Jackson turns 10 months old tomorrow, which is insane because it’s right around the corner from his first birthday. Today, it feels like he is right around the corner from 14 because he has catapulted into the role of “grumpy teenager”!
This past month I have been reading development books and becoming increasingly worried that Jackson isn’t reaching his crawling milestone. He has been doing the low crawl or “commando crawl” for months, but he isn’t interested in getting up on the four points.
This fact has been weighing on my mind for weeks.
How is he going to cruise if he doesn’t crawl properly first? How will he ever walk without crawling? Did this happen because we spent so much time moving and travelling?
Hours were spent trolling websites and forums devoted to bewildered parents looking for affirmation. Most everything I read said, “He’ll be fine—he’s just found a way to crawl that he prefers.”
But still, this nagging feeling wouldn’t go away. I began to wonder if I had screwed up…big time.
So I called a developmental specialist (who saw Jackson as a newborn because he had a lop-sided head) and she came out to my house last week to do some informal tests. She calmed my fears, provided great ideas to help me to encourage him and gave me several toy ideas. Most of all—she said that “low crawling” wasn’t a sign of delayed ability, simply that it was efficient for him and he probably had no reason to change it.
She even came by my house the next morning to provide additional articles and to tell me that I was doing a good job. And she gave me a big hug.
So we have tasks to work on over the next few weeks before our next meeting, like cruising, walking with a walker in front of him (like a grocery cart), climbing up stairs, etc. Every day I feel like a student with a big paper due in a few weeks.
I want to work with him, to get it right. Sometimes he wants to practice our “homework” and sometimes he wants to suck on a cardboard box (yes, literally). Sometimes I try so hard to teach him baby signs, even while he’s screeching at the top of his lungs for more finger food. Sometimes he climbs perfectly up two stairs for a bottle at the third. (You know, it’s never too early for bribery!!)
Being a parent is like reliving your first year in a new career. You can’t go through an entire day without feeling totally inept at some point. Is this just the beginning??
© 2009, Amy. All rights reserved.
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I’m glad you called a developmental specialist! But don’t worry…children do things all in their time. My mom (who has early ed. degree) says it is very important for babies to crawl before the walk, but hasseen her share of ones that DON’T crawl and just jump into walking! It is not unheard of!
You are doing a great job! As a new mom too, I know it’s so hard! Wish there was a manual!
Aww…Shucks! Thank you so much for your kind words!! I really appreciate hearing that your mom has seen a number of children who skip crawling, and turn out just fine!
And seriously, where is the manual?!! I never understood exactly why people said that until I had my own!
Thank you again for your sweet words!
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