What time do children start crawling and how to help them

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Six months, a year, never. All answer options are correct.

Crawling is a child's first huge step towards independence. And everyone is free to do it as they please.

What it takes for children to start crawling

To move in space, the baby needs to make a lot of efforts - intellectual and physical. He must have sufficiently strong muscles in his back, neck, shoulders, arms and abdomen. During crawling, so-called binocular vision is involved: the ability to focus both eyes on one object. Developed visual-spatial perception also plays an important role.

Rally McAllister M. D., M. D. in Public Health, author of books on children's health

Crawling, the child learns to navigate and trains memory. For example, he begins to understand: to get to the basket with toys, you need to move around the table.

What time do children start to crawl

According to the WHO Motor Development Study: Windows of achievement for six gross motor development milestones, most babies start crawling between 6 and 11 months of age. About half of them master moving on all fours by 8, 3 months of age. And a little more than 4% skip the crawling stage altogether, immediately stand on their feet and try to walk.

There are several reasons why some babies start crawling earlier than others:

• Genetics. Yes, some are born to crawl almost from the cradle.
• The weight. Lean children with well-developed muscles are predictably mastering difficult movements before their chubby peers.
• Time spent on the stomach. Babies who are more likely to be awake while lying on their stomachs, on average, begin crawling earlier in The Strange Reason Tummy Time Was Invented For Babies. They put more effort into standing up and looking around than if they were lying on their backs. This strengthens the muscles in the neck, arms and back necessary for crawling.

Why don't all children crawl the same

Babies are not programmed to crawl in any particular way. They just experiment with different modes of movement and in the end they settle on the most effective for themselves. And that's okay.

On the belly

About half of the children begin to crawl, choosing one of the following styles or alternating between them.

1. Plastunsky

The child rests on his elbows and pulls himself forward with one or the other hand, falling a little on his side.

2. Style "seal"

The baby pushes himself with both arms at the same time, lifting himself up a little, and then hitting his stomach on the floor.

3. Style "frog"

Lying on his stomach, the child pushes off with his feet and "row" with his legs, as if swimming like a frog.

On knees

As a rule, babies quite quickly switch from movements on their stomachs to moving on all fours. Which is quite understandable: try to crawl at least a little on your bellies or like a seal yourself - and you will understand how energy-consuming and even painful it is.

Some children spare their bellies and immediately begin to crawl like an adult, that is, leaning on four limbs. And here, too, options are possible.

1. Classic style

The baby moves, leaning on bent legs and outstretched arms.

2. Style "crab"

The kid moves backwards, looking between his legs, or moves sideways.

3. Style "bear"

It looks like the classic way, only the child does not rest on his knees, but on his outstretched legs, lifting his buttocks up.

4. Scooter style

The kid rests on his hands, bends one leg at the knee, and the other pushes off, as if riding a scooter.

Other options

Crawling on your stomach is difficult and unpleasant, and to move on all fours you need to develop a subtle sense of balance. Some children prefer to take the simpler route.

1. Rolls

The child moves around the room, rolling from side to side.

2. Fidgeting

The kid fidgets on his buttocks and thus moves from one point to another, sometimes helping himself with his hands. According to anthropologists Crawling May Be Unnecessary for Normal Child Development, these movements most likely replaced crawling in our ancestors even before the development of agriculture and leading a sedentary lifestyle.

This is exactly what happens to this day in the tribe of hunters and gatherers living in Papua New Guinea. There, babies up to one year old spend 86% of the time sitting in a sling on their mother's back. Sometimes they are planted on the buttocks and almost never spread on the stomach. It is clear that in such conditions children cannot learn to crawl. But they do not suffer from this at all.

Is it possible to somehow help the child

Perhaps the best thing parents can do is stop paying attention to the accomplishments of their neighbors' children. And rejoice in the success of your child. And so that they are not overshadowed by troubles, take care of the safety of the baby in advance.

• Hide the wires and close the sockets with plugs.
• Make sure all furniture is well secured. It is better to remove for a while what is easy to knock over: a floor lamp, an ironing board, a light shelf, indoor plants in large pots.
• Move souvenirs, money, cosmetics, medicines, cleaning and detergents to an inaccessible place. At best, the baby will scatter, spill, break or smash something. At worst, it will swallow.
• Wash floors and dust every day.
• Check the floor regularly for coins, plugs and other small items. Remember, young explorers are sure to put everything in their mouths.
• Cover the hard floor (parquet, tiles) with a rug or blanket to reduce stress on your knees.
• Place hot food and drinks away from the edge of the table.
• Make sure that there are no piercing or cutting objects within the reach of the child.

Of course, it is impossible to foresee everything. Instead, focus your energies on organizing a friendly space and making yourself a good habit of not throwing things around. The baby will cope with the rest of the tasks on his own.

When to worry

So, it doesn't matter at all whether the child can crawl in the classical sense of the word. Young experimenters often mix styles, switch from one to another, or develop their own special method. In any case, it is not technology that is important, but a keen interest in the development of space.

The reason for concern is the lack of any progress in movement. If by 12 months the baby has not begun to actively move around the room, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician. However, you don't have to wait a year. If something is bothering you right now, talk to a pediatrician you trust and take it easy.