When do babies start crawling?
The most important rule to keep in mind is that babies begin to crawl when it is time in their natural developmental rhythm to do so. This means that they must be prepared both physically and mentally. I am one of those dads who is constantly wondering if their babies are slow to crawl, sit or any other movement. The good news is that there is absolutely nothing to worry about. You do not have to compare your baby with others, as all babies have their own developmental rate. Due to statistics, most babies tend to crawl between 7 and 12 months of age.
There are signs that clearly show that the moment of crawling is very close. In addition to the joy you feel as a mother, these signs also mean that you should start practicing with your baby to teach him to crawl.
The most important signs that your baby is ready to crawl
- Your baby has started to crawl mainly on his hands. In this phase, most babies push forward with their hands, using their legs only minimally or not at all.
- While leaning on your hands, your baby tends to bend his legs to pull them under his body or close to his body. Now we are close to the crawling position!
- When you can support yourself on your hands and knees, your baby rolls back and forth.
- Due to various observations, the time to crawl often comes after the baby can confidently sit up without the help of the parents. The reason for this is that sitting indicates that all of her necessary muscles are strong enough to prevent her from falling to the ground while crawling.
- After sitting up on their own, babies also learn step by step to move from sitting to crawling, leaning on their hands and knees. When you see your baby do it, you won’t have to wait long to see him crawl too.
- Eventually, your baby will figure out how to use his knees to push himself forward. This is the point where your baby is ready to begin his incredible journey to discover the house by crawling.
What is your role?
By looking at the signs described below, it is also time for you to help your baby by teaching him to crawl. Yes, I know that babies can learn this movement on their own, however common practice is very helpful and enjoyable for both parents and babies. There are several methods to speed up the learning period.
The following steps
While watching your baby crawl makes every parent happy and proud, you shouldn’t forget about potential new dangers. Now your baby can reach various pieces of furniture and objects throughout the house as he can appear everywhere, even in places you wouldn’t even think of. When you discover any of the above signs, it is a good time to start thinking about how to make your home “baby proof”. Get on your knees and, in this position, crawl around the house. This new perspective will help you uncover many potential sources of trouble.