THE BABBLE TAKE
Crawling is not just an effective way for a baby to commute from your feet to the couch. Experts say it is excellent training, too; when babies crawl they beef up muscles they will eventually need for walking upright. Most babies start crawling — or using some similar mode of travel — at six to ten months. Though we think of crawling as the quintessential baby behavior, not all babies crawl in the classic sense of the word. One unexpected consequence of the AAP back-sleeping campaign seems to be that more and more babies are crawling later or skipping the crawling stage entirely. Pediatricians say that many babies never crawl at all — they find other ways to get around. Parents should not worry too much about the style of locomotion as long as baby is on the move. Experts say placing babies on the floor (supervised of course) with desirable objects just outside reach is a good way to stimulate their interest in crawling. Stairs and other topographical formations in the home will start to look very alluring to babies as they learn how to navigate the terrain on their own, so at this point baby-proofing will be in order.
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BabyCenter ®
"Crawling is your baby's first method of getting around efficiently on his own. In the traditional crawl, he'll start by learning to balance on his hands and knees. Then he'll figure out how to move forward and backward by pushing off with his knees. At the same time, he'll be strengthening the muscles that will soon enable him to walk. [...] Don't worry about his style; it's getting mobile that's important, no matter how your baby does it."
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American Baby
"Before becoming a master crawler, your child may practice by raising herself to her hands and knees, rocking back and forth, and reaching out tentatively with a hand or knee. In time the movements between your baby's hands and knees will become coordinated enough that she'll be able to crawl forward in a classic right hand/ right knee, left hand/ left knee pattern."
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Dr. Greene
"Each individual child develops and blossoms in his own way, at his own pace. This is our goal: to provide a nurturing environment where a child can develop at his optimum pace. We don't want to hurry him; we do want to encourage him. We also want to identify anything that may be an obstacle in his path. Rolling over, sitting without support, cruising (walking along furniture), and walking independently are important developmental milestones. Crawling isn't."
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Dr. Sears
"Sitting up without support gives babies a new outlook on life. And once they've mastered this skill, they will eagerly move on towards crawling. Toys placed just out of reach will motivate them to lunge forward and discover ways to rock and scoot and move along the floor. As babies' fine motor skills improve, they can pick up smaller objects, so be sure to provide small toys that fit comfortably in baby's hands."
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Kids Health
"From scooting to crawling to cruising, during these months, babies are learning how to get around. So now is the time to babyproof your home, if you haven't already. Be especially vigilant about gating staircases and blocking off rooms that you would rather your baby didn't explore."
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