Steps Toward Crawling

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May 4, 2025

Early Development

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Steps Toward Crawling: A Look at the Many Ways Babies Get Moving

Learn more about the different types of crawling you may see in babies as they work out a way to move that works best for them.

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When do babies start crawling?

Most babies begin to really start moving and crawling in the second half of their first year.

At first they may get up on all fours and rock back and forth—like a rocket at countdown, waiting to take off. But unlike a rocket ship, little ones might stay in “countdown” mode for a weeks before they are ready to start moving.

The process of learning to crawl is actually pretty complex. Babies need to coordinate the movement of their arms and legs, and develop the muscle strength in their arms, shoulders, and legs to support their weight. That’s why you may see different types of crawling in infants.

When babies are learning to crawl, their first jump forward might actually be a scoot backward.

As babies figure out how to do that arm-leg-arm-leg crawling movement, they sometimes go backward first, and then learn how to crawl forward. So, for a while, babies might cry in frustration as they somehow find themselves scooting away from the very object or person they are so determined to reach.

Gentle parenting is not permissive parenting.

The process of learning to crawl differs among babies as they work out a way to move that is unique to them.

Some types of crawling and ways babies learn to move:

The Usual: This is the classic crawl on hands and knees—alternating hand on one side and knee on the other to go, go, go.
The Crab: Just like at the beach, the “crab” bends one knee and extends the opposite leg to scoot forward.
The Commando: Look out, this crawler lies flat on her belly and drags herself forward using her arms similar to a bear crawl.
The Rolling Wonder: Who needs to crawl when rolling gets me where I need to go?
The “Take It in Stride” Kid: Some children skip crawling and go right to walking. No time to waste—here I come!

As long as a baby is making progress in their ability to use their body to get around, regardless of the types of crawling they use, that’s what’s important.

Tips to help a baby learn to crawl.

A busy toddler will take more than 9,000 steps and travel the distance of more than 29 football fields—every day!

Not seeing any of these types of crawling yet? When should you worry?

Like most developmental milestones, crawling starts at any point across a fairly long range—anywhere from 5 to 13 months of age, with half of all babies starting to crawl at about 8 months of age.

And, about 7% of babies skip crawling altogether!

Also, if a child is a bit bigger or heavier than is typical for his age, he may crawl later as it is more challenging for babies to push up onto all fours and move their extra body weight. Babies who were born prematurely may also crawl later.

In most cases, there is nothing physically wrong with babies who are slow to crawl. They may just be busy working on other skills that are more interesting to them, like learning to use their hands to figure out how objects work. They may prefer to sit and explore the world visually or by touch (with their hands), instead of exploring through movement. Remember, babies, like adults, have different preferences and interests.

Contact your child’s health care provider if:

You notice that your child is using only one side of her body to crawl (she pushes off with only one arm or drags one side of her body as she scoots across the floor); or
Your baby is not making forward progress in using her body to get around.

See expert answers to common questions about milestones.

How to Encourage Baby to Crawl

To support your baby’s development while learning to crawl, give them plenty of time on firm, safe surfaces like the floor, and let them go barefoot to help strengthen their foot muscles. Encourage tummy time and place toys just out of reach to motivate movement, while ensuring a child-proofed space for safe exploration. Avoid baby walkers and excessive time in seats, and don’t rush crawling — let your baby build skills at their own pace.

How to Child-Proof Your Home for Crawling

If you see any types of crawling, that means it’s time to child-proof your home!

Now that your baby is crawling, she will soon be pulling up as she prepares to walk. This means she will be able to get her hands on objects that had previously been unreachable and are potentially dangerous.

And remember, even though babies are moving around fairly well on their own, they still aren’t able to follow rules about what to touch or not to touch. So it is very important to make sure your home is child-proofed so that your baby has a safe place to play and explore.

Take a walk through (or better yet, a crawl-through) your home and see what potential hazards may be at your baby’s level.

Some obvious things to take notice of:

Electrical outlets
Electrical cords
Baby gates on all stairs—top and bottom
Toilet seat locks
Plant stands (as well as other “tippy” tables)
Houseplants within baby’s reach
Poisonous home cleaning supplies within baby’s reach
Sharp corners on coffee tables and end tables
Fragile knick-knacks that can be grabbed or knocked over
Dressers, bookshelves, television stands, etc. that can be tipped over. When babies start to “cruise” they will often pull up on these items and should be secured to the wall with an anti-tip bracket.

By making your baby’s environment as safe as possible, you are creating the perfect space to support her growing skills and healthy development.

When Do Babies Pull to Stand?

As babies grow stronger through tummy time and crawling, one big milestone is right around the corner: pulling to stand.

Most babies begin trying to pull themselves up between 9 and 12 months, using furniture or your legs for support. It’s a sign their muscles, coordination, and curiosity are all developing in sync. You might notice your baby going from a hands-and-knees position to kneeling, then standing with help.

To encourage this stage, give your baby safe opportunities to explore upright play such as low tables, firm cushions, or just your steady hands. Like all milestones, there’s a range of what’s typical. If your baby isn’t pulling to stand yet, that’s okay — keep offering support and talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns.

View our Baby Brain Map to learn more about early brain development. — Advertisement

ResourceParents0-12 Months

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