Your baby changes and grows so much in this first year. Track your baby’s development month by month, encourage your baby’s learning with our suggested activities . Find practical information on health and safety. We can help you with tips on crying, sleeping or even what to look for when choosing a baby sitter. Have questions about basic care? We have the answers !
Physical development - Crawling basics
This article explains why it is important for your baby to learn to crawl.
Basically, crawling is one of the most important things a baby learns to do the first year. Here's why:
- Crawling works all the trunk muscles hard…that means a stronger core!
- Crawling involves a complex sequence of steps using both sides of the body. This motor sequencing helps build pathways and make connections in the brain!
- With each movement forward, the center of gravity shifts. This means the body has to balance four different ways with each crawling sequence. That really helps improve the baby’s sense of balance in preparation for walking.
- Crawling is heavy work! Because crawling uses muscles and work the joints so rigorously, “organizing stimulation” occurs in the brain.
Here are some great activities to make the body strong and lead to learning how to crawl:
Place your baby on her tummy to play
- Place your baby on the tummy to play with trucks, balls and just about everything. Encourage reaching while in this position.
"Walking" arms onto the floor
- Have your baby crawl off your lap, chair or pillows head first so the arms have to “walk” onto the floor. (Make sure the arms are strong enough to do this).
- Rolling across the room.
- Scooting is a good first step.
- When sitting, encourage reaching to the sides…tease your baby to reach a little farther each time and eventually she might rotate into a four point (crawling position).
"Four point position"
- If your baby can get into a crawling position but doesn’t move forward yet, play with moving toys so your baby has to reach while in four point.
Move toys away to entice your baby to crawl towards them.
- Ensure your baby is dressed appropriately for crawling, floppy pants or dresses can make it difficult for a baby to learn to crawl.
Next: Why Peek-a-boo Matters
By Jill Mays, author of Your Child's Motor Development Story - Understanding and enhancing development from birth to their first sport. Jill has worked with children for more than 30 years. A mother of three children, she has juggled motherhood with her work in a private occupational therapy practice and consulting where she helps parents and educators understand the complex concepts of sensorimotor development.
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