Need Advice for Almost 7 Month Old

Like a few others said, all babies develop at different rates. My daughter rolled everywhere and hardly crawled at all ( it was more of an army crawl on elbows and tummy)and then to walking. Her crawling stage was hardly existent. They're all different.

I would not push it just yet if he is doing everything else. he is just being his own self doing it in order that he wants to. now if he was not sitting up then maybe I would be asking for advice. the order that babies do things is not cut in stone.

It may be too soon still. My sons didn't crawl till closer to nine or ten months... My daughters a little sooner. Keep doing what you're doing, and eventually he'll come around. Also, when he's happily playing, set one of his favorites out of reach. Maybe he will try for it on his own.

Well, you can ENCOURAGE your son to crawl by helping him with the positioning, but you're not going to "get him to crawl". None of my three babies crawled until they were at least nine months old. No developmental delays or anything. Just healthy, active kiddos. :)

I'm really sorry to hear about your job, T.. Enjoy your time with your sweetheart at home and please... don't make more worries for yourself, honey.

7 months is still very early for crawling. My son didn't crawl until 10 months, so try and be patient and let him go at his own pace. Believe me, once they crawl and walk, your life just gets a bit harder because they are all over the place!

Dear Tiffany; Funny thing, I just read about how to help do that. Sit your baby down and pretend he is in the center of a clock facing noon. Then place a toy at 10 o'clock or at 2 o'clock just beyond his reach. As he reaches for the toy he will tip over into crawling position. As time goes on, move the toy further and further away. I did this with my grandson when he was your son's age and soon he was crawling, but I don't know if that's what made him do it or if he just got more coordinated. He, too, didn't like to be on his stomach at that age. Hope this helps. D.

I have twin boys. One started crawling around 7 months the other started army crawling around 8 months and normal crawling around 11 months. I gave them tummy time together regularly. The one that crawled first also rolled over a lot. My army crawler rolled over before he was even a month old (but never regularly) he ended up prefering to be on his tummy, (we tried lifting his tummy off the floor etc. he got up on all fours when he wanted to stand up by something, my husband was down crawling around with them, my army crawler tried to stand up by him, my husband kept crawling and so did my army crawler!)he just did things in his own way and in his own time. That just shows you how different babies are. I really wouldn't worry about it yet. Keep up the tummy time. Even if he cries give him a few minutes and maybe try making it a little longer each time. Get down there with him and see if that helps. It sounds like your trying the right things. Keep it up.
Sorry to hear about your job. Best of luck!

I think it is a little early. However, some babies never crawl so I wouldn't worry about it. Some just move right on to walking. It sounds like yours is doing all the right things so I don't think you have a problem.

Hi Tiffany,
Developmentally, you are pushing the earliest age for crawling, and if he's not rolling himself over yet, you are *really* pushing it.

There are steps healthy babies pass through to get to the next step. Sounds like right now, he'd benefit the most from practicing rolling over.

Start with a minute or so of "practice," slow and gentle, 2 or 3 times per day, a minute or so at a time (don't go until he cries, that's too long). *AFTER* he can roll himself belly-to-back *and* back-to-belly without help from anyone, you can worry about crawling.

I know, it's very hard to wait it out for the first one, lol!
Have fun!
t

Oh my gosh - enjoy this time! My son just started crawling and he is 10 months. This is the best time - they can sit and play with toys contentedly without going anywhere. Once they start crawling, your life will change! They all develop at such different rates and 7 months is very early!

Hi T. M,

First, never fear! All kids develop at different rates. Your son is exactly were he should be developmentally. I am a mother of one 7 year old little girl and have been working as a Special Education Teacher for over ten years. Developmental milestones are an area of expertise. I hope you are relieved to know that crawling is one of those milestones which some kids skip over entirely! It is perfectly within the normal range of development to go straight from sitting up to walking. My advice: Enjoy your time with him and keep the camera ready, he will be up and running before you know it!

If, after he turns one year old, you still have these concerns, search the internet for Developmental Milestones or contact your local public school and request to speak to thier "Child Find" expert/liason. Public Education Agencies are required to have free information available to the public regarding your developing child. Also your State's Department of Education website may have free info too. Look under Early Childhood.

Good Luck and Have Fun,

T. K

Tiffany, I think 7 months old is about the earliest most babies crawl, so don't worry about it. He will start moving in his own time and then you will wish for the days when he stayed in one place!

My first one didn't fully crawl until 8 1/2 months old. My other crawl at 6 months becuase I sleep them on their tummys. (I know, but they sleep so much better!!!). Just give lots of tummy time. My 7 1/2 month old is crawling, standing...all over the place, it's kind of scary!! But he has 2 brothers he is trying hard to keep up with! Your baby will be crawling before you know it and be into everything...you'll wish he/she was still immobile by then!! Enjoy your time, it goes toooooo fast!!

You can try getting behind your baby and using your thumbs to push against the bottom of his/her feet...that helped motivate my first baby.

Every child is differnt. My oldest son didn't start crawling until almost 9 months while my middle son crawled at five months. He'll get there. Keep placing toys just slightly out of his reach. After awhile place them farther and farther.

My 6 monther looks like he wants to crawl at any second. He scooches and pivots and almopst sits, reaches out with one hand teatering on his legs and knees. In reviewing what the others said here, it looks like I have relief a little longer. My suggestion is to crawl on the floor so he can see how it is done. Example. And when he is ready... I have a friends who's one year old started walking the night of his one year birthday party (following his actual date) after having shown no interest in it. She says he saw other walkers and decided to do it! And has been ever since. So, maybe example.
Have fun!

Hi T., don't be stressed about your baby not crawling yet. Many babies don't start crawling until 8 or 9 months. If he can't roll over from both directions then you may want to talk with your pediatrician...this is if he *can't* roll over, not if he can, but doesn't want to. Keep up with the tummy time. Try using a boppy for him until he gets more comfortable. Stay down on the floor with him so he doesn't feel deserted and if he starts to roll over you can gently help him (if he needs it). Some babies never even crawl, they do the sit and scoot method instead, which is fine. If you really are worried (like if he doesn't make any attempt to roll over or do anything on his own) you might mention it to your pediatrician. Also, taking him around other babies his age and even ones a little older might help. Babies like to mimic what they see others doing. Good luck!

Hi T.,

Like most people said, he is in NO way behind and no where near an age where you would need to be worried that he is not crawling. Let it be natural. I admit though, I was a little worried when my daughter didn't crawl until a little after 8 months. Then she was walking by 9 1/2! So don't worry, he'll surprise you and just start doing it one day!

Hi, T.,

Babies' brains develop at different rates. It can be frustrating to wait for it, but you simply can't rush the baby's stages faster than his brain develops. I wouldn't worry too much about 7 months...that's still fairly early for crawling. Just relax and enjoy each stage of his development, knowing that his mind and body are doing things at a pace that is just right for him.

If he's still not showing signs of crawling by say, 10 months, it might be worth checking into. But he'll be into everything before you know it!

Tiffany:
Babies crawl when they are developmentally ready. There's really nothing you can do to "teach" him to crawl. My little boy started crawling in January, just days before he turned 9 months and my daughter was well past 9 months when she crawled and didn't walk till 14 1/2 months. Both are perfectly normal and healthy kids. Don't worry about what your friends babies are doing, just enjoy each milestone with yours. I tried to rush each milestone with my first and I really wish I would have relaxed and enjoyed everything since it goes by so very fast. Best wishes! R., SAH nurse-midwife mom of 2

None of my kids crawled at 6 months old. You can't make them reach any of these milestones earlier than they are ready. Enjoy the time before the crawling starts! Mobility adds more issues for a mom who can no longer put her baby down and know it'll still be there when she turns around again!

Hi Tiffany,
From what I remember, it seems the age for crawling for most babies is around 9 months. If my memory serves me, then he's probably just not ready yet. All kids will crawl - just let them do it in their own time - he'll figure it out when it becomes important to him and when he has the motor skills to support it.
: )

I was worried about my son, who scooted but didn't crawl until 8 months old. He started walking at 10 months and has been ahead of the curve physically since then (he is 15 months now). Don't panic! Our kiddos are all individuals, and will do things in their own time. When your pediatrician gets concerned, then think about possible actions. Until then, just be patient. Pretty soon you'll be running after a toddler and wishing he would slow down a bit!!

My oldest didn't crawl till 9 1/2 months. We thought he would never crawl and just go straight to walking. Don't worry, he'll do it. Take some advice, once he starts crawling, you'll miss the days when he didn't, because he will be into everything!

A step that seemed to help my son start crawling was to put a couch cushion on the floor (somewhat firm and flat) and have his upper body on the cushion, and his knees on the floor. I put a toy on the cushion to entice him to stay in this position for a bit. This gave him the idea of moving up onto his hands and knees. He was crawling within two weeks of this. I'll note that he was already rolling over a lot, and with ease. I completely agree with the other posts though, that your son is definitely not late for this milestone.

He will do it when he is ready. My first child never crawled but scooted on her bottom. We lived in a house w/ wood floors so it was easy to scoot. My other 2 crawled around 8-9 months or so.... just let him do his thing. :) Then they all walked between 13-15 months.... each baby is different. Blessings.

First and foremost, don't worry on getting him to crawl. I get hung up on the developmental charts sometimes, but we all need to remember every child is different. My son rolled, then army crawled, then one day decided to crawl. It will happen on their clock and it will happen overnight. Enjoy it while you can, once he starts crawling he will be into everything. Take care.

He'll get there on his own when he's ready. Some babies don't crawl until much later than 7 months. In my family there have been some babies who didn't crawl until 10+ months old.

As a mother of a bunch of kids, I'm going to advise that you not push mobility with you baby. When they get mobile, they can get into things that they can't before crawling. Enjoy being able to set him down and come back to find him pretty much the same place. It's a blessing! His development will still be on track even if it's several more months before he's crawling.

Be patient and RELAX!!! All babies are different and develop at different rates. To ease your mind...crawling is considered an OPTIONAL skill. Some babies never crawl and go straight to walking...some babies crawl or scoot backwards...now that you are at home more...just enjoy what it is he DOES do!!! The time goes sooooo fast...my daughter is 20 months now...seven months seems like yesterday. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your job. The blessing is...you now have more time with your son!!! :)