Right Age For Crawling, Walking and Potty Training

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Right Age For Crawling, Walking and Potty Training

by Kaye

My step-daughter is getting pressure about her 6 month old baby's development abilities. The dispute is about the right age for crawling, sitting and potty training.

Her mother-in-law is constantly telling her that at 6 months her baby should now be trying to crawl -- since 5-1/2 months he is already sitting up by himself. She also says that both of her kids were walking at 9 months. And they were also potty-trained by 1 year old. Obviously this makes my step-daughter feel resentful.

My question is: What are the right age ranges for babies to start
1) crawling
2) walking
3) being potty trained

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Right Age For Crawling, Walking and Potty Training

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Baby Development Averages And Percentages
by: Anonymous

Baby development averages and percentages are so wide for all three; crawling, walking, potty training. Whenever baby and you are ready, things just happen.

My little boy is 5months 3weeks and has been crawling (up on hands and knees) for just on a month. He was pulling himself around on his belly since 3 months. I have had older/'experienced' moms tell me how bad I am teaching him. BUT I didn't teach anything.

I'm a stay at home mom that just had him on the floor most of the day. I would play with him for an hour in the mornings but nothing more set than that.

It seems like some babies don't crawl until they walk, like one of my older sisters. According to my mom she just got up and did it at 9months but never crawled, just rolled over and sat herself up. My sisters and I were all walking within a week of our first birthday.

I know parents with 3 1/2 year old twins that haven't started the potty training. Their kids are just fine and healthy. I, myself was potty trained before 12months with no encouragement from my parents. Mom has always believed having two older sisters (24 months older and 40 months older) going through the training just rubbed off on me too.

The Normal Right Age For Crawling Is A Very Wide Range
by: Anonymous

The considered normal right age for crawling is a very wide range. Crawling can occur as early as 6 months or as late as 10-11 months of age. The same holds true with walking.

I have heard of babies walking as early 7 months, which is definitely NOT THE NORM!

Some children do not start walking until 18 months of age. And this too is considered within the normal range.

Potty training is typically not recommended before 18 months of age because a child is not physiologically ready.

Girls tend to be trained earlier (approximately 2 years of age). I remember reading that nearly 100% of children are trained by the age of 4.

Just think of it this way...

Every child eventually walks and is potty trained. Ten years from now it will not matter if your child walked at 9 months versus 18 months and the same holds true with potty training.

Earlier Is Not Always Better!
by: Anonymous

I have done a fair bit of reading and research as a mother of two. Crawling I believe is one of those important milestones that needs to be reached. But determining the right age is not overly important.

My son was late to crawl. Even though he had lots of tummy time, and loved being on his tummy. At 9 months he was dragging himself on his belly but by 10 months he still could not get on his hands and knees.

We saw a paediatric physiotherapist to ensure there was no physical problem. She showed me a couple of positions to put him which would encourage him to crawl. By 11 months he was crawling and he walked at thirteen months. I have read in more than one source that it is not how early a child walks that determines his inteligence but rather how much he learns before he walks.

Potty training these days is very different to potty training 25+ years ago. Lifestyles are different, many working mothers, we have demanding social lives... super absorbent nappies, pull ups... etc.

I believe the mother can assess if the child is physically and emotionally ready and do small things to get them ready, like have them sit on a potty for fun when mom and dad go to the toilet. I had read a few books before I started and was preparing myself for the worst.

I started toilet training my son the day after his 2nd birthday and after 7 accidents by the end of the day he was asking to go potty and has done so since. He is now 2 and 5 months. By 2 and 2 months he had no night time nappy. He was ready and he did it.

I really believe that when toilet training, no nappies/diapers should be used at all through the day. The child gets confused if you go to the shop and put on a nappy just in case he has an accident. Cold turkey just like old times works best :-)

My mother in law also would tell me that her son was toilet trained day and night by eighteen months... I'm not sure how an 18 month old would take himself to the toilet.

It comes back to getting the facts before merely deciding on the exact right age for crawling, walking or potty training.

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Submitted by: Anonymous

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Comment
I have done a fair bit of reading and research as a mother of two. Crawling I believe is one of those important milestones that needs to be reached. But determining the right age is not overly important. My son was late to crawl. Even though he had lots of tummy time, and loved being on his tummy. At 9 months he was dragging himself on his belly but by 10 months he still could not get on his hands and knees. We saw a paediatric physiotherapist to ensure there was no physical problem. She showed me a couple of positions to put him which would encourage him to crawl. By 11 months he was crawling and he walked at thirteen months. I have read in more than one source that it is not how early a child walks that determines his inteligence but rather how much he learns before he walks. Potty training these days is very different to potty training 25+ years ago. Lifestyles are different, many working mothers, we have demanding social lives... super absorbent nappies, pull ups... etc. I believe the mother can assess if the child is physically and emotionally ready and do small things to get them ready, like have them sit on a potty for fun when mom and dad go to the toilet. I had read a few books before I started and was preparing myself for the worst. I started toilet training my son the day after his 2nd birthday and after 7 accidents by the end of the day he was asking to go potty and has done so since. He is now 2 and 5 months. By 2 and 2 months he had no night time nappy. He was ready and he did it. I really believe that when toilet training, no nappies/diapers should be used at all through the day. The child gets confused if you go to the shop and put on a nappy just in case he has an accident. Cold turkey just like old times works best :-) My mother in law also would tell me that her son was toilet trained day and night by eighteen months... I'm not sure how an 18 month old would take himself to the toilet. It comes back to getting the facts before merely deciding on the exact right age for crawling, walking or potty training.

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It's Like Spice
by: Aida

First of all... poor girl! It's not enough pressure to be a new mom?

Some babies require lots of encouragement. Most babies begin the attempt to crawl at around 6 months, but don't really do it until they are 7 months. All they need is belly time to play with mom or dad. A little at a time to make it enjoyable usually works well.

A trail of cherios that leads to mom does the trick, too.

Walking....that's different for every child. I walked at 7 months. My nieces a bit before they were one.

The important thing is to crawl first. It allows kids to develop fine motor skills, better perception of objects, and strenghtens their back and arms.

Potty training starts with mom paying attention closely to baby bathroom routines at around 7 months when they are well into solids. Then just learn their expressions and take them to the potty... Some babies can be potty trained by a year old. Some much later.

Best to you both

This May Get You Into Trouble
by: Dalene

This is a classical evergreen question and a typical everyday situation.

Somehow stating the right age for baby crawling or any of the other development milestones is bound to get you into trouble. You can be sure that someone will disagree.

Let us start by looking at the facts.

For crawling about 50% of babies have mastered it at around 7 months, 70% at around 10 months and 90% at approximately 11 months. Now, when I talk about crawling I mean moving forward on the floor by either bum shuffling, bear walking or hands-and-knees crawling.

When we talk about walking I mean walking well on his own. About 50% of babies master this skill at 12 months, 70% at 13 months and 90% at around 14 months.

Do not be put off by wild remarks.

Keep in mind that some kids develop faster in certain areas and then slower in other areas. Try to determine the facts first.

I have literally seen twins where one of them is agile and can jump and walk around. The other twin is totally the opposite. She was far less agile, but perceptually much more advanced.

The skill is rather to know when to get serious about stimulating and encouraging development.

My rule of thumb is to start encouraging at the 50% mark, get serious about stimulation at roughly the 70% mark and get very serious at approximately the 90% mark. This often includes getting a professional opinion.

Finding the right age for potty training is a bit more difficult.

Boys tend to take a bit longer than girls. Some kids are ready as early as 18 months, while others can easily take up to 3 years or longer.

I suggest that when you talk about the right age for being potty trained, make sure what exactly people mean by this.

Statistically if you let your 12 month old baby sit on a potty for an hour or two, something is bound to happen in the potty. But that does NOT mean he is potty trained!

I would like to hear the opinions of a few other moms here. It will be interesting to also hear their views on this.

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Submitted by: Dalene

Title

Comment
This is a classical evergreen question and a typical everyday situation. Somehow stating the right age for baby crawling or any of the other development milestones is bound to get you into trouble. You can be sure that someone will disagree. Let us start by looking at the facts. For crawling about 50% of babies have mastered it at around 7 months, 70% at around 10 months and 90% at approximately 11 months. Now, when I talk about crawling I mean moving forward on the floor by either bum shuffling, bear walking or hands-and-knees crawling. When we talk about walking I mean walking well on his own. About 50% of babies master this skill at 12 months, 70% at 13 months and 90% at around 14 months. Do not be put off by wild remarks. Keep in mind that some kids develop faster in certain areas and then slower in other areas. Try to determine the facts first. I have literally seen twins where one of them is agile and can jump and walk around. The other twin is totally the opposite. She was far less agile, but perceptually much more advanced. The skill is rather to know when to get serious about stimulating and encouraging development. My rule of thumb is to start encouraging at the 50% mark, get serious about stimulation at roughly the 70% mark and get very serious at approximately the 90% mark. This often includes getting a professional opinion. Finding the right age for potty training is a bit more difficult. Boys tend to take a bit longer than girls. Some kids are ready as early as 18 months, while others can easily take up to 3 years or longer. I suggest that when you talk about the right age for being potty trained, make sure what exactly people mean by this. Statistically if you let your 12 month old baby sit on a potty for an hour or two, something is bound to happen in the potty. But that does NOT mean he is potty trained! I would like to hear the opinions of a few other moms here. It will be interesting to also hear their views on this.

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Right Age For Crawling, Walking and Potty Training

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Right Age For Crawling, Walking and Potty Training