Is my baby ready to start crawling?

As with any other developmental milestone, crawling can happen within a certain range of time, usually between 6-10 months of age. However, every baby is different and develops at their own pace.

Crawling might be a bit more challenging for heavier babies because of the extra body weight they have to carry, so they might take a little more time to accomplish this milestone. Also, other babies might skip crawling all together; they might find other skills more interesting and want to explore the world through other kinds of movement. This being said, if you have any concerns about your little one’s physical development, you should talk to your pediatrician about it.

As your child learns how to sit and hold their head, they’ll start to become more curious about what’s around them. During these months your little one might give you cues that they’re ready to start crawling. Tummy time is a must during this time; if your little one enjoys it and you feel they’re getting better at it, you can also try sitting exercises. Encourage them to reach for toys they like. Your almost-crawler might start leaning forward into their arms and feel the need to change into another position (this might be all fours). They might also roll down in order to reach the object and then get back into a sitting position. This is a sign that your little one’s back, neck, arms, and trunk muscles are getting stronger and are ready to get going.

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When your baby is on the floor you might see them arching their back and neck in an attempt to look around. As they practice this, they might start exploring movement by grabbing their feet or anything that’s within reach to pull and eventually roll over. As your little one realizes that they can do this at will, they’ll start to propel forward towards the toys they want to reach. They might position themselves on all fours and just rock from side to side, but as they explores this position, they’ll come to realize that by digging with their knees and pushing off they can advance forward.

Pillows, boxes, and sofa cushions are great during play time to create obstacle courses for them to explore. This will help them improve their confidence, speed, and agility. As they keep getting stronger and learn about these movements, they might find another alternative movement method. Some babies like scooting on their bottoms or slithering on their stomachs. As long as your little one is using each arm and leg equally there’s no need to worry.

For more information on this subject you can visit: Movement 8 to 12 Months

If you want to know more about the different styles of crawling, you can read this article.