The truth is that babies grow very quickly, both in their size and in their development and abilities.
Some skills arrive earlier and others later, as they depend on other developments, such as muscle development.
It turns out that certain skills reach babies at different times, without this meaning that one baby is more advanced or better than the other.
Therefore, it is important that parents do not check their baby’s development compared to other babies.
Many parents, especially first-time parents, are unsure about how many months their baby will start crawling.
This usually happens between the 6th and 10th month of life.
But be careful: not all babies will crawl, some will skip this stage and start trying to walk.
To find out how to encourage your baby to crawl, when you are worried about your baby, among other information, just keep reading this article!
At How Many Months Does a Baby Start to Crawl?
The baby begins to crawl between the 6th and 10th month of age.
However, each baby has its own rhythm, which must be respected.
And there are babies who don’t even crawl, going straight to trying to walk, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
The baby’s development happens gradually and you can monitor it to find out how your child is doing, whether he is close to starting to crawl or not.
See below the baby’s developmental stages:
- To roll
- Sitting: around 4 to 9 months.
- Dragging or crawling: around 6 to 10 months
- Stand
- Start walking: up to 18 months
In other words, what we can see is that there is a whole process until the baby crawls, as this act will require some of its muscles to be well developed.
Furthermore, the time varies a lot, as each baby is different and unique, developing in its own time.
There are many factors that can influence this time, and this does not mean that your baby will have problems in the future or that it will be better or worse than the others.
One factor that is essential and that can be stimulated by parents is muscle development.
To be able to crawl, the baby will need strength in the shoulders, arms, legs and neck to keep the head elevated.
It may seem trite to adults, but we must remember that babies are born with very soft bodies, and as they strengthen their muscles and grow, they become more rigid.
In addition to muscles, the baby’s motor coordination will be necessary.
What to do to encourage your baby to crawl?
First, see if he is ready, if his muscles are stronger and his motor coordination is good.
This is because trying to force something that the baby is not ready for will not have any benefit, it will only be frustrating and may even end up leaving the baby stressed.
Once you notice that your baby can sit without any major problems, you can help him strengthen his arms and legs with simple, light exercises.
Also, to see your baby’s coordination, encourage him to move, it can be with some of the best activity mats for babies.
Additionally, you can try other forms of stimulation. Check it out below!
Leave the baby lying face down
With the baby lying face down on the floor, preferably with a rug or towel to prevent him from getting hurt, he will get used to the floor.
This will make you more familiar with when you start crawling, as well as helping with the development of the muscles necessary for movement.
However, never leave the baby alone on the floor, without supervision.
Lift the baby in the air
Just lifting the baby in the air while talking and interacting with him will help strengthen the trunk, which will also be good for starting to crawl.
Use toys and incentives
You can use age-appropriate toys that your baby likes to encourage him to try to move around.
Another technique is to use the mirror, the baby will be interested in the image and may be encouraged to reach for it.
This incentive to move can start with the baby dragging itself and this is a good step towards crawling.
Set an example
You can set an example for your child by crawling alongside them.
Although it may seem controversial, and a little embarrassing, babies learn a lot by watching and assimilating from their parents.
Therefore, it is always essential that parents are cautious about what they do in front of the baby and try to give only good and educational examples.
Crawling alongside your baby might be just the example your child needed to try.
When to Be Worried About Your Baby Crawling?
Not crawling is not a sign of concern unless the baby was crawling before and suddenly doesn’t want to anymore.
Or if you notice any peculiarities in the way your baby crawls.
For example, if your baby is crawling with the strength of his arms, leaving one leg bent and the other being dragged.
This way of trying to crawl may be an indication that something is wrong.
In cases of doubt, do not hesitate to consult your pediatrician.
Furthermore, be concerned if the baby is over 15 months old and has not yet taken its first steps, or if after 18 months the baby is unable to walk.
Conclusion
Therefore, we saw that although the estimated time is between the first 6 to 10 months of life, each baby is unique and has its own pace of development.
To be able to crawl, it depends on other factors and milestones, such as rolling over, sitting, crawling and standing, until being able to actually walk, around 18 months of age.
To reach crawling, he needs to develop motor coordination and some muscles, and to stimulate this, you can leave the baby lying on his stomach, for example.
You should only be concerned if the baby crawls and then no longer wants to do so, or if the baby is crawling in some unusual way.
Finally, consult a pediatrician if your baby is 15 months old and has not taken his first steps.
Remembering that this article is informational and does not replace medical advice.
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