On average, babies begin to crawl at 8 months. Some crawl at an earlier age and some take their time, some babies even skip crawling all together and go straight to walking. If you think your baby is ready to crawl, but needs some help and encouragement, here are some tips to get them moving.
Tummy Time
Make sure your baby gets plenty of tummy time. Tummy time is important for a baby’s development. It promotes rolling and movement, even crawling. Once your baby can roll it can be tough to keep them on their tummy, but continue to try it to promote crawling movement. It helps strengthen their core muscles, which help prepare them for crawling.
Motivate Your Babe
Find out what motivates your baby and use it to encourage crawling. If your baby has a special toy that seems place it in his or her view during tummy time. This will peak your baby’s interest and maybe motivate your little darling to hop up on all fours and move forward. Try other objects like the TV remote or cell phone if none of the toys seem to be motivating enough. Something that you don’t normally allow him or her to play with could get your baby’s attention.
Create a Safe and Open Environment
Make sure your baby has room to explore. Now is the time to start baby proofing your home. Having a safe environment will give you peace of mind as your baby starts venturing out and becoming mobile. Keep items off of the edge of the tables and all breakables out of reach.
Lend a Hand
Another thing you can do to encourage your baby to crawl is to place the palms of your hands behind your child’s feet when he or she is on all fours. This gives him or her stability and something to push off from when learning to crawl.
Dangers
There are also several things to avoid when your child is learning how to crawl. Baby walkers are not only potentially dangerous, but too much time in one can limit muscle development. It’s also recommended to avoid too much time in baby seats and carriers because they limit your baby’s muscle use. Your baby needs a lot of time exploring and figuring out their body. Make sure you supervise them closely while they are working on their new skills to keep them safe. If you have any developmental concerns about your baby it is best to address them with a pediatrician.
