When babies start crawling, it may look different than you expect.
My 8-month-old isn’t crawling yet. When do babies start crawling?
Dear ZERO TO THREE,
Q: My baby is 8 months old and isn't crawling yet. Is this typical? Should I be worried?
—Concerned Parent
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Learning to crawl can be complex. Here’s what to expect when babies start crawling and when to contact a healthcare provider with any concerns.
As long as the child is showing an interest in exploring her surroundings, there is usually no reason to be concerned about her development.
The answer to “what age do babies crawl” is between 6 and 12 months. There really is a wide range of what’s “normal” when it comes to reaching developmental milestones. Just because your daughter hasn’t crawled by 8 months old, doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with her. She’s still within the typical age range for developing this skill and learning to crawl. My own children did not crawl until 10 months. In fact, some babies never crawl at all. They go straight to standing, cruising, and then walking.
There is a wide range of what’s “normal” when it comes to reaching developmental milestones.
If your child has already achieved other physical developmental milestones for her age, she is probably on track with her motor development. These milestones include rolling from her stomach to her back and vice versa, getting herself into a sitting position from lying belly-down on the floor, sitting up without support for a few minutes, and “combat crawling”—lying on her stomach and pulling herself along with her forearms. These are all signs she may be getting ready to crawl.
If your child is not doing these things, consult with your pediatrician. Some children who have delays in achieving motor skills may have a neurological or developmental problem that can be addressed through physical or occupational therapy.
In other cases, however, a developmental delay is simply due to a lack of opportunity for movement. Children who are held a lot or are put in bouncer seats or walkers for long periods have less time to practice using their bodies. Once they have more “tummy time” on the floor, they catch up quickly.
