Crawling
When will Baby crawl?
Baby spends their early months in Tummy Time developing the core, shoulder, and arm strength they'll need to get up off the floor and move forward on hands and knees. Most babies start moving with alternate leg and arm movements between 6 and 9 months. By 12 months, most babies are crawling confidently and using it as their main way to get around.
Time to baby proof! Once Baby starts crawling, they can cover a lot of ground fast. Get down on your hands and knees to see the world from Baby's perspective, and make sure sharp corners, cords, and small objects are out of reach. Find a full baby proofing checklist here.
Signs Baby is Ready to Crawl
Before Baby takes off across the floor, they’ll show they’re ready for crawling with these small signs:
Strong arms during Tummy Time: Is Baby pushing up with straight arms while lying on their tummy?
Pressing up on hands and toes: Do you see Baby pressing their hands and toes into the floor and lifting their hips up, making an upside-down V-shape with their body?
Moving in other ways: Is Baby rolling or shifting their body to get to things they want?
Transitioning between positions: Can Baby move from sitting to all fours and back again?
How Crawling Progresses
Like many major motor skills, crawling starts with Tummy Time! Those daily floor sessions from the very beginning are what give Baby the strength they'll need to get up and move. Here's how it comes together:
1. Pushing up on straight arms:
During Tummy Time at 5 months, Baby starts propping themselves up on fully straightened arms, lifting their chest off the floor.
2. Pressing up on hands and toes:
Baby begins pushing their hands and toes into the floor and lifting their hips up, making an upside-down V-shape with their body.
3. Rocking and weight shifts:
Around 6–8 months, you might see Baby get up on hands and knees and start rocking back and forth.
4. Reaching on hands and knees:
While on all fours, Baby begins lifting one hand off the floor to reach for a toy.
5. Army crawling
Baby may begin moving forward on their belly, pulling with their arms while their tummy stays low to the floor.
6. Hands-and-knees crawling:
By 9 months, Baby can coordinate opposite arms and legs, shift their weight side to side, and take their first forward "steps" on all fours. By 12 months, this will be their main mode of transportation.
Different Types of Crawling
Not every Baby crawls the same way at first! You might see:
Army crawling (belly crawl)
Baby pulls forward with their forearms while their tummy stays low to the floor.
Bear crawl
Baby moves on hands and feet with straight legs, like a little bear.
Creeping (classic crawling)
Baby moves on hands and knees with alternate leg and arm movements. This is the crawling pattern Baby should work toward as their main form of mobility!
⚠️ Note: Some babies like to scoot, or move while seated and shuffling on the bottom. This is a perfectly normal way for Baby to move around occasionally, but it should not replace hands-and-knees crawling. If Baby prefers scooting over getting up on all fours, encourage more floor time and hands-and-knees practice.
Watch to see what each type of crawling looks like!
Tips to Help Baby Crawl
You don’t need fancy equipment to support Baby’s crawling skills, just simple activities and lots of encouragement!
Keep up with Tummy Time: Daily Tummy Time from birth onward builds the core and shoulder strength Baby needs to get up off the floor.
Motivate with toys: Place a favorite toy just out of reach to give Baby a reason to work toward moving forward on hands and knees.
Model crawling: Get down on the floor and crawl with Baby. Showing them the movement can help them figure it out!
Try crawling up stairs: Supervised stair crawling encourages Baby to lift their belly off the floor and use alternating arm and leg movements, which are key for hands-and-knees crawling.
Limit time in containers: Walkers, jumpers, and seats limit the floor time Baby needs to build crawling skills.
Why Crawling Matters
Crawling is so much more than a way to move from point A to B. It supports Baby’s development in big ways:
Motor skills
Crawling builds whole-body strength, balance, and coordination. It also builds fine motor development, by allowing Baby to stretch their fingers on a flat surface.
Brain development
The alternating arm-and-leg pattern of crawling encourages both sides of Baby’s brain to work together.
Feeding
Crawling develops hand strength and shoulder stability, which Baby will need to feed themselves.
Sensory development
Baby explores textures, sights, and movement in a whole new way.
Problem solving
Baby learns to plan and navigate how to reach their goal.
Confidence
Baby discovers they can explore the world independently.
Learn more about why crawling matters
When to Check In
Every Baby develops differently, but reach out to your Baby’s healthcare provider if:
Baby hasn't started crawling by 9 months
Baby shows little interest in reaching, rolling, or shifting their body to explore
Baby strongly favors one side of their body when moving
Baby is not using the hands-and-knees crawling position as their main form of mobility by 12 months
If you need help talking about your concerns, find more information below:
Crawling Activities to Try
Want more hands-on ways to practice crawling? Explore these:
