Babies learn to crawl and pull up at different ages. However, it is normal for parents to worry and wonder why is my 10 month old not crawling or pulling up yet? In this article, we share all the reasons why your baby may not be crawling.
My 10 Month Old Not Crawling or Pulling Up – Reasons Why
If you have found yourself wondering, why is my 10 month old not crawling yet? I am here to tell you not to panic! All babies develop at their own pace, some are walking at 10 months and other babies of the same age are happy just sitting up and observing the world around them. If you have a 10 month old who isnât showing signs of crawling or pulling themselves up, try not to worry. To help put your mind at ease, let me tell you more about when you can expect your baby to get moving.
Why is My 10 Month Old Not Crawling Yet?
My daughter was 8 months old when she started crawling. One of my best mom friends had a little boy and he didnât crawl until after his first birthday. After a couple of months, my mom friend was watching my daughter whiz around and said, âmy son is 10 months old and not crawling, what am I doing wrong?â.
The truth is, my mom friend wasnât doing anything wrong and neither are you if your 10 month old is not crawling or pulling themselves up yet. Babies develop at their own pace, they are unique individuals who master new skills when they are ready.
While you may think your baby should be crawling by 10 months of age, there are in fact lots of babies who skip crawling altogether and go straight to walking. However, if you are a first-time parent, it is perfectly normal to be anxious about your baby meeting all of their development milestones âon timeâ, but often there is no need to be concerned if they donât start crawling, pulling up, or walking as soon as you had hoped.
According to the Mayo Clinic, your baby will start to become more mobile between 10 and 12 months old. This may mean your baby has started pulling themselves up to stand, and cruising around the furniture. But it can also mean that they are only just figuring out how to crawl on their hands and knees.
Why Is My Baby Not Crawling at 10 months?
If your 10 month old is not crawling yet, there are several possible reasons why. Before you rush off to the pediatrician, take a look at this list of totally normal reasons why your 10 month old might not be crawling yet:
They choose to move differently – Some babies donât crawl, simply because they donât feel they need to. If your baby happily shuffles around on their butt or just rolls to where they want to be, they may have no desire to learn how to crawl on their hands and knees.
They are not given a chance to try – You canât have your baby moving from the crib to a highchair, to a car seat, to a buggy, to a baby carrier, and back again, all day and expect them to know how to crawl when you do eventually put them down.
Our busy lifestyles can mean babies spend a lot of their day lying or sitting down where they donât have the opportunity to move around. If you want your baby to develop the strength and gross motor skills they need for crawling, you need to make sure they are being given plenty of chances to practice.
They havenât had enough tummy time – To be able to crawl, babies need to have built up enough strength in their arms, neck, core, legs, and back. You can help your baby build this essential strength by placing them on their tummy. Tummy time can begin right from those early newborn days. When your baby is given plenty of time to practice lifting themselves up, they are more likely to build the strength needed for crawling sooner than babies who have not been given regular tummy time since birth.
They have a laid back personality – Just like some adults are more relaxed than others, the same can be said for babies. If you have been asking yourself, why is my 10 month old not crawling or walking yet, the answer may be as simple as they just donât want to right now. Your baby may be perfectly happy just sitting up and watching the world go by, with no desire to get on the go and start exploring just yet. Their laid back personality doesnât mean your baby will never crawl, they are just waiting until they are good and ready.
They were born premature – According to medical author Karthik Kumar in an article for MedicineNet, premature babies are often found to reach developmental milestones later than babies who were born at full term.
The earlier a baby is born, the more difficult their start to life will be. Long stays in hospital and illness can push back a preemies development and they are less likely to meet their developmental milestones at the same time as babies who were born on time and at a healthy weight.
Premature babies are given a âcorrected weightâ, this pushes their age back by however many weeks early they were born. For example, if your baby was born 2 months premature, at 10 months old their corrected age will be 8 months. Many healthy babies are not crawling at 8 months old so you should try not to worry too much and you can always speak to your childâs doctor if you are concerned.
Medical Reasons For Not Crawling
If you are an anxious first-time mommy – Iâve been there – you probably want to know about any medical reasons why your 10 month old may not be crawling yet.
Here is a list of health conditions and illnesses that may be stopping your baby from crawling:
- Cerebral Palsy.
- Gross motor delay.
- Curved in feet.
- Overweight.
- Failure to thrive.
- Rett Syndrome.
While it is normal for 10 month old babies to not be crawling on their hands and knees yet if your baby is not showing any signs of wanting to move around, has clumsy movement, or is struggling to develop strength and coordination in their limbs, you will need to share these concerns with a pediatrician.
10 Month Old Not Pulling Up To Stand
Just like crawling, babies push themselves up to stand when they are ready. The age for developmental milestones should be considered more as a guideline, rather than strict rules set in stone. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to baby development.
If you are lying awake at night, stressed and thinking why is my 10 month old not crawling and pulling up, I am telling you now that itâs ok for you to relax about this. Babies will start pulling up and getting ready for walking around 9-12 months of age. However, some babies cruise later and some are early bloomers and are running around before their first birthday.
Try not to panic. If your baby is showing zero interest in becoming mobile by their first birthday, maybe it is a good idea to have a chat with their doctor. Otherwise, keep encouraging them with toys, engaging games, and encouragement and they will soon be pulling themselves up and attempting those first baby steps.
FAQ on 10 Month Old Not Sitting or Crawling Yet
How can I encourage my 10 month old to crawl?
You can help encourage your baby to crawl by placing flashing and musical toys just out of their reach. Sit in front of your baby and use big smiles and an encouraging voice to try and persuade them to crawl to you. Giving your baby lots of opportunities to build strength is also important, so make sure you incorporate lots of tummy time into your daily routine.
How can I strengthen my babyâs legs to crawl?
The best way to help your baby to build the strength they need for crawling is to give them plenty of opportunities to move around. Get your baby used to tummy time early on and as they grow they will learn how to push themselves up onto all fours. If your baby is given lots of opportunities to test out their mobility, they should naturally develop the strength they need in all parts of their body for crawling.
Why is my 10 month old not sitting or crawling yet?
All babies have their own developmental timeline and some reach milestones sooner than others. However, if your baby has not begun to sit up unsupported by 9 months of age, it would be advisable to book in to see your infantâs doctor. A doctor will be able to check your babyâs development and assess them for any health conditions that may be stopping them from being able to sit.
Conclusion
Have you found yourself looking at your baby and thinking, why is my 10 month old not crawling or pulling up yet? If you have, you can stop worrying. While development milestones may seem set in stone, they really arenât. Babies learn to crawl and pull up when they are ready. Some are doing so, easily at 10 months but others are still developing these skills at 12 months of age.
Your baby will crawl when he or she is ready. However, if you have concerns about their mobility and they are not reaching other developmental milestones, it is always worth having a conversation with your babyâs doctor.
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