Why is crawling so important?
Crawling allows for independent exploration of their environment. It is a building block for more advanced motor skills. Crawling assists in developmenting and enhancing a child’s coordination, body awareness, strength, eye hand coordination, vestibular/balance systems, and visual perception. It aids in brain development to support cognitive function, problem solving, and ease of learning.
When should your child start crawling by? When is it time to consider physical therapy?
Babies typically begin crawling around 7-9 months of age. If your child is not starting to crawl by 10 months of age, it may be time to get a physical therapy evaluation. A physical therapist will assess the child’s physical development and can help teach caregivers activities to do at home to progress a child’s crawling. PT can also help children get the strength/coordination needed to crawl. Luckily, there are also activities that can be done at home!
- Helping them hold the hands and knees position
- Helping them kneel while putting their hands on an elevated surface like a step stool, diaper box, or couch cushion placed on the floor
- Lots of tummy time! We recommend at least 60 minutes split up throughout the day.
- Minimize use of containers (i.e. car seats, bouncers, swings, jumpers, etc.)
- Give your baby time to learn how to crawl – don’t push your baby to be standing upright before they are ready
- Position toys out of reach of your child
My child skipped crawling. What now?
If your child skipped crawling and went straight to walking, there are still activities we can do with them to help provide the many benefits of crawling! Even for older toddlers and children, crawling can be a fantastic way to strengthen the body and work on coordination. Some activities are:
- Wheelbarrow walks
- Bear walks
- Crawling through tunnels or over/under obstacles
- Crawling races
Reach out to your pediatrician if you have concerns. Pediatric Therapies Hawaii offer full physical therapy evaluations if you have concerns about your child’s physical development.
References:
Why crawling is important for your baby. Nationwide Children’s Hospital. (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2023, from https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2016/11/why-crawling-is-important-for-your-baby
Crawling is important for childhood brain development. Retrieved August 9, 2023, from https://thefnc.com/research/crawling-is-important-for-childhood-brain-development/
