my almost 1-yr old cannot crawl!!

[Anonymous]

She is still doing the "army crawl," dragging herself along the ground with her arms and kind of using one leg for leverage to push herself along. She can go pretty fast this way now. Is this really weird?

My other kids crawled "normally." She does everything else she's supposed to, and she is climbing, pulling up, cruising and can get herself up a couple of stairs (not the whole flight, but 2-3 steps). She also stood all by herself for about 5 seconds today. There does not seem to be anything "wrong" with her physically or developmentally but I wonder if I just can't tell b/c she's not walking yet?

Doctor thought she was fine at her 9-month visit but I don't get why, at almost a year, she STILL cannot crawl on all fours!

I thought I read somewhere that it was bad to skip milestones (e.g., it's not good for babies never to crawl and to go straight to walking) but now I can't remember where I read that.

[Anonymous]

My now 3.5 year old never crawled. No big deal at all.

[Anonymous]

Crawling is considered to be good for brain development but skipping it isn't that uncommon and certainly doesn't mean anything bad for your child.

[Anonymous]

I've actually read that more and more babies don't crawl now, somehow related to the "back-to-sleep" campaigns.

[Anonymous]

Crawling is not a milestone. My second crawled on one leg with the other folded under her like in a yoga pose. She starting walking at 13 months and never looked back.

[Anonymous]

My now 9 year old never crawled. She did this weird crab like scooting thing where she slid around on her butt in the sitting position and used her legs to move herself around. fast forward to now and she's a completely normal, athletic and coordinated child (sorry, bragging to assure you not to worry)! My other child did crawl, and I really can't recall that we did anything differently with her.

Don't worry!! Your little one will be just fine. Sounds like she's found a way to get around, so no need to learn to crawl!

Have a great Thanksgiving!

[Anonymous]

I think the important thing milestone-wise and cognitively is that the baby wants to go from point A to point B and has figured out a way to do it. Your baby sounds fine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the important thing milestone-wise and cognitively is that the baby wants to go from point A to point B and has figured out a way to do it. Your baby sounds fine!

I agree! My eleven month old can crawl, but generally chooses this one legged army crawl. It's actually kind of endearing. He only started to crawl when he wanted to get something on the stairs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crawling is not a milestone. My second crawled on one leg with the other folded under her like in a yoga pose. She starting walking at 13 months and never looked back.

This is not true!

There are two schools, one says it's not another says it is.

We went all the way to find a PT in the "crawling is important" school to help our LO to develop her potential. DC had low muscle tone and w/o PT I can't imagine where we would be now. DC walked a few weeks after the 12 months appointment and is still working on the skills needed to crawl.

The crawling position helps with the development of important muscles on their shoulders, back and neck.

I'd advise you to seek professional help.

[Anonymous]

No professional help needed. Many kids never crawl - they scoot, drag, rock, but still get where they are going.

I have never seen any kid have problems solely because they didn't crawl.

[Anonymous]

This is not true!

There are two schools, one says it's not another says it is.

We went all the way to find a PT in the "crawling is important" school to help our LO to develop her potential. DC had low muscle tone and w/o PT I can't imagine where we would be now. DC walked a few weeks after the 12 months appointment and is still working on the skills needed to crawl.

The crawling position helps with the development of important muscles on their shoulders, back and neck.

I'd advise you to seek professional help.

OP here. Interesting. Your child walks fine but still needs PT for low muscle tone? How did you know s/he had low muscle tone? My pediatrician never mentioned that and it's not something I would think she has, but maybe I don't know what to look for. She can get up on all fours, she just doesn't crawl like that; she flattens back out onto her belly when she wants to go somewhere.

[Anonymous]

I knew a set of twins who did the same thing and it seemed really weird but their doctor assured their mom that it's not that unusual and not to worry. Interesting that PP mentioned it could be related to the back to sleep campaign. It will be interesting to see how that plays out over the years. Your DD sounds pretty normal, so not to worry.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to differ from many PPs and say that a 1 year old who still army crawls would worry me. I'd be concerned about low muscle tone.

Can she go on all fours at all?

[Anonymous]

I have one who never crawled on all 4's. He spider walked at 11 months and then walked at 12 months. My younger one crawled at 12 months and walked at 14 months. My DN didn't ever crawl. I would not be to worried if your DC is pulling up already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is not true!

There are two schools, one says it's not another says it is.

We went all the way to find a PT in the "crawling is important" school to help our LO to develop her potential. DC had low muscle tone and w/o PT I can't imagine where we would be now. DC walked a few weeks after the 12 months appointment and is still working on the skills needed to crawl.

The crawling position helps with the development of important muscles on their shoulders, back and neck.

I'd advise you to seek professional help.

OP here. Interesting. Your child walks fine but still needs PT for low muscle tone? How did you know s/he had low muscle tone? My pediatrician never mentioned that and it's not something I would think she has, but maybe I don't know what to look for. She can get up on all fours, she just doesn't crawl like that; she flattens back out onto her belly when she wants to go somewhere.

As long as the child is mobile by any means around the age of 12 months, there is no delay. They can roll around, scootch, or skip to walking. It is not a problem. Crawling is not a milestone for a reason. If you want to shop around for someone to work with your child to learn how to crawl, that is your prerogative, but I don't think that is healthy. Your DD sounds perfectly normal.