bum shufflers

DS is 10 months in a couple of days and has recently been stretching his arms out in front of him and dragging his bum along (still slowly, but he's getting around now!) so looks like I might have a little bum shuffler on my hands. anyone else have/had bum shufflers and have any words to deal with people who say that its 'bad' to bum shuffle. (he's not 'properly' crawling yet) and is there anything wrong with them bum shuffling? for all i know he could still go to hands and knees crawling but he has just found out how to move along while being upright and hands free (particularly for tv cable ) so im not worried, its just other people that tell me to get him crawling properly (ok...you can try telling my baby he 'needs' to crawl on his hands and knees TIA

ETA - spelling and add a bit more

Edited by nicandtyler

While crawling on hands and knees is important for development its not essential.. my BIL was a bum shuffler and he is fine! Very successful in chosen profession and life in general. Was a great sportsmen at school.. He did just fine without crawling!

"Experts" would tell you to try and encourage crawling as the cross co-ordination (left leg moving with right arm etc) is important but as I said BIL turned out just fine

My mum wasn't a bum shuffler BUT she never crawled either. She would get on her hands and toes and move like the dog lmao. Which I suppose is kinda like crawling but you get what I mean!

Not all babies crawl.

thanks everyone, there seems to be research out there from both sides - either it doesnt matter if they dont crawl or it does but ty has good co-ordination so far (not that he moves very fast) and it sounds like a lot of people had bum shufflers who are just fine now and like jelly said you cant force them to crawl - tyler is very stubborn - will not tolerate tummy time at all hehe, looks like bum shuffling for now

EsmesMum wrote: Some bum shufflers can find it harder to climb and some have difficulties learning to read later on.

haha, I dont think my oldest read that memo, hes sitting at top of his class for reading (has done since he started school), and has a whole bookshelf full of books he'd sit all day and read if he was allowed Anyone who knew me as a kid knows exactly where that trait came from hehe

As an aside, Plunket did try telling me recently that there is a lack of hand-eye coordination that they miss out on fully developing if they dont follow the usual developmental stages (rolling, crawling, standing, cruising and walking) and that it 'may' have been why he was a little slow to walk, but Jae has done it all in the 'right' order and shes only a couple of months younger than my oldest was when he started walking, and shes not quite there yet... so IMO the whole 'delayed hand-eye coordination and walking because of bum shuffling' is a load of bollocks. As I said earlier, all kids are different, and dont all do the same thigs at the same time. They'll do it when they are ready, and not a minute before (or maybe I just have strong-willed kids!)

My DS (now 21 months) was a bum shuffler from about 8.5m until he was 11.5 months. One day he just started crawling and then within two months was walking as well.

I don't recall whether anyone made any "helpful" comments about it because TBH I just tuned them out. Actually I think MIL tried to talk to me about it being important that they learn to crawl blah blah.

They "should" actually learn to crawl at some point (for that crossover thing) but it doesn't need to be before they walk so I wouldn't worry about it AT ALL.

As soon as C was walking he was off running and climbing, he has amazing coordination and is fearless. Which comes with its own problems of course

His language development is also just fine. We're not quite up to reading just yet, seeing as he's not quite two

Babykatnz that's why I have the not ALL at the end of that statement

Babies just don't fit into one box is the problem so what is normal for one isn't for another. I love the smile and nod approach for unwanted advise/comments.

Bro was a bum shuffler he had trouble reading, but that might be attributed to him being a boy none of the boys in my family are interested in reading.

I wouldn't worry about it, tune them out and once he's mastered bum shuffling and walking etc and is playing just get down on your hands and knees and crawl through tunnels etc with him make a game of it. Copy the cat/dog etc.

DD isn't a bum shuffler she's now a runner which is even funnier watching her feet go to fast and trip up