The moment your infant starts crawling feels almost magical. Suddenly, the world gets a lot bigger. Not just for your child but also for you. From the first wobbly attempts to get on their hands and knees to the journey of discovery through the living room: crawling is an important milestone for your baby. In this blog you can read when babies generally start crawling, how you can assist them and what signals reveal that the time has come.
When does an infant start crawling?
Most infants start crawling when they are between seven and ten months old. But as always, every child is different. Some babies start crawling sooner, others skip it altogether and immediately stand or walk. The most important thing is that your baby develops at his or her own pace. Without rush, without pressure. Just enjoy each small progress.
What are the signs that your infant is about to start crawling?
Do you see that your little one is becoming more and more agile? That’s often a sign that crawling won’t be long in coming. Look to the following signals, in particular:
- Lots of activity when in ventral position
While playing on its abdomen, your baby will increasingly push itself up on its arms. This is not only a fun position to look at things, but also a good exercise for your baby to develop strength and balance. - Rocking on their hands and knees
Your child can now sit on its hands and knees and begins to gently wiggle back and forth. This helps your baby in practicing its balance. - Closer and closer
Putting a toy just out of reach of your baby is a good motivation to move. Using its arms and legs, your baby will try to get closer to it. Sometimes your baby will attempt sliding towards it, sometimes with a small leap forward. - Rolling over
You may frequently watch your baby rolling over to get somewhere. This is a smart way to practice moving and take a first step towards crawling.
How much time does a child need to crawl?
Crawling is an ongoing process, and every baby does it on its own time and its own rhythm. On average, it takes a few weeks from the first attempts to actual crawling. It helps to be patient and give your child the space to practice.
Help your infant learn to crawl
As we have already indicated, crawling is a process in which each child must find its own rhythm. Want to get your little one started? There are some things you can do in this regard.
- Have your baby play on its belly. This helps to strengthen the muscles in the neck, arms and back – all of them needed for crawling.
- Place a favorite toy just out of your baby’s reach. This is an incentive for your little one to get closer.
- Make sure your baby is on a soft surface, such as a play mat or carpet. This will give your baby enough grip and prevent its knees from slipping out from under them.
- Show your enthusiasm! Compliment your little one enthusiastically and celebrate it when your baby tries a new activity.
- Get down on the ground yourself and crawl alongside your little one. It’s not only fun, but also a good way to demonstrate how to move around.
What do I do if my child doesn't start crawling?
Don’t panic if your baby skips the crawling phase. Some babies may prefer to slide along on their butts, while others immediately get on with it and start walking. As long as your child finds ways to move about and is curious about its environment, everything is fine. Are you concerned? Then discuss your questions with the childcare clinic.
A baby-proof home
As soon as your little one starts crawling, your home turns into the scene of an exciting journey of discovery. This is the time to make the house baby-proof. Think of stair gates, protective caps for sockets and a clear floor without small objects.
Crawling is a special milestone and a step towards even greater independence. Whether your baby crawls fast, starts slowly or skips this phase… it’s all about fun and discovery. Are you concerned about your baby’s development? Then check out The Wonder Weeks app, the must-have guide to all leaps in the first year of your baby’s life.
