Things I Wish I Knew : The Importance of Crawling

When you’re in the thick of new parenthood, it’s easy to focus on the big milestones—rolling over, sitting up, standing, walking. Crawling often gets treated like a brief, optional phase. 

Crawling is one of the most exciting (and important) milestones in the first year of life. It’s often a baby’s first experience of independent movement — and while not all babies crawl in exactly the same way, how and whether a baby crawls can influence later motor, sensory and cognitive development.

Here’s what parents need to know about crawling, healthy milestones, and when to look a little closer.

When Do Babies Usually Start Crawling?

Most babies begin crawling between 6 and 10 months old, but there is a range of normal.

A typical progression looks like this:

• 4–6 months: Pushing up on arms during tummy time

• 6–8 months: Rocking on hands and knees

• 7–10 months: Beginning to move forward

• 9–12 months: More confident crawling and pulling to stand

Some babies may move earlier or later — and that’s often okay — but the QUALITY of movement matters just as much as the timing.

Not All Crawling Is the Same — and That Matters

You may see different movement patterns as your baby learns to get around:

• Hands-and-knees crawling (reciprocal crawling)

• Army crawling (belly on the floor, pulling forward)

• Scooting (moving on their bottom)

• Bear crawling (hands and feet with straight legs)

While these styles can appear during development, hands-and-knees reciprocal crawling plays a special role in building the brain-body connections that support later skills like balance, coordination, visual tracking, and even early learning readiness.

This is because reciprocal crawling helps:

• Strengthen cross-body coordination (left brain/right brain communication)

• Support integration of primitive reflexes

• Develop core strength and shoulder stability

• Improve eye-hand coordination and visual tracking

Other movement patterns are not “wrong,” but they may not provide the same neurological input as reciprocal crawling.

Signs Your Baby Is Getting Ready to Crawl

These are healthy signs your baby is working toward crawling:

• Enjoys tummy time and can push up on straight arms

• Rocks back and forth on hands and knees

• Can pivot or roll to reach toys

• Attempts to move toward people or objects

These movements show that your baby is building the strength and coordination needed for crawling.

When Missing or Weak Crawling May Matter

This is where nuance matters.

Some babies who skip traditional crawling go on to develop normally. However, research and clinical practice show that crawling is an important opportunity for the nervous system to organize itself. When crawling is weak, absent, or very asymmetrical, it can be associated with:

• Retained primitive reflexes (focus, attention, learning difficultoes, bedwetting etc...depending on what reflexes were not integrated)

• Weak core and shoulder stability ( Implications of the lack of development: Cognitive Processing, Eating solids -ready & able-, body coordination)

• Poor cross-body coordination (Implications of the lack of development:  Memory, Language Development, Focus and Attention)

• Delays in visual-motor skills (Implications of the lack of development: Social Awareness development, visual tracking - reading, writing)

All of these developmental gaps can show up later in school. Children who skip or rush through crawling may face challenges with focus and attention, body coordination, and even reading. That’s because crawling helps develop visual tracking, hand-eye coordination, and the brain connections that support learning. When these foundational skills aren’t fully built, it can make seemingly simple tasks—following a line of text, catching a ball, or sitting still—much harder.

These do not automatically mean your child will have learning problems — but they are worth monitoring.

You may want to speak with your pediatrician if your baby:

• Isn’t pushing up through arms by 6 months

• Shows no attempts to move forward by 10–11 months

• Always moves using one side of the body

• Seems very stiff or very floppy

Early screening can be very helpful and does not mean something is “wrong” — it simply supports development.

How Parents Can Support Healthy Crawling

You can help your baby build strong movement patterns at home:

Increase tummy time - Short, frequent sessions throughout the day help build arm, neck, and core strength.

Encourage cross-body movement - Place toys just slightly out of reach so your baby has to shift weight and reach.

Limit time in containers - Swings, carriers, and bouncers reduce opportunities for floor movement.

Create safe floor space - Firm but padded surfaces encourage effort and confidence.

How Baby Sensory & Motor Classes Can Help

Structured baby sensory and motor development classes are designed to support the exact foundations that crawling builds.

Join baby motor development classes like Compass Baby where these movements are reinforced, and delays can be pinpointed early.

In guided classes, babies practice:

• Supported tummy time progressions

• Hands-and-knees positioning

• Weight shifting and reaching

• Visual tracking through movement

• Safe, motivating obstacle play

These experiences help strengthen the nervous system and movement patterns even if crawling doesn’t happen perfectly at home.

The Bottom Line

Crawling is more than just getting from point A to point B. It’s a powerful stage of brain and body development.

Not every baby crawls the same way — and not every baby who skips classic crawling will have difficulties — but strong, symmetrical movement in infancy lays the groundwork for coordination, attention, and learning later on.

If you have concerns, early support and guided movement can make a meaningful difference.

If you have any questions, please reach out!

Best,

Jordanna