Developmental Milestones

Just to let you know that my daughter did not crawl at all and just went into walking. All of my friends children were moving around and she stayed where she was. She is now 22 and living a great life.

Hey K.. I have a beautiful 18 month old girl. I know you have already received alot of good responses to your concern. It is totally normal to worry about how your child is developing.. & to want to compare them to other children but they are all very different. We have close friends with a 19 month old & I fell into that bad habit for a bit. When my daughter finally learned how to roll over, she continued to do that for awhile instead of crawling. Then, we started practicing with her. We would imitate crawling & put her in the position to crawl. We would also put some toys out of her reach so that she would have to make an effort. It didn't take long. One day you will get home, turn around & she will be crawling all over the house. =) ...

Use different toys to encourage her to reach while laying down, tummy down and on her back. Maybe she's a little lazy. If still in doubt, check with your pediatrician. He's your best source of info.

K., I would not worry about your daughter not crawling. Some babies just develop those muscles later and others never crawl and skip straight to walking. If she is still not moving at one year then I would take her to the doc. Otherwise I think its pretty normal. Best of luck. BTW I have a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old..both boys. I

First of all, you are not with her during the day, to witness any lack of motivation. Perhaps there is little stimulation? Or could be so overwhelming that she retreats from it.
What's your pediatrician advise?
She's still young, so she'll grow into herself soon enough.
Working full time outside of the house is stressful.
Your fretting and worry is an energy that your baby picks up on. Hence, lay on the praise for any and everything she does. Keep her on your lap while reading, have little items for her to pick up and mouth (normal)as you describe colors and shapes... oh, and for teething, forget frozen food (choking hazard), place a clean damp washcloth in the freezer and monitor her chewing on it. Teething hurts; and the cold will alleviate the pain.
Some parents don't like a walker; but my kids loved it. It doesn't have to be fancy with all the toys dangling. You can choose which item to place on the walker. Are you putting her in the stroller for a pleasant walk around the block? Seeing dogs, trees, flowers are all natural stimulants. But not overbearing.
Then a nice warm bath (for you, momma) and a good nights' sleep while your precious baby grows up...
Blessings, S.

Hi K.,
I don't think you need to worry. My kids are 15 yo, 13 yo, and 9 yo and they have all done their milestones at their own time and pace. My daughter actually never crawled and went straight to walking! She was very uninterested in crawling. Also, 7 months is early to crawl so Ava may not be ready yet and that is ok. Children follow different rates of growth and this continues beyond infancy. Keep in mind that your son's baby is a boy and girls and boys often develop at different rates and have different motivations. Celebrate Ava's accomplishments. Rolling back and forth is great exercise and the fact that she stops when she can't get something after a few tries shows she is aware of her own limitations and doesn't want to frustrate herself!! Ava moves on to something where she is more confident of her abilities and that is ok too. It sounds like she is very self-aware and easy going. I suggest you ask your pediatrician at your well-check just to be on the safe side. Also, maybe try to visit your daycare during the day and observe how much tummy time they actually give your daughter. You sound worried that your work is interfering with your daughter's development. I'm sure you are doing your very best snd that is all you can ask of yourself. We moms always expect so much from ourselves! Maybe you could find a mommy group for working moms to give you more support. Also, there are other types of childcare such as an au pair where Ava can stay at home during the day. I used Au Pair Care for my kids when they were younger.

all in their own time, you can worry, or enjoy the last few moments of her being stationary, when she does get mobile, and she will, she will be every where barely leaving time to breath. enjoy this stage, it won't last/

Hi K.. I understand how you feel! My daughter (now 2) crawled at 10 months and then walked at 20 months. I was worried but, I know now that she is totally fine. She walks like every other child. And she is advanced in her verbal and fine motor skills! Everyone always gave me suggestions of what to do....but, really my daughter was going to crawl and walk when she was ready. But, if you are really concerned, talk to your pediatrician about a referral for an evaluation by a physical therapist. It can't hurt and I bet they will make you feel better :)
Hope this helped!

My first daughter didn't crawl until she was 9 months. And didn't walk until 14 months. She is perfectly normal. All kids develop differently. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Please don't fall victim to the "comparing game" with other moms and their kiddos. Nobody wins. If you are worried about milestones, check with your doctor at her next well child visit, or look around online for the general time frames for the various milestones.

Maybe your friend's baby is AHEAD of the average... unless you research, you won't know. You also might have a baby that is less physically motivated right now. That's okay. She is probably busy working on her verbal skills more at the moment (or fine motor skills instead of gross motor skills). They usually focus intensely on one new skill at a time. Once she masters some aspect of it, she'll move on to another skill. Or maybe your friend's baby is a Type A go-getter, adn your daughter is more of the laid back variety. Something you may one day be very glad of!
Besides, 4 or 5 weeks can make a HUGE difference in their physical abilities at their ages. My son was barely able to sit on his own unsupported at 6 months. He'd topple right over in a matter of milliseconds. But he was an early walker! (10.5 months!). If your baby is heavier, it takes more muscle power/tone to move it around... keep that in mind, too.
Here's a link that may help you:
http://www.babyzone.com/baby/growth-milestones/default.asp

Hi K.,
To add to the other replies, I see you are a loving mommy with lots of responsibilities. Before Ava is much older, consider receiving infant massage instruction to have that quality time you said you wanted with her. When I read your worries about her not crawling yet, my first instinct is to say have some interesting toys and play most with her at "tummy times"...my next instinct is to say she will benefit from structured and purposeful mommy massage too.
I've taught hundreds of families and can refer you to a certified educator near you. Just email me at ____@____.com. I'm in Mamasource business directory too Helen's Infant Massage Instruction if you want to read more. I should have my website up and running before end of year. Best wishes for all of life's little pleasures.
Helen