How to Help Baby Crawl? Parents Guide by Baby Experts

Do you want to know that how to help baby crawl? Whenever parents look at their newborn baby, they want him to crawl as soon as possible. They want to know that when their baby starts to crawl. They always wish that their baby starts to crawl early.

Keep in mind, crawling is a natural process, babies start to crawl with the passage of time. However there are few things which you can do to help baby crawl early. Do you know when babies crawl?

These are the steps to help baby crawl:

1. Decrease time in bouncers and walkers

Though using bouncers, rockers, walkers or even a baby swings for your baby is a great way to comfort your baby, but it doesn’t mean that your baby should spend all day in swings, bouncers or in walkers. You should let your baby spend plenty of time on floor as well. Because the time they spend on floor helps a lot in the development of their strength. This strength helps baby in crawling and encourages the movement of baby.

2. Let the baby play in front of mirror

Mirror also encourages the baby to crawl. As baby sees his reflection while playing in front of mirror, it makes him excited and curious. He’ll want to reach out towards his reflection. So, he’ll try to move towards the mirror, which will increase his strength and helps him to crawl.

3. Use toys to help baby crawl

Babies find toys really attractive. Whenever you’ll put toys in front of baby, he’ll always wants to grab it. Choose a toy that attracts your baby the most. Place it at some distance in front of your baby. Baby will try to reach out towards the toy, which will help him crawl.

4. Tummy time

Tummy time is a great way to help baby crawl, as the baby will try to lift up his head from the ground, It will helps to strengthen their back and trunk and also helps the limbs to move freely. However it’s good to let baby sleep on his back, but when they are awake, let them spend some time also on their tummy.

Not all the babies like to lie on tummy at first. For that kind of babies, let them lie on tummy for fewer minutes at a time. Also try putting baby on your tummy, it will make them feel more comfortable.

5. Crawl with baby

Try to crawl with baby. If you or his elder sibling will crawl in front of him. Baby will try to imitate the movements and will learn to crawl early. Then also help them in imitating by holding their abdomen. Hold in a way that you pick up most of their weight, their feet and hand should touch the ground, so that they can act like crawling. It will help baby crawl early.

6. Don’t force baby for extra work

Baby will starts to crawl slowly, so don’t become impatient. Let the baby enjoy, so whenever he feels irritated or starts to cry then make him comfortable by swaddling, rocking, putting him on his back or by putting him on a baby swing.

Create positive association of your baby with crawling practices and tummy time. So don’t force him practice more, if he doesn’t like it. The more you create positive association, the more he’ll love to practice, in this way he’ll learn to crawl early.

7. Encourage baby to play with elevated hands

Try putting baby’s hands on the top of pillow or on any object like toys, while the baby is on tummy time. It will help the baby to strengthen his muscles.

FAQs

When should I be concerned about my baby not crawling?

There is not a specific time for babies to start crawling. Most babies start to crawl between 6 to 12 months. If baby hasn’t started to crawl in this age group, but has achieved all other developmental stages like rolling and started sitting up then there is no need to worry about it. Some babies starts to crawl late and some babies never crawl, they directly starts to standing position and then starts to walk.

However if your baby hasn’t achieved these developmental stages then you should contact with pediatrician. Because babies who delay in gaining these motor skills may face developmental problems that can be solved with physical therapy.

How can I help my baby learn to crawl?

Babies start to crawl naturally. However you can help them to crawl early by tummy time, placing toys at some distance, decreasing time in bouncers and walkers. For complete detail please scroll up the page.

What do babies do before crawling?

Before babies start to crawl, they involve in following developmental stages:

• Rolling over
• Tries to raise his head
• Push-up onto all fours i.e. hands and knees
• Shuffling
• Starts sitting up
• Starts shaky crawling
• Perfect crawling

Is crawling important for brain development?

Crawling is beneficial for the development of brain. It helps in improving the body’s health and the brain connections. It helps to increase the ability to think and focus.

What is army crawling for babies?

For babies, it is one of the earliest way of moving. In this position, stomach of baby remain on the floor. At this stage, their arms are not strong enough to support their body’s weight. So they use their elbows to move forward.

When should we start tummy time?

It’s better to start tummy time as soon as possible. As baby arrives home after the birth, make tummy time the part of his daily routine. However start with just 1-2 minutes at a time and do it for several times a day. Then gradually increase the time up to 30 minutes a day.

Don’t lie down on the floor at start. Start their tummy time by lying them on your lap on their tummy. Then after some time, when baby becomes little bit strong, then start tummy time by lying on the rug or on a carpeted floor.

Why is it important for a baby to crawl?

Crawling is really important for your baby, as it is helpful in development of other areas. It is the baby’s longest period of time, in which he put weight on his hands, which helps in the development of stability and strength in his shoulders.

It enhances the skills of hands, which baby also uses for other activities like coloring, feeding himself, and playing with toys. Crawling also develops other skills in future like hand writing and getting himself dress up. Crawling also improves the skills of problem solving, coordination, and cognition.

Conclusion

Crawling is a natural process. Babies usually starts to crawl at 6-12 months of their age. However there are certain practices which you can do to help baby crawl early. These practices include tummy time, use of toys at some distance, use of mirror in front of baby, and crawling with baby (so that baby imitates you).

Remember, don’t force baby for extra practice, as he should have positive association with these practices. Tummy time should be started as early as possible after coming home from delivery. Start tummy time for 1-2 minutes for several times in a day, then gradually increase it up to 30 minutes a day.

After crawling practice, soothes your baby so that it creates positive affection. You can soothe him by rocking or better to soothe him with baby swing. More positive association you’ll create, more he’ll love to practice.

If your baby hasn’t started to crawl at the age of 6 months, but doing other activities like rolling, and started sitting up then you don’t need to worry. As some babies start to crawl late and even some babies don’t crawl, they directly starts to stand up. Read more baby care tips.