Bottom Shuffling Babies Ver1 24.10.17
Bottom Shuffling Babies Ver1 24.10.17
Bottom Shuffling Babies Ver1 24.10.17
Patient Information
Most bottom shufflers are “late walkers” (typically anything from 18 – 24 months of age).
Typically, they will often lift their legs up when you attempt to support them in standing.
The rate at which a child develops is affected by many factors including temperament,
environment, genetics/family history, if they have spent a long time in hospital or have not had the
opportunity to play on the floor etc.
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.
They therefore often have little motivation to pull up to stand on their feet or use their arms to
crawl.
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.
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 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)
Encourage your child to pull themselves up onto their knees, against you or on
a piece of furniture. Kneeling helps to improve stability around hips and lower
body.
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 leaning
forwards slightly to stop them leaning back.
Encourage your child to lean forwards to reach for toys/objects, progress to
reaching down to retrieve objects from the floor.
Kneel or sit cross legged on the floor in front of a sofa or coffee table, etc. Sit 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, encourage your child to reach forwards for the object.
Then move their hips forwards and up, over their feet (supporting them around their hips with
your hands) as they straighten their knees. 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, definitely not! These do not help children to 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.
For further general health-related information, please ask the relevant department for an
Information Prescription or contact:
If you wish to make any comments or to ask about any research evidence used to
write this leaflet, please contact the Patient Information Team confidentially: phone
01202 448003, write to the Health Information Centre (address above), or email
[email protected] .