How to Go to Scooting or Crawling?

Every child is different and motivated differently. Stop trying so hard and he will do it when he is ready and probably when you least expect it. My daughter didn't crawl until almost 11 mos, didn't walk until 14 mos and I remember being so worried. Then my son came along and was completely different and started crawling at 6 mos and walked at 11 mos. My daughter used to roll herself to get a toy, hee hee. Then one day it happened, then the walking shortly followed by running and the rest is history! Hang in there and just be patient!

My youngest son would do the same thing, around this stage. I think your doing the right thing by putting objects of interest in front of him. I would continue to do that every day but don't freak out when he start getting fussy. With My son, who is now 2, I would let him be fussy for a few minutes(not so much it breaks your heart)but just enough to really get him moving and before you know it his scooting all around. And don't let anyone discourage you, not all kids start crawling or just scooting around, at the same age. Maybe double check with your pediatrician but I would say just stay patient!!

I would get a developmental evaluation and look into early intervention under Part C of IDEA. It is free to families and if your child qualifies, you may be able to get some PT about 4x/month. Go to www.earlychildhoodconnections.org, find the CCB in your area, and call the early childhood department to put in a referral.

Here's another handout that shows some developmental milestones for a baby/child's development until age five:
http://www.earlychildhoodconnections.org/files/SOT.pdf

I have an 11 month old girl and she did not crawl until she was 10 months old. She did not show any interest in it until then. Don't panic! Once they learn there is no stopping them! I know many babies that did not crawl at all and they are doing just fine. We went thru what you are going thru. We worried because other moms and people would look at us funny when we told them she does not crawl yet. I say don't push them. Ashley would get frusterated and fussy after we would push her just a little. No matter what, he will crawl eventually. It may take until he is 1-2years old but he will do it at his own pace. Good Luck! You are doing everything right.....
J. S

L.,
Don't worry about it. My son didn't start walking until at least 11 months, and it was only a few weeks before that he started crawling. Don't push it, children all develop at their own pace. a girlfriends youngest son didn't start talking until he was nearly four! just enjoy that little boy and have fun.

It sounds like you are doing all the right things to encourage him, but you can't make a baby do what he is not ready to do. The way I used to look at it when I was a new mom, was that babies usually focus on one skill at a time and he is probably working on something else. Before you know it he will be moving and grooving and life will never be the same! Please try not to stress out about it, babies do things in their own time. Best of luck!

A.

There is nothing wrong with him. I have two boys who really took their time learning to get around. My two year old didn't start scooting till he was almost ten months, crawling at 12 months, and walking at 16 months. My second son is 14 months and still happy to be army crawling. It seems as though a lot of moms who have "fast" developers make the slower developing kid's moms feel like there is a problem with them. Every kid develops at a different speed. Your little one may start talking a lot sooner because his brain is working on that aspect of development instead of the physical. No worries!! Don't let people make you think that their is anything wrong with him. He could surprise you and suddenly take off any day. It sounds like he is a very happy and content baby to sit happily without feeling a need to go all the time. Cherish that time because it will change super fast! :) Good luck!

There is no set age for crawling (scooting) or creeping (what most people call crawling). There are ranges and percentages, instead. Your son may or may not be delayed. Someone would have to look at a bigger picture than those two things. Is he pushing up on his forearms, pivoting, coming up on all fours, grabbbing toys, etc? He may need help or his body may need more time in this stage for whatever reason. It sure wouldn't hurt to ask your doctor. In the meantime, tempt him to push up with his hands and arms, pivot, and turn.

The best advice I can give is to wait and if your concern is overwhelming to contact your pediatrician. However knowing this much as I have three under the age of 5. I know that they all did thier own things at thier own time. There was never a race or never a time I would say, " see look what it says in this book, you are supposed to be doing abc..." Do you get my drift? Just stay positive and cheerful with him and in time he will come through.
Best wishes,

Some babies start younger than others. Some babies walk before they crawl. Try putting his favorite toys across the room from him. Have your doctor check to make sure it is not something physical. I raised five kids, they all started at different ages, including my twins. Good Luck.

Don't worry at all. It sounds like he's developing very normally. Some kids crawl by 9 months, some don't. There's actually a very wide age range that is normal for crawling or walking. I heard something like, if your child isn't even trying to be mobile by 18 months, then you should ask your doctor about it.

My daughter crawled at 7 months, my son is 9 months and hasn't crawled yet. My friend's daughter didn't crawl until she was a year. Other friends' children didn't crawl until 10 or 11 months. Don't sweat it - each child is different. :-)

J.

Our son never crawled until a friend started to crawl. He was almost 3. I didn't know he could crawl. He's in K-5 this year and is getting straight A's so it doesn't seem to have affected his schooling. He also crawled a lot with his younger brother. Some kids don't crawl. Maybe your son will prefer just to walk. (We did do some other things to try to help, but he never did get pt or anything like that.)

Hey L.,
I am a Speech-Language Pathologist and my first (now 11 and very healthy!) did not crawl until 10 months. I was worried too but he was a very big baby and kind of low tone. Keep doing what you are doing, prop him up into a crawl/hands and knees position and try to move him into a crawling stance...moving one hand, then one knee, etc. Try food!, favorite toy, etc.

If he is still not crawling after a couple of months ask for a referral to a physical therapist. But hopefully he will begin soon :).

M. in Colorado Springs