Do you have a little one and you find yourself wondering if your baby is about to start crawling? We answer this question and more including when babies start crawling, signs baby is ready to crawl, and exercises to help baby crawl right here to help you prepare for your baby on the move!
When Do Babies Start Crawling?
Most babies start showing signs that they want to crawl anywhere around 6 to 10 months old.
There are lots of different signs your baby will demonstrate to let you know they are ready to get moving.
Of course, every baby is different. Don’t compare your baby to your niece, nephew, or next-door neighbor. Whether your baby’s development is early, on time, or late, they will usually come around in their own time.
Signs Baby is Ready to Crawl
There are several signs baby is ready to crawl that you can look for when trying to determine if your baby is almost on the move. Of course, your baby doesn’t have to be doing all of these things, but if they have a good grasp on the majority of them, get ready for your baby to have some mobility soon.
Sitting Up Without Support
When babies start sitting up on their own without the support of pillows or mom and dad balancing them, their core muscles are developing. Those core muscles are what will help your baby with balance and coordination. These are much-needed skills for a baby that wants to start crawling.
Floor Time
If your baby is showing more interest in spending time on the floor instead of in a Jumparoo or Bumbo, get down on the floor and play with them!
You can easily start showing your baby how to move around when they are on their belly, and babies are fantastic imitators.
Often, your baby will start pushing themselves up when they are doing tummy time, which is perfect for developing neck and chest muscles that will help them get around.
Reaching for Things
Is your baby paying more attention to things that are out of reach? When babies start developing an interest in being mobile, they aren’t so focused on what is in front of them.
They start looking elsewhere for things that they could possibly want. Just know that your baby’s determination to get something out of reach becomes intense and will surely get them moving quickly.
This is a great time to babyproof your house if you haven’t already.
Army Crawl
When your baby figures out they can move around a little bit by just pulling themselves with their arms, you know crawling is coming quickly! Many times, babies will be able to push themselves backward before going forwards. This is all just part of your baby figuring out how to use certain muscles and develop enough strength for crawling movements.
Rocking Back and Forth
Getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth like they are getting ready for take-off is a telltale sign your baby is ready to go. They won’t be crawling instantly, but they are definitely putting together the complex movements of their core, arms, and legs to get moving.
Exercises to Help Baby Crawl
Believe it or not, there are actually many different exercises you can do with your baby to get them crawling. Here are some ideas to help your baby strengthen their little muscles and become more mobile.
Downward Dog
Downward dog is a pretty popular and well-known Yoga pose. Keep in mind that this pose takes a bit of practice and coordination.
Have your baby put their hands and feet on the floor and put their bum in the air. Show your baby how to do it, and they will likely imitate you. Try to encourage your baby to hold it by playing a game with them like peek-a-boo. This pose can really help with flexibility too.
Tummy Time
Lots and lots of tummy time is a vital part of your baby’s development. It encourages your baby to lift their head up and maneuver themselves into different positions. Don’t discount this exercise!
If your baby isn’t a huge fan of tummy time, a good alternative is putting them in a football hold to encourage them to lift their head up and strengthen their muscles.
To do this, hold your baby so they are facing the floor and face them toward your elbow. Tuck your arm under their belly, placing your hand and other arm between their legs.
Another easy thing you can do if your baby refuses tummy time is lying down on your back and laying your baby on their belly on top of you so they can see your face. This is a great way to distract your baby from their discomfort and keep them happy.
Open Fist Help
You may not even think about it, but your baby being able to stretch out their fingers and hands is really important for your baby to be able to crawl. They will need to get used to having an open palm to help balance and support their weight while crawling.
Crawling Assistance
If you really want to help your baby understand the muscle movements and coordination they need to crawl, giving your baby some assistance to crawl is the way to go.
Prop your baby up on all fours and put a folded blanket or towel under their belly so they can rest their chest on some support. Keeping your hands on both sides of the support (blanket or towel), try and sway them side to side. Maybe have a partner help move their arms and legs in a crawling motion.
When Does Baby Start to Crawl?
While crawling is a very exciting and monumental milestone for your baby, all babies are genuinely on a different development journey. Most babies start to crawl between 6 and 10 months but don’t be discouraged if your baby doesn’t show interest right at 6 months. With these tips, you can encourage your baby to develop the right muscles to encourage crawling. In the meantime have fun with your baby while practicing crawling together.