Why Crawling Matters in Your Baby's Development Journey
Is it a milestone?
Is it ok for my baby to skip it?
How do I promote it?
Early Motor Development in Babies
From the beginning, a baby’s motor development is propelled by their desire to become upright and mobile. Through each stage, they are developing the stability, muscle strength, coordination, motor planning, and balance to take them to the next level of being able to engage with their environment. For most babies, the skill of crawling on hands and knees usually emerges between 7-10 months and many will demonstrate a belly-crawling pattern before that.
Benefits of Crawling
The benefits of crawling cover a wide spectrum from gross motor to fine motor to sensory. The coordination they build will help with walking, skipping, climbing, riding a bike, and more. It utilizes both sides of the brain and encourages them to work together and form more connections. Crawling also allows a baby to begin taking risks and making decisions while discovering the world around them. This allows them to discover their potential and their limitations and build self-confidence.
Crawling: as a Milestone
Crawling is an important step in development, yet not necessarily a mandatory one. Some children will learn to walk without first crawling. However, we ideally still want to set that foundation early on to encourage and promote this skill and give our babies the best possible chance at mastering crawling. And don't worry, if your child skipped crawling, it's never too late to go back and practice! All kids benefit from crawling through tunnels, up and down stairs, or on playground equipment.
How do I set my child up for crawling success?
Give your child ample floor time from day 1
Minimize your use of container devices such as swings, bumbos, jumpers, and exersaucers
Make sure they get playtime on their backs, lying on both sides and their bellies
Roll them into and out of tummy time
Reach out early if your child seems to struggle with tummy time or rolling
Want to know more about promoting healthy motor development? Milestones shouldn’t be a mystery! Learn more about my downloadable guides, webinars, virtual crawling camp, and one on one appointments via my website www.ptpdenver.com
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Dr. Brita DeStefano is a Denver-based pediatric physical therapist, mom of 2, and founder of Progress Through Play. She believes that ‘milestones shouldn’t be a mystery’ and that all parents deserve peace of mind about their child’s development. She is passionate about proactive care, promoting developmental wellness, and educating families on their child’s motor milestones. She offers in-home visits, virtual consults, and online courses to help empower parents to connect with their little ones through purposeful play.
Website: www.ptpdenver.com
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