When do babies start crawling?
As with all baby milestones, there is a range for when a baby is expected to achieve a certain skill. Despite the CDC recently removing crawling from their list of expected infant milestones, it is the opinion of this infant physical therapist (and pretty much every other infant physical therapist) that crawling is one of the most IMPORTANT milestones that your baby can achieve. Your baby needs to move through SO many developmental stages, and put a lot together to achieve crawling on hands and knees. Let’s look deeper into this:
Hopefully, since birth your baby has been working on developing head, neck, and arm strength during tummy time. Over those early months, your baby has learned how to lift their head against gravity, extend their neck and trunk, and eventually push up with their arms. Sustained tummy time while playing with toys and reaching, develops the shoulder stability necessary for crawling.
Hopefully by 6 months your baby has achieved the ability to roll both on and off of their belly. Learning to roll has helped your baby develop core strength and trunk mobility - also necessary components of crawling. Independent sitting is expected by 7 months, where your baby has developed enough core strength to maintain an upright position for play.
Moving in and out of sitting gives your baby the opportunity to stretch their hips in preparation for crawling. Babies’ hips are used to being open and turned outwards from birth, so it can take some time for their hips to build up strength in positions such as kneeling and “hands and knees.” Lots of time exploring how their body can move in and out of positions is an important developmental stage prior to learning how to crawl.
Finally the answer to today’s question: When do babies start crawling? MOST babies will achieve crawling after a period of “army” or belly crawling, finally moving around well on their hands and knees by 8-10 months of age.
Crawling on hands and knees, or “creeping” is the culmination of many baby milestones. It requires shoulder strength, single arm stability, core strength, head extension, hip strength, single leg stability, balance, coordination, and reflex integration. It can take some babies extra time to achieve this BIG milestone. If you are looking for guidance, I’m here to help! I’m a big believer that babies should not skip crawling, as it has so many benefits.
If you are feeling like your baby might need some help, let’s discuss the possibility of working together one-on-one in the comfort of your home. (I have found that this is where babies and their parents learn best!) I offer free consultations over phone or video, so that we can all feel comfortable before I show up at your home to get to work. Reach out today!
Also, I hope that you have already heard about Playful Progress’s Pediatric PT Workshops, but if not, here’s the scoop: Every other Monday, I host playgroups for infants (6 months and up) and their caregivers, so we can learn together about all the milestone magic that happens from sitting to walking. There is a lot for your baby to work on, and I have LOTS of tips to share. I hope you will join me!
