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"When Do Baby Start Crawling?"

"When do Baby start crawling?" is perhaps one of the questions most often asked by parents.

Bear walking... is crawling using straight arms and legs "Normal" crawling using knees and arms

Before we look at the answer, let’s first make sure that we’re talking about the same thing when we refer to crawling. I'm talking about:

  • Crawling on hands and knees, or...
  • Crawling with hands and feet (bear walking), or...
  • "Commando" crawling - using forearms , or...
  • "Bum shuffling" - moving forward by using feet and buttocks
  • Or even crawling backwards!

But at what age do Baby really start crawling?

Obviously there are 2 answers to this question. when do baby start crawling

Firstly, have a look at our baby development chart which is a very easy-to-use, visual guideline for tracking your child's progress.


Note that the age and progress guidelines on the development chart is based on scientifically researched data after studying the development of thousands of children. However, a guideline such as that given in our chart is merely that... a guideline.


Now, our chart tells us that about 50% of all infants can "crawl" at 7 months; 75% can do so at 10 months and 90% of all infants have mastered it at 11 months. If you'd like to get more information about how your child masters these physical developments, read this article on our site.

Commando crawling using forearms, knees and lower legs
 

What this also means is that if your baby starts crawling before 7 months, his crawling skills is developing faster than most other babies the same age.

Secondly, infants crawl when they've learned and fully mastered all the skills

That is one reason why activities promoting the development of physical strength, such as the ones described in this article, is so much encouraged. Can you also appreciate why babies who are carried around the whole day, cannot develop physical strength at the same rate as other who sit on their own and play?


I often find babies of around 10-12 months and older who are still not crawling. One of the first things I do is to establish that there are no neurological problems or other obvious physical problems hindering their ability to crawl.

And in most cases if I question parents they confirm that they or other family members have literally carried baby around since birth. Another typical answer is that 'they like to make things as easy as possible' for Baby.


Babies learn and develop by "doing" certain things. And then learning from the experience. That’s how they learn most of their skills… some of which are necessary for crawling. You can almost say that babies must be 'busy'

That is also the reason why I like to give the little ones the right toys, such as the ones described here, to play with. It's a fun, yet powerful way to keep them busy, while teaching them a range of physical and other vital development skills.


When Do Babies Start Crawling... A Personal Opinion

Let's get back to the guidelines proposed by our baby development chart. What the researchers say is that 50% of all babies have mastered the skill of crawling by about 7 months.

In my opinion, if your baby isn't crawling at around 9 months, I suggest you start to encourage and stimulate him to master this milestone. At this stage there is still no urgency or to be worried.

However, once your baby starts getting to 10 months or even older, I suggest you take serious action... maybe even get professional help.

Bottom line is this... when do baby start crawling

If you ask me "when do Baby start crawling", I'd say:

  • when the neurological skills are developed

  • when s/he gained the necessary physical strength, but keep in mind that...

  • there is an optimal period roughly around 7 months, and a little beyond, when your baby can very effectively be encouraged to crawl

Of course there are folks who argue that babies do not have to crawl. They argue that it's OK if your child goes straight to walking. Here's what my experience showed me.


How to encourage baby crawling

But, I can already hear you ask… “Is there anything I can do to encourage baby crawling?”

Yes… definitely. when do baby start crawling

Here are a few things for teaching baby to crawl…

Read the 5P crawling technique or the stretching one describing how to encourage baby crawling

Give your baby lots of time to “practise” crawling on his own.

For even more practical techniques and ways to get your baby crawling, I suggest reading this resource

Getting a few stimulation toys to encourage the right learning activities.

Discuss it with your pediatrician.

When do Baby start crawling >> Baby development chart