Crawls

What is this milestone?

Moves on hands and knees

Crawling takes many forms—from the classic hands-and-knees cross-crawl to an army crawl, a bottom scoot, or a sideways crab walk. It is the ability to propel themselves across the room independently.

Why it matters

Crawling provides immense freedom to explore. It enhances spatial awareness, depth perception, and bilateral coordination (using both sides of the brain and body together), which is critical for future physical and cognitive development.

What to expect leading up to it

Before they zoom off, babies often get up on their hands and knees and simply rock back and forth. They might even crawl backward initially as their arms tend to be stronger than their legs. Frustration is common during this learning phase.

How to encourage and support it

Baby-proof your home meticulously! Give them plenty of floor space and dress them in comfortable, flexible clothing. Place a highly desired object just out of reach to motivate them to figure out how to move forward.

When to talk to your doctor

Crawling is genuinely optional. The CDC removed it from its milestone checklists in 2022 because many typical babies scoot, roll, or go straight to pulling up and walking. What matters is that your baby is moving and exploring somehow. Tell your pediatrician if by around 10 months your baby is not moving themselves around at all, or if they consistently drag one side of the body or use only one arm or leg. And at any age, if your baby loses a skill they already had, tell your pediatrician that week.