Crawling is an important milestone for your baby. It is one of the first ways that they will start to explore their world. There are several types of crawling, and each baby will progress at their own pace.
In this article, we will discuss the different types of crawling and when you can expect your baby to start crawling.
When Do Babies Start Crawling?
Most babies start crawling between 6 and 10 months old. However, crawling is an individual process and some babies may start crawling as early as 4 months old while others may not crawl until after their first birthday.
Before crawling, your baby will need to master certain crawling milestones. They’ll also need to develop some strong core muscles so they can move their body forward. Developmental stages such as sitting up, crawling, and walking are all important steps that lead up to the next milestone (walking).
What is the importance of Crawling for Babies?
Crawling offers an opportunity for your baby to explore their world. They also start to take notice of what’s around them and improve their sensory experience. Crawling helps with developing muscles in both the upper and lower body which becomes critical later on when kids grow. Crawling is a prelude to eating, brushing teeth, and playing with toys.
How Many Types of baby Crawling Are There Really?
There are roughly 5 crawl types that you will identify in your baby. These common styles are:
Classic Crawl. This is the most common crawling style in babies and can be seen frequently. This is when a baby is on their hands and knees and crawl along.
Bear crawl. The crawl resembles the conventional crawl, but rather than bending their elbows and knees like a bear, babies who do this maintain their elbows and knees straight as they walk on hands and feet.
Belly crawl or commando crawl. Many toddlers like the military crawl, which involves propelling their bodies ahead while dragging their tummies on the floor.
Rolling crawl. Instead of crawling, Babies will get to their destination by rolling from one place to another.
Bottom scooter. Your baby scoots about on his bottom, using his arms to propel himself ahead.
Crab crawl. Babies use their hands to propel themselves backward or sideways, much like a crab.
How Do Babies Learn to Crawl?
Most babies learn to crawl by pushing themselves up with their hands before falling back down. This starts to build upper body strength and they can start to pull themselves forward.
You can encourage this stage by giving them daily tummy time.
They will lift up their heads and start to look around at their environment. Some babies will crawl backward before they can go forwards. It all counts though!
Babies will roll from their back to their tummies which also helps build up their strength. Once their core strength, arms, and legs are strong enough, they are ready for a crawl.
What if your baby isn’t crawling yet?
Don’t worry if your baby hasn’t started crawling yet. Some babies start crawling very early, while others take a little longer. As long as your baby is healthy and happy there’s no need to worry. A late crawler will soon catch up with their peers.
Every baby develops at their own pace and no two babies are the same. They’ll get there eventually!
If you are concerned, you should speak with your medical practitioner.
How to keep your crawling baby safe
When babies start crawling, it’s important to make sure the area is safe for them to explore. Here is our advice on how to keep your crawling baby safe.
– Make sure all cords are out of reach, and that there are no small objects on the floor that your baby could choke on.
– Block off any areas you don’t want your baby crawling into, such as the fireplace or stairs.
-Clean or vacuum the floor so it’s ready for little hands to roam.
– Get down on the floor and crawl through your house to see what crawling around is like from a baby’s perspective. Look for any sharp corners or dangerous objects they may encounter.
– Keep windows locked and screens pushed in so that babies can’t fall out. Install window guards if necessary.
– If you have stairs, get gates installed at the top and bottom
– Create a safe play area for your baby with soft surfaces and plenty of space for some tummy time.
Crawling is an important milestone for babies, and with a little bit of preparation, you can make sure their crawling experience is safe and enjoyable.
What Happens After Crawling?
Babies will get quicker at crawling as they practice more and build their muscles. Before you know it, they will then scuttle across the floor like a crab!
Once the crawling milestone is complete, you can expect your baby to start standing and attempting to walk. This is another memorable time in their development!
A common method is they will try pulling themselves up, hold on to furniture and take steps before sitting back down again.
As you can see, babies develop at different rates.
Crawling takes time as your baby builds muscle and coordination to get up on all fours.
So don’t worry if they are not crawling yet or seem behind in other areas of development because it means that their own personal timeline is just a little bit different than yours!
Babies grow differently which is completely normal – so know that what may be happening with them now doesn’t mean anything bad for the future.
We hope this article has helped answer some questions about how babies develop and reassured any anxious parents out there!
