What you need to know about baby crawling

Whether you pushed the baby in a stroller, carried it in a carrier, or held it on your waist, your only means of transportation were you and others. to reach B."Crawling is a huge milestone for babies because it's the first step toward independent mobility," says Rallie McAllister, M.D., co-author of The Mommy MD Guide to Your Baby's First Year.

Moving around on their own gives babies great strength and a sense of accomplishment, which greatly boosts their self-esteem. It also opens the world to new discoveries and points the way to more complex movements such as: B. Pull up to stand, walk, and finally run. Here you'll find more information about when babies start crawling and tips on how to help your little one get around on his own.

When Do Babies Start Crawling?

Babies usually start crawling between 6 and 10 months, but some babies skip the crawling stage and go straight to pull-ups, cruising and walking.

You'll know your child is almost ready to crawl when they start doing small push-ups, lifts, or leaning on their arms. From there, he learns to lift himself up on his arms and knees, then he starts rocking back and forth. Eventually, he realized he could move on his own by pushing out with his knees!

Some babies don't crawl at all, but you don't see any progress in mobilization until the baby is about 12 months old or he's 1 year old, or when he's in your care (you can slide your butt or go to your destination). (e.g., or crawl). If your baby pulls on one side when crawling, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician.

The Physical Development Required for Crawling

Babies use many skills to achieve crawling, including cognition, problem-solving, balance, sensory systems, and coordination. Crawling is hard work. Babies need to use both their mind and body, says Dr. McAllister, and it relies on gross motor, visuospatial, and cognitive skills.

First, your child's back, neck, shoulders, arms and core muscles must be strong enough to support and balance their weight. When babies crawl, they use both eyes to focus on an object. They alternate between looking into the distance and looking down at their hands, contributing to their depth perception.

It also trains your baby's mental muscles. "Crawling babies develop navigation skills and memorize facts," Dr. McAllister says. "For instance, they'll learn that they have to go around the coffee table and beyond the recliner to get to the basket of toys," she says.

How to Help Your Baby Learn to Crawl

When we say “crawling,” we think of crawling on all fours, but babies experiment with different styles such as scooting, crab crawling, and classic crawling.

Once your baby starts crawling, they may become dependent on any of these crawling styles.

Classic crawl: Move forward with one arm and opposite leg at the same time

Scoot: drag the bottom to the floor

Crab crawl: Bend one knee, straighten the other and move forward or sideways

Command crawl: Lie on your stomach and move your arms forward

Crawl backward: Move backward while crawling

Luckily, weird crawling methods usually don't mean that something is wrong. "The crucial thing is that the baby is engaged in self-locomotion," says David Elkind, Ph.D., author of Parenting on the Go: Birth to Six, A to Z.

How to Help Your Crawling Baby

The best way to help your baby crawl is to give him enough space to feel safe, positive encouragement, and patience.

Once baby is on the move, expect to explore everything and everyone within reach. All the baby locks are already done, but it's important to do a second, more thorough round before the baby moves. If you don't have a rug, buy a non-slip rug or colorful floor mat to rest your baby's little knees on hard surfaces. Make sure there are no exposed nails or loose debris. Expect to experience a range of emotions as your sweetheart walks through the house.

Excitement when he discovers something, disappointment when you remove or remove it, and confusion or frustration when an obstacle blocks his path. Looking forward to it. Wherever you go, he's right behind you!

With more crawling practice, he'll pick up speed (he'll try to hit you the next time he finds treats) and he'll start climbing and climbing pillows, sofa cushions, stairs, and more. Keep an eye on him at all times and install safety gates on the stairs.