Bottom shuffling babies

Yes – some children will master their motor milestones early and others will be much later and some may miss out on developmental milestones all together – such as crawling. Some babies will learn to bottom shuffle instead – this is a normal variant.

The rate at which a child develops is affected by many factors including temperament, environment, genetics/family history and development opportunities for example – if they have spent a long time in hospital or have not had the opportunity to play on the floor.

Babies who bottom shuffle typically do not tolerate being placed on their tummy and therefore do not develop the strength in their arms, neck and back muscles to enable them to push themselves up, move around on their tummy or crawl.

They often prefer to lie on their back or to be supported in a sitting position.

These babies often do not learn to roll from their back onto their side or their tummy or vice versa. This makes it very difficult for them to learn to sit themselves up from lying down.

In general, babies who bottom shuffle have joints that are more supple/flexible than average. This makes it more difficult for the child to stabilise their joints to take weight through their arms and legs, making it harder for them to crawl and to stand and walk.

Babies who bottom shuffle can move very quickly and their hands are free to play with toys and can hold them whilst moving etc. They therefore often have little motivation to pull up to stand on their feet or use their arms to crawl.

Tummy time

Encourage tummy time so that they can learn how to weight bear through their arms and their shoulder girdle to become more stable.

If they do not tolerate lying flat on the floor, give them some support under their chest using a rolled-up towel or lie them across your legs.

Sit on the sofa, lean back and lay your child on your chest (progress to lying on the floor with your child on your chest).

Shuffling over obstacles

Encourage your child to shuffle over obstacles on the floor (such as over your legs/cushions, etc.) so that they have to bring their weight forward over their arms to move themselves forward.

Help your child to kneel

Encourage your child to pull themselves up onto their knees, against you or a piece of furniture. Kneeling helps to improve stability around the hips and lower body.

Help your child to take weight through their legs

• Sit on the floor with your legs crossed
• Sit your child on your lap with their legs over yours and their knees bent so that their feet are flat on the floor.
• If your child tends to lean backwards, use your body to keep their back straight and lean forwards slightly to stop them leaning back.

• Encourage your child to lean forward to reach for toys/objects
• Progress to reaching down to retrieve objects from the floor.

Help your child to pull to stand from your lap

• Kneel or sit cross-legged on the floor in front of a sofa or coffee table, etc.
• Sit your child on your lap, making sure that their hips and knees are at 90 degrees and their feet are flat on the floor.
• Place an interesting object/toy on the surface and encourage your child to reach forward for the object.

• As they straighten their knees, move their hips forwards and up, over their feet, supporting them around their hips with your hands.
• Bottom shufflers tend to try to stand with their bottom behind their feet so they need help to bring their hips forwards, over their feet.
• Encourage them to lean their tummy against the table/surface. When your child learns to stand up independently you no longer need to support them around their hips.
• You can help your child learn to sit down by bringing their hips back and down onto your lap.

Will a “sit-in” baby walker or bouncer help my child to learn to stand and walk?

No – these do not help children develop their ability to stand or walk and may encourage your child to walk on their tip-toes. They have also been the cause of many serious accidents.

• If your child has difficulty moving their arms or legs (e.g. if they appear to be weak, floppy or stiff)
• If your child appears to be using one side of their body more than the other. This may be the arm and/or leg (do they have a strong preference to turn their head to one side?)
• If your child always falls to one side or backwards when they lose their balance
• When your child stands, are they unable to bring one or both feet flat on the floor or is their foot position very different on both feet?
• If your child shows significant delay in other areas of their development (e.g. play and language, fine motor skills)
• If your child appears to be having problems with their vision or hearing.

If you are worried speak to your Health Visitor, general practitioner  (GP) or paediatrician.