Are my LO's behind?

I know that I shouldn't compare my girls to other kids, but my best friend has a girl that is one month exactly younger than my twins. Her daughter crawls on all four's and she pulls up on EVERYTHING- drinks out of a sippy cup, etc. My girls are much smaller than she is, but Marleigh army crawls (she can crawl on all four's but I think she's just lazy) and she can sit up from the crawling position and she can get on her knees too. She pulls up every once in a while but it's rare. Ryleigh army crawls and has no interest in being on all four's or pulling up on anything at all. They're 10 months old!! Marleigh feeds herself and will occasionally take some water from a sippy cup but prefers my cups, Ryleigh doesn't feed herself at all and won't even look at a sippy cup. I'm just kind of worried that they're not doing the things they're supposed to, and that come their first birthday party they will just be army crawling around :-/

Also- something else that's really bothering me is that they follow me around the house when they crawl. And since Ryligh can't get into the sitting position from crawling, she gets really frustrated and started arching her back and her legs go out straigh- almost looks like she is sky diving. It drives me NUTS.

Any advice/Ideas?

 

First, you are doing great and your girls are not behind. The spectrum is so wide and many many kids do not even crawl until a year or after. It just seems like every other kid is doing it sooner. And just think, singleton moms get to be with their one baby and you have had to manage two, so as great as you have done, they have always had to share you. There are exceptions always, but I think they sound like they are doing great. BUT, from what you described, I would say your LOs are about to go through some major changes fast. My one LO could crawl, but simply preferred army crawling until she became more impatient to get to something she wasn't supposed to have...LOL. The key is they are alert, and they get frustrated...and frustration leads to accomplishment. Try not to rescue them every time - they figure things out quickly. The arching back phase SUCKED for me. I could hardly sit Zoe down for 2 weeks because she wanted to stand but I wasn't going to do it for her every time. I of course helped her some (pitiful to watch while her sister cruised around) but I made her work for it.

If you want something fun to try to encourage them, put a toy or something they want, like a cell phone, a distance away and get on your hands and knees and crawl to it a couple times - make it a game. Over a little time, they will mimic you. Or, play the "i'm going to get you game". You crawl at them and tickle them or mouth their bellies and when they put their hands out to you crawl away like you don't want them to get you. Do it back and forth - really gives them a reason to want to get to you faster - they may get on their knees. Or, they may ONLY army crawl before they walk - some kids never crawl in the normal sense and that is no sign that they are developmentally challenged in any way.

Good luck - not easy stuff to ignore, but try to embrace their achievements for your own sanity and try not to be drawn into competition - not an easy feat - I totally understand and have my trying times.

 

Yes, the spectrum is really huge! Evan didn't crawl until like 11 months. He was just a lazy baby! Babies do everything on their own timeline. We just have to be patient and watch for red flags along the way and from what you are saying, I don't see anything red! My kids didn't 'get' the sippy cups until after a year old. :hug: It's hard seeing other kids do things that you think your kids should be able to do because of ages. Just sit back and enjoy your kids. They'll grow up soon enough!

 

I second what the PPs said.

First off let me say, It's so hard not to compare and worry. I know, I've BTDT. But, it's so important to enjoy right now--they are at such a great age and learning and trying new things all the time. You are doing great, and your girls are right where they are supposed to be.

The Pedis are great for asking the "right" questions and checking milestones. Beyond that, don't worry too much. Some of the kids my older DS's age were walking and talking way before him. I always said, "I know I'm not going to have a 2-yr-old that can't walk or talk." I wasn't too worried if he started walking at 11 months or not until 18 months...they'll get it!!

Your girls are crawling and sitting up - that's great, they are doing what they are supposed to!! Some kids are early walkers, some are late. Same for talking, and everything else. It doesn't seem to make a difference. I might be going too far, but how many 5-yr-olds do you look at and say, oh, wow, I bet she didn't walk until 18 months? It's so hard not to worry now, but I really think it all evens out in the end.

I'm just trying to help put things in perspective for you a bit.

 

I know it's practically impossible not to compare them to other kids, but it sounds to me as if they are doing great! Right where they should be.