Learning to Crawl: Tips for Getting Baby Crawling, When It Might Happen and More! - What to Expect

Some babies start their crawling engines at six or seven months. Others don't get up and go on all fours until nine or 10 months.

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Is your baby on the go on all fours and all cylinders? Or is your little one content to stay firmly planted on his tush, no ifs, ands, or buts? If there's one milestone that runs the gamut and then some, crawling is it.
Some babies start their crawling engines at six or seven months, especially if they've put in plenty of supervised playtime on their bellies. Others don't get up and go on all fours until nine or 10 months. And still others skip crawling altogether and jump straight to standing, cruising, or walking.
Not only is crawling late to the party, or not crawling at all, normal; it's a trend among tots who don't spend much time on their tummies. Crawling is considered an optional skill and a milestone that can be missed without raising developmental red flags.
Babies who do join the crawling club participate in all sorts of ways. Techniques vary, and any free-style counts, not just the classic crawl. Some babies creep, aka The Army Crawl, using their elbows to pull themselves forward, and dragging their tummies and legs behind. Others scoot on their bottoms, and still others move along tripod style, with both hands and one knee pushing their body forward as the other leg comes along for the ride. Your baby might start with one style and progress to another, or her one-of-a-kind style may stick until she strikes out on two feet. It's all legit, and it's all crazy cute.
Your baby isn't budging from his butt? Don't stress, but do make sure he gets plenty of tummy time so he can practice raising himself up on all fours, building the muscles needed to make his move, whenever, however.
Bait baby on her belly by putting a toy or a mirror just beyond a reach. She may stretch to get a closer look. Or get down on your tummy in front of your baby and cheer on her moves. Watch: she may rock back and forth until she figures out her own way to creep along, inch by inch.
Consider, too, if it's the floor surface that's has crawling at a standstill; baby won't be able to get traction on a super slippery surface. And dress your little one for crawling success; stretchy leggings may help her keep pace, but extra long pants will trip her up. Sometimes no pants are the best pants of all; just make sure the surface your let your baby loose on won't rub that tender skin the wrong way.
Is your baby creeping at a snail's pace? That pace will pick up quickly, and before you can stay, "Don't touch," he'll be clear across the room, with his hands on the remote you thought was safely out of his reach. Be ready for sudden accelerations by removing hazards and breakables from baby's path, and whatever you do, don't blink. A crawling baby can run, and climb, into trouble as fast as any walker, maybe faster.
Will your early crawler be an early walker? Maybe, maybe not. Some babies are so speedy on all fours, they're in no hurry to graduate to two feet. Babies who don't crawl at all, or who never achieve speed racer status with their crawl, may take a stand, and a leap to walking, faster. Or not. After all, remember, every baby's different. Here's to getting a move on, baby!

[jakelockett]

I’m so grateful for your videos. It does help to calm my mind. Thanks again

[dorikahcooper]

Baby girl is army crawling at 7 months. My son did this at 8 months. It is true all babies develop at different pace.

[hjiezkifJekyllFan]

My 9 months old is army crawling for 2 months now, standing for about 6 weeks, walking sideways alongside the table and sofa for 2 weeks, now even tries to move forward a few steps, he gets on all fours to sit from army crawling, but he is not interested in crawling properly

[cherylmwanga]

Hi, my girl is 6 months. She gets on fours but instead of going forward she goes backward 😔

[mayaparamita]

Hi, my 4 months baby like tummy time at first but now after few minutes of tummy time, it seems that he wants to crawl and frustrated that he doesn't know how yet. (Because when I help him on his back again, he directly went tummy time on his belly again, and movinng his arms and legs and seems frustrated again, and so on). How can I help him to army crawl or anything?

[AdisaKola]

My baby has started to crawl backwards at 7months, he doesn't go forward to rich the toys 😞

[To_whoever]

My family keeps telling me don’t let her walk first or she’ll have bad spacial awareness and difficulty learning. I don’t know if it’s true, google isn’t a good pediatrician.

[jamesalexander]

my baby is 8 months and is only lifting her chest and kicking :/ maybe she will be one of the 9 month plus ones. I thought I did lots of tummy time tho :(

[arbinarbin]

My baby girl is 9month old ...still she won't crawl...am very worried 😟

[DellysCorner]

My baby turns whenever I put on his tummy...it's making it difficult to learn how to crawl

[karolinapangracova]

I am so sorry but this is such a bad video. Crawling is very essential skill (yes, the classical one on all four, not the other one). I did not crawl as a baby it did affected my development for many many years. And if your baby is crawling asymmetricly, go find a help of physical therapist asap. It needs to be treated or the asymmetry will most likely show in the future as well.
I am just always so shocked by the way USA look up on baby’s development.

[Unaveragemoe]

Hmm great video but why she what if my baby identifies as a he