[laurenjd]

I have a 9 mnth old baby girl who just won't crawl. She hardly even gets on her knees!

She is sitting, talking, walking along furniture, sitting from laying down, and rolling all over, but we just can't get her to get on those knees!

I've had some people tell me it could mess up her brain development if I let her walk first, which it seems like that's what she'll do.

Any advice??

[Wondergirl]

Children do what they do when they are ready. Both of my sons were 18 months old when they first walked. Neither had crawled. I was afraid I would have to carry each of them the rest of my life! (And an 18-month-old is HEAVY!) Both are very smart adults. The younger one now has three master's degrees. Neither has ever had trouble reading or tracking because he didn't crawl.

Same with getting teeth or potty training or reading. They will do it when they are ready. Sometimes they skip steps. Meanwhile, be open and flexible, and give your baby unconditional love.

[RubyPitbull]

Lauren, honey, your baby is fine. Some babies just start to walk and bypass the crawling stage. She is perfectly normal and you have nothing to worry about regarding problems with her brain development.

[alkalineangel]

Yep, my brother went straight from laying and drooling to running! It will not mess up brain development, that is silly, if anything, your child is just too busy to be slowed down by crawling when she knows she can just walk. Look out, hope you have everything put up.. lol.

[curlybenswife]

Bless you poopet stop worrying every baby is different they all do different things at different times millie walked before she crawled and there's nothing wrong with her.
Stop worrying and enjoy your child she won't be a baby for much longer.

[Sanjay Persad]

All that means in her development is that she finished the crawling stage faster than the average baby would. What would happen now is the baby would try to hold on the things to walk. Then the baby would be able to walk without any help. This is actually excellent if she is walking already. Don't take advice from non-qualified people (i.e.your friends who told you it would mess up brain development). My mom is a pediatrician... actually one of the best in the country I'm from. I actually took 2 months over the average walking age but I'm perfectly normal, no brain damage and I still achieve A grades in late high school.

As a new mother you should have a pediatrician for your baby. Padiatrician's job covers exactly what you are talking about.

[laurenjd]

Thanks! I've had several friends, and my own father tell me I need to not let her walk and put her on her belly. But when I put her on her belly, she sits up, then tries to stand!

[curlybenswife]

Leave her be she will do as she pleases nothing is text book when bringing up a child.

[RubyPitbull]

Lauren, the only person's advice you should be concerned about is your pediatrician's as Sanjay states. Your father and all the others are totally wrong. Forcing your child to stay on her belly is actually detrimental to her development. At 9 months old, your baby is actually ahead of the curve on all the things she is doing. Encourage all the movement.

[fairqueen]

First of all. I really wouldn't worry too much. Your daughter is moving at her own pace. My son walked at 8 months and never really crawled. It did worry me because I had heard all the stuff on how the back and forth movement of the arms and legs in crawling facilitates the development of reading skills. To make matters worse he was slow to read (I was freaking out because in first grade he still didn't seem to know all his letters). The thing is once he started reading (and it came on all of a sudden), he never stopped. He's 14 now and reading at a 12th grade level.

Once she starts walking, one of the things you can do if you're still worried is get down on the floor and play crawling games with her. Just because she passes from cruising to walking without crawling doesn't mean she can't still get down there and play at it. She'll still be using those movements, so if you're really thinking it effects her development then it would take care of that. I think she'd be fine either way. Children learned to read and function long before there were experts telling us what they should be doing.

Also, keep in mind. You sound like a very attentive mom who loves her child. Ask yourself this - how many teenagers have you seen who can't read even after they've been given all the tools and education needed to develop the skill? She'll be fine mom. Just love her and give her lots of hugs! :)

[Sanjay Persad]

Crawling is not considered a developmental milestone by doctors. The major concern among a qualified pediatrician is the ability for a child to walk. They would run through a checklist and ask you questions and then based on your answers tell you if anything's wrong. It's an absolute necessity for all babies to have a doctor. The doctor would immunize them (give vaccines) give medical advice up to age 16. But walking faster is excellent. You don't want to slow down the child's progress by making him/her crawl. Let her hold on to things to stand up. After all the goal is for your child to be able to walk later on in life not crawl.

[fairqueen]

I have a 9 mnth old baby girl who just wont crawl. She hardly even gets on her knees!

She is sitting, talking, walking along furniture, sitting from laying down, and rolling all over, but we just can't get her to get on those knees!

I've had some people tell me it could mess up her brain development if I let her walk first, which it seems like that's what she'll do.

Any advice???

Hi again. I just saw this: On The Move - DrGreene.com - caring for the next generation It supports what Sanjay is saying.

[J_9]

I have to agree with what everyone is saying here. All children reach their developmental milestones at their own time.

The only thing that will cause "mess up her brain development" are either of a genetic factor or outside forces, such as drugs or drinking while pregnant, or possibly head injury.

I will repeat what everyone else has said... While friends, family and co-workers are giving well meaning advice, the only advice to follow is that of your pediatrician.

[Bethanyanya]

I am glad you are feeling better. I am feeling worse. My baby is 9 months and although she can roll over she does it very rarely she sits up just fine and will stand holding on to something but that is it she screams when I put her into a crawling position or on her tummy. I am worried something is wrong , I know all babies do things in their own time but I worry about her. She has been really picky about eating lately too won't eat unless she is distracted by something else. Should I be worried or is this normal?