he absolutely HATED tummy time so I think that's part of the reason why. He didn't walk until he was just over 15 months and our pedi was ready to send him to ECI if he wasn't walking by 16 months. That said he started talking around 17 months and was just 3 in December but talks like a 4 year old.

My daughter crawled @ 10months & walked at 15 months. She is now 2 and I can't hardly keep up with her. She's definitely not missing a beat. Like a lot of the other moms said they will do it at their own pace and its better not to compare them to others. I know its hard when you see everyone elses baby crawling and walking way before yours does. I wouldn't worry about it unless your Dr. seems worried.

My friends little sister didn't crawl much and it sounds similiar to your story. She used a walker to get everywhere. He probably just prefers to be in the upright position as opposed to crawling. I would give him more time outside of the walker, to get him use to moving around with out it. But, I wouldn't worry about being behind the curve.

All babies are different and they all do things at different times. There is a wide "normal" range because of this. My son started crawling around 7 months (I think) and started taking steps at 9 months. Now, at 11 months, he's walking all over the place. My niece, on the other hand, didn't crawl until right around 12 months and started walking very shortly after that. Hang in there.

Mine started at 5.5 to 6 months. Four days later he was cruising. But I don't think that is typical. And trust me I wasn't prepared for it to be that soon either!! One thing you can do is put your hands behind his feet to help him push up. If he won't let you put something sturdy and safe behind him. It kind of gives him leverage.

My oldest daughter never crawled. She would scoot around on her backside and she would use the walker, but she did the same thing if we put her in the crawl position. She wasn't behind physically she just had no desire to crawl. Sometimes babies don't. I wouldn't worry as long as he is pulling up and can use the walker and doesn't show any other signs of physical problems. Some babies just don't crawl.

Hi J.,

I think it's fine that he's not crawling yet. I have twin boys that will be 9 months old on the 23rd. they're working on crawling but aren't there yet. So, I think he's ok. Good luck to you & your family!

S. J

He may not ever crawl--he may go straight from pulling up to cruising the furniture to walking. Some babies crawl, some "roll, some scoot on their behinds, and some just take off running! He's well within normal range...average age of first unaided steps is 12 months. Relax and enjoy your last few days of freedom before toddlerhood really begins at your house!

Since crawling is part of the development of visual perception, I'd put the walker away. Kiddos are copycats, so get down in the floor and crawl with him. That's how my grandson learned to crawl. My daughter was not showing him how, so I did.

My first daughter started crawling at 6 months, and my 2nd started after she was pulling up for a month at 7 months. Both were walking by 9 months, but this is not average at all. My niece didn't start crawling until she was 10 months old and didn't walk until 14 months. Every baby is different. Just give him lots of time on the floor. Eventually he'll get it.

My little one was 10 months old when she started crawling. She was not walking at her 1st birthday, but she took her first steps before 13 months.
Enjoy this time- you will be chasing the baby soon!

My son only crawled for about a month at about 10 months. He just went from laying on the floor to running around the house is about 2 months. If your child is long and skinny, it is harder for them to crawl. If your pediatrician isn't worried, it should be fine.

D. Kimbriel
Grandma to 2 beautiful boys

You're probably already aware of this, but every child is different. My 1st crawled/walked by 10 months and my 2nd didn't crawl or even attempt until a week after her 1st birthday and then was walking by 13 months. She just had a very different temperament (and still does) than her older brother. Some kiddos skip the crawling milestone all together. I wouldn't push too hard but just provide lots of time playing on the floor putting toys out of his reach. If you're really concerned, bring it up with his pedi.

Enjoy your little one. They grow up fast!!!

I think my oldest was around 10 months old when he crawled and didn't walk until about 15 months. I think having him spend most of his time on the floor on his tummy and put toys just out of his reach will encourage him to crawl.

My oldest child did not 'crawl' at all...she would roll and push herself on her bottom wherever she wanted to go; she went straight to pulling herself up and using her walker. She also hated tummy time.

My second child crawled around 5 or 6 months and walked a few months earlier than the first, which I attribute to us leaving the coffee table out in the living room...

They are all different...it doesn't matter how they get moving, just that they are...

My older son never crawled, he just stood up on his first birthday and started walking, it was weird but all kids are different you will learn that as your child gets older, just do not worry, have fun and enjoy while he is still little it goes by so quickly.

My niece didn't even TRY to crawl until she was about a a year old. She didn't walk until she was 16 months. She is now 18 months and we can't get her to sit down or stop!! Just keep encouraging and supporting him, giving him "reason" to play on his tummy and reach for things slightly ahead of him. He'll get there!

i wouldn't worry about it. all kids go at their own pace. my son was walking at nine months and i think that was really early. My cousin's kids is almost 11 months and he's not pulling up. and it sounds like your child is independent if he doesn't want yall to help. do tummy time as much as possible.

My boys are 19 and 24. I honestly can't remember when they crawled but I believe it was around 6 months or so. I think you should take away the walker for a while and I would think his natural curiosity would encourage him to begin to crawl.

Hey, don't worry:). My oldest was about 9 1/2 mo when she started crawling and she was walking three days after her first birthday. She was pulling up and cruising before she crawed, too! My little one actually started crawling around 7 mo and she was walking by 10 mo. Kids are all different and "normal" has a pretty wide range at this age.
God bless

Don't worry, crawling isn't actually a developmental milestone- movies don't show it but there is a significant % of kids that never crawl and just go straight to walking. I would limit the time in the walker though so he can build up the muscles in his arms.

Some babies never crawl - not a necessity. If he is pulling himself up already, then he may just go straight to walking.

Mine never crawled. Went from rolling where ever he needed to go to walking at 10.5 months. After talking to my mother because I was concerned she said I never crawled and my grandmother said my father never did either. Don't worry as long as the rest of his development doesn't seem to be dragging but next time you take him to his doctor ask.

Don't worry about what other children do. They are all different. If you feel that your child has a problem, then see the doctor, but don't base your child's development on your friend's kids. All kids are different and some babies never crawl. Neither of mine crawled before 7-9 months. Most children today crawl later because of all the time they spend on their backs instead of their tummies for safety reasons. I'm sure your child is perfectly normal and I wouldn't "help" him at all. He will crawl when and if he wants to crawl.

My son (now 6) never really did crawl. He would sit indian style and scoot around when he was 9-10 months old and started walking when he was 13 months. My younger son (now 4 1/2) never got past lying on his tummy and pulling himself around with his arms. Some kids will just skip crawling. If it really concerns you, you might want to talk to his doctor but it is not uncommon for some babies to skip crawling.

My daughter didn't crawl until around 10 1/2 months, started walking at exactly 13 months and now runs all over the place.

Many babies never crawl! Within the next couple of months, he'll likely find some way of moving himself around, but that need not be crawling! My DD did what we called a "commando crawl"--lying on her stomach and scooching herself along on with her elbows (hard work!). My cousin's daugther would sit up, then use her legs to scooch backwards on her butt--she did this until 18 mos, when she started to walk! Every kid is different. I definitely wouldn't worry at 9 mos, particular since he sounds like he might just go straight to walking! GL!