My 9 Months Old Daughter Does Not Walk or Crawl - Keller,VA

Updated on December 17, 2010
K.T. asks from Keller, VA
23 answers

My daughter is 9 mths 2 weeks but doe not walk but can sit properly without any support. She is very active and moves on by pushing her stomach (does not crwal),Pl advice if it is OK if she is slow in walking ..................

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

9 months is kinda young to walk. Its all dependent on the child. My daughter took her first steps at 11 months but didnt start walking til she was 12 1/2 months. She will be fine...

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J.M.

answers from Boston on

My daughter never crawled. She started scooting on her bum at around 10 months. In fact, so many kids don't crawl that it's not even considered an "official" developmental milestone. My daughter didn't walk until 16 months, my son 14 months. They can both run and jump like champs now (at 5 and 3, respectively). Don't worry.

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Some kids skip crawling. My son walked at 14 months. He was a fast crawler and he cruised (walked hanging on to edges of furniture) it seemed like 4 months. Before I knew it he was running. Some kids walk slightly before their first birthday, but I think most manage it by a month of two after. I wouldn't worry! Take time now to baby proof everything!

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

She's TOTALLY normal.

Most babies don't even *attempt* walking until around a year (and you don't want them to start much earlier, because their bones are too soft and will grow in awkward ways... bending/bowing/pigeon toeing/etc.).

Early (which is what waling earlier than 9mo would be) isn't better. It's just early. Not something to strive for. There's usually other very important things that need to happen first.

As Kathleen mentioned the "normal" for *starting* walking, not "independently walking and doing it well" is 9-18mo. She could live her whole life over to date and not be "late" yet.

Same token, early isn't "good" and late isn't "bad"... and average ISN'T mediocre. Late or Early can BOTH be indicative of problems or disorders in any stage of development, but neither usually is unless it's QUITE early or late (months to years) or if *everything* is early or late. Most babies fall all over the spectrum, early in this, late in that, dead on normal in most. I think the problem a lot of parents have is that they "grade" how "fast" something happens. Early = A, Normal = C, Late = F... and that is COMPLETELY WRONG. Normal/Average is SPECTACULAR... early and late are both somewhat worrisome.

Oh... and if she starts talking around 11-12 months (which is the norm for moving from babbling into talking... but the normal range includes MONTHS on either side)... expect walking to take a little while longer. The reason why there is SUCH a huge range in "normal" is because kids are working on several areas, and all kids go about those areas in different ORDER. (The whole "all kids are different" thing.) Walking is gross motor movement. If she's talking (fine motor... controlling her tounge, lips, and vocal chords) expect large motor to take a back seat, as well as cognitive, emotional, and other aspects of fine motor (pinching/grasping like for feeding hersel)f, visual, auditory, etc., will also take a back seat. Conversely, if she's working on walking... expect that she WON'T be working on fine motor, emotional, cognitive, visual, or auditory milestones during that period except for in very superficial ways. AND that when she DOES start working on one of those areas... that every other milestone will backslide a bit. All, totally normal.

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G.A.

answers from Norfolk on

It is ok right now because the upper goal for walking is 18 months. Your doctor can explain developmental goals at your daughter's next well baby appointment. Your daughter could be concentrating on other skills.
My 21 yo belly crawled at 10 months, crawled at 12 months, and walked at 18 months. She is a dancer and in honors college. Developmental guidelines are just that...guidelines.

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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter didn't crawl until 10 months and didn't walk until 14 months. She was late with crawling and walking, but was on track or advanced in other areas. If it is just one area where she is a little behind, I wouldn't worry. If you notice that she is behind in multiple areas, then maybe you should have her checked. I was told to put my daughter on all fours and rock her back in forth to encourage crawling. I was told this at 8 months and she still didn't crawl until 10 months. You can try it. My daughter loved doing it, but it didn't get her crawling any sooner.

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S.B.

answers from Wichita on

my kid didnt walk until she was 1, my cousin's until she was almost 2 (she just liked being carried). They were both fine. If your daughter is active, even if not crawling or walking, she's fine. The "milestones" are just generalizations, and the kids who dont hit them as early are just as good as the ones who do.

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M.P.

answers from Washington DC on

Some children never crawl -- they scoot (like your daughter) and then they walk. My kids did not walk until they were almost 12 mos. old. I do not think she is late. Unless you notice some other physical problem, I would not be worried.

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C.W.

answers from Washington DC on

My daughter was 11 months before she crawled and 18 months before she walked. My son pushed himself around as in a crab like crawl at 7 months and crawled at 8 months, didn't walk until 16 months. Both are perfectly fine. Your daughter is still within the norms. She is trying to move. Some babies never crawl the traditional crawl. Try not to stress about this.

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S.H.

answers from Richmond on

not walking up to age 18 months is totally normal; if she isn't walking by then (but I bet she will be) then you should take her to your ped for an exam

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B.W.

answers from Washington DC on

My son never crawled. He rolled and eventually did the "military crawl" on his belly (around 8-9 months). Then one day (around 10 months) he learned to pull up on furniture and was walking well within about three weeks. Now he's 13 months and can run and is learning to climb! I wouldn't be worried. Give your daughter some practice walking by letting her use you as support to stand and hold onto while she learns to walk and she'll be hard to keep up with before you know it. It is normal for some kids to learn to walk a couple months after turning 1. As long as she's showing a desire to learn and get herself moving in some fashion, she is probably on the right track. ( of course, If you have a gut feeling that something is wrong, ask her pediatrician about it.)

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A.H.

answers from Washington DC on

Relax, she is normal. My kid didn't crawl untill she was 10 months old and took her first steps 2 weeks after her first birthday.

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R..

answers from Chattanooga on

My roommates DD started crawling at 11 months... before that she just rolled around. She started walking at 14 months. Now you can't get her to slow down!

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W.S.

answers from Norfolk on

This is way too early to be concerned about walking. Many babies skip crawling entirely and go straight to walking, which is typically around 1 year. My son didn't crawl until almost 8 months, and didn't walk unaided until after 12 months. He did seem to have a little trouble getting his legs under him for crawling, and once he began to walk, it turns out he was bowlegged from too little room in the pelvis. His legs straightened as he grew and were perfectly straight by age 2 1/2. Even if nothing is wrong, there are still wide variations for each baby so don't be concerned unless there is something else that seems off. Sounds like she's doing exactly what she was meant to do at this stage. Best wishes!

C.Y.

answers from Atlanta on

I grandson never crawled, he pulled himself army-style. When he was 16 months old he just got up and walked away.

9 months is very early to walk. Usually 12 months is average. No worries, soon you won't be able to stop her.

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L.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi! The average age babies learn to walk (according to my baby book) is 12-18 months. Your daughter is very normal. My son learned precisely at 15 months (same age as me when I was little), his little friends were closer to a year or 13 months. The consensus is that there's a very large range of "normal" for walking and you should talk to your pediatrician if your daughter doesn't walk by 18 months. At 9 months she's still very young. Also, our son didn't crawl till 12 months old.

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K.R.

answers from Spokane on

You'd probably be surprized to hear that the "norm" for walking is anywhere from 9 - 18 months old! That's a BIG age difference, but developmentally speaking, a baby who walks at the young end or the older end of the spectrum are both considered normal and on target. It sounds like your daughter has enough floor time if she's scooting herself around, and that she has the motivation and desire to get places. If you want to encourage and strengthen the muscles used for sitting, just sit on the floor behind her and prop her up with your body while your play with toys or read books or do clapping rhymes. You could go to a baby and mommy class (sometimes the library does these for free) - these will capture her attention and encourage sitting. I would discourage the use of a walker, or excersaucer (excersaucers are ok for a few minutes a day, but not hours on end) - these devices hold the baby upright in an unnatural position and the will develop muscles that are actually counteractive to sitting, standing and walking. Just keep getting on the floor and playing with her, it sounds like she will be fine!

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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

If she is active and curious and gets around on her tummy-she is fine! The average age for walking is 15 months-at least that used to be the standard-in homes where the baby had every developmental advantage. My son -with the 148 IQ didn't walk until he was fifteen months old.

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E.M.

answers from Johnstown on

OMGoodness! It's VERY rare to have a baby walking by 9 months. Most don't start til closer to a year. Also, I have babysat children who have walked before they crawled. She's fine, enjoy her immobility while you can ;)

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K.H.

answers from Washington DC on

The range of age for crawling/walking is so wide, so please don't worry yourself :) Walking usually happens after a year old, and sometimes up to 18 months. Crawling varies too, up to 12 months I think too. But some kids don't even crawl much. What your daughter is doing on her stomach is normal. My daughter didn't move at all until she was 9 months old, and then she just took off.
Just enjoy the time when she can stay in one place - after she starts moving, you'll be chasing her everywhere!

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

It's OK for babies to not walk until well after 1. When I was growing up it was unusual for a baby to walk before he was 1.

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S.L.

answers from Chicago on

Don't worry about it. My oldest crawled after she learned to walk at 13 months. The pediatrician said that crawling was not a developmental skill and some kids never do it.

My oldest is now a very talented competitive gymnast so there was no issue.

Sue

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J.R.

answers from Washington DC on

I would talk to her pediatrician. I know babies do things at different ages, but it does seem a little delayed for crawling. She is not delayed in walking at all!

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