My 10 Month Old Only Commando Crawls, and Doesn't Pull Himself Up!

Its very difficult not to compare your children to others. Physical development has such a wide range of variation that you will go insane if you continue to try to compare. He's only 10 months, its OK. My son didn't even start to commando crawl until 11 months. I don't think that he even did normal crawling until 13 or 14 months, and first steps didn't begin until 15 months. Presently, he's a vibrant 4 year old who runs, skips, rides a bike, etc....no one would even guess his 'late start'. Good luck, be patient, and love this precious time of limited movement...he'll be off to explore his world before you know it and cuddling with mom is less appealing.

Hi A.,
I dont think you have anything to worry about. All babies develop at different levels/times. My nephew is almost 10 months & he would "army crawl" on his belly for months. Just last week, he decided to start crawling. He is in daycare and some of the other babies are crawling, so maybe he learned from watching them! Whatever the case, your baby will crawl soon enough! Take care.

He's totally fine. My daughter was walking at 10 months, but my son - not so much. He commando crawled for months and months before he walked. He never crawled the right way (on all fours). He went from commando crawling to walking. And my nephew - he didn't walk until he was 15 months old. He's 5 now and he's as normal as can be. Like everyone else here said - every kid is different, even your own kids can be completely different. He'll get there eventually. So what if it takes a month or two longer. He likes it this way :-)

Hi A. I own and run a daycare and have seen many children like your son. Believe me if he crawls he will eventually master the other skills some children find certain motor skills easier than others and need more time to develop those skills if you are that worried I suggest you have his motor skills tested by a pediatrician but it just sounds to me like your son has not master those motor skills one thing do not do is equate your child by other mothers children at that age each child develops in their own time and in their own way but watch out when he really gets started he will give you a run for your money(smile) give him a few more months believe me by twelve months he will be alright

Hi A.! Don't worry, kids all develope at different levels. What helped my daughter is sturdy shoes (not moccosins) that have her ankle support and helped her be confident in trying to walk. Now I know you're son is only crawling but entice him to pull up on his own. Place him next to you while doing dishes and suprise him by 'accidentally' opening the bottom drawers below sink that has his toys and rotate new toys in there every now and then. He'll love looking into his drawers and pulling himself up to the top ones to see what's in them (have the shoes on him then too so that will help him keep his ballance and he'll take it from there.) My daughter first started walking in the kitchen while looking at her drawers. I foregot to add that my daughter went from sitting to walking, not much if any crawling and I've heard that from alot of moms these days. If you want to further strengthen his legs, maybe a jumper would work, it's a toy that you place him in and it hangs in a hallway or coridor and as the child moves his legs up and down it has an elastic cord that helps him bounce and babies LOVE IT! Also Mommy and Me swimming classes might be good for leg and full body strength. Good luck! Sue

Hi A.,

I wouldn't worry - every baby does things differently. My son didn't start crawling until he was 9 months old and I have a friend whose daughter didn't start crawling until she was 12 months old. Commando crawling is a recognized form of crawling - so your son is crawling. Some babies are very motivated and will pull themselves up on everything and other babies wait until they are ready and then stand up. My son never "cruised" - he crawled until he was 13.5 months old and then just "stood up" and walked one day. No practicing. Where other kids will practice, practice, practice until they get it right.

Keep encouraging him to do new things, but don't worry if he is slower than some of his friends. He is completely normal. We "enticed" our son to crawl by putting a row of cheerios on the ground and he had to eventually pull himself from sitting onto his stomach to be able to reach them.

J.

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As a Mother of three and a babysitter of two more girls (from 16yrs to ll months old) I can honestly say RELAX!! Your son will take off when he's ready!! The baby I sit didn't even begin to crawl until she was 10 months old...now she won't stop!! She is just now pulling herself up onto her feet (actually she tries to stand on her toes!). My oldest was barely crawling and sitting on her own when she was one, my middle one was walking before she was a year old, and my youngest was climbing BEFORE she could walk! Each child is different and you really shouldn't compare yours to anyone else's. As long as your doctor is satisfied with his development then don't worry...

When I first read your message, before I read a little bit about you at the bottom, I thought this must be an only child. ;) I would not worry at this point. A lot of kids don't walk until they are 12-14 months (some older). I laughed and thought first and only child when I read the message. With first children, they get so much of our attention (undivided) that they sometimes take a little longer to do things for themselves. Why do it themselves if a little fussing means Mommy or Daddy will do it. =) I remember it well with my daughter. It was easier to cry (even when we knew she could do it) and have us do it. It was not a sign of physical developmental delay with her. It was a sign of intelligence. She knew how to get someone else to do something which was difficult for her to do. I know if I could wine and fuss a little and someone else would do my dishes, I would wine and fuss each and every day.

Also, not every child crawls. Some commando crawl, some roll where they want to go, and some walk before they ever crawl.

To be on the safe side, I would call and let his doctor know what is happening so they can track it over his next couple of visits to make sure there isn't a physical developmental delay. If they think it is warranted when you talk to them, they may recommend testing. But I think it is probably a sign that you have a smart baby who knows how to get what he wants without having to work harder or do something that perhaps frightens him a little (like moving from a sitting position to a lying position to crawl). You may, also, want to work with him a little on it. Put him in a sitting position and then help him down onto his belly from that position. If you show him how a few times, he may start to do it on his own.

Good luck and I hope my message has helped.

As far as crawling goes, I know from experience that some babies do "modified" crawling that doesn't look like what we think it should. Some also skip crawling altogether. Being that there are a few skills that you are concerned about I would recommend talking to your pediatrician and also consulting your local early intervention service for an evaluation. If there is a delay, they will work with you to find the appropriate therapeutic services for your son. In the meantime, try to not worry. I know, easier said than done. Play games with him to entice him to move. Put on some music and dance. Help him manipulate his body to do the motions involved with crawling from a sittling position, etc. Good luck!

Yes, I had the same experience with my son. I had twins, a boy and a girl and my daughter took to crawling just fine. My son however never crawling the normal way. He would army crawl everywhere. I was concerned also but it was just his way of getting around. He is now turning 10 yrs. old next month and he has no problems. It actually kind of goes with his personality. He tries to find the easiest way of doing everything. Sometimes the way he does things ends up being actually harder. Just like the army crawl. I would say if he is not have other problems, I would be concerned about it and just make sure you get video of it because it is funny to watch years later.

Hello A.,
My now 11 1/2 month old finally crawls on his hands and knees. He 'army' crawled for at least 2 months. I panicked and worried and all my mommy friends said not to that he will do it when he is ready! And sure enough, one day he did it all on his own! Now, it was slow going and he army crawled more than regular crawling but now, he crawls everywhere and pulls himself up and just started wobbly walking around the furniture. Each child advances at different stages. I tried to pactice with Cody but he was determined to do what he wanted when he wanted.....lol. So, I just went with the flow and did what I could to encourage him. I crawled too on my hands and knees and now we play chase. Try not to worry and I am sure before you know it he will be doing all the stuff you are worrying about. Oh and one more thing, he crawled before he pulled himself up. He used to roll everywhere.
Good luck...
Christina

My son did the commando crawl and was also pulling himself up around this same time frame. He would also creep along the furniture by the time he was 11 months or so. He started walking on his 1 year birthday and around that same time he figured out how to get his belly off the ground and crawl. So he pretty much went from commando to walking if that makes you feel better.

What is normal for one baby is not normal for all of them. 10 months is still pretty young. My three didn't walk till 11 mths. A friend's firstborn didn't walk till almost 15 months and he is a normal, active 10 year old now. Hope this helps some. Have a wonderful time with your son!