Baby Milestones – Crawling

Having a baby can be one of the most exciting, and not to mention confusing, things that you will ever experience in your life. There are hundreds of things to observe and keep track of in your babies’ development such as their first words, sitting up on their own, attempts at independent walking, etc. These are what pediatricians call milestones. Milestones are very important and reaching them helps evaluate how far ahead your baby is in its development. Also, they allow doctors to measure your baby’s progress and suggest new activities to stimulate their development. Crawling is one of the very important milestones in your baby’s life for a multitude of reasons.

WHAT CRAWLING IS
For your baby to start crawling means a few things. First of all, it means your baby has the vital brain area developed that is responsible for coordinated movement and balance. It also means your baby has strong enough arms to support his entire upper body – a very important sign. When your baby first attempts to crawl, he will start by putting weight on his hands and knees, and then slowly start to add motion. At the same time, your baby will be strengthening his muscles for future use. Babies like to crawl because it is their first sense of freedom and mobility. No longer are they constrained by their crib walls or playpen gate. They are now free to explore their surroundings without being constricted.

WHEN IT DEVELOPS
For most babies, crawling develops shortly after they learn to sit up on their own without parental assistance. This is usually six to seven months after birth, but can be as early as four months and as late as ten months for some babies. In recent years, babies have been learning to crawl later and later, and many babies have opted to skip the crawling stage altogether.

Don’t be alarmed if your baby opts to use a different form of locomotion, such as scooting across the floor or rolling around. A few rare babies even go straight from sitting up to walking. You know your baby will be ready for crawling when he can sit up well without support. After this, you will notice that you baby tries to push off with his knees and will attempt to crawl. It may take a few weeks, but eventually your baby will be able to master going from the sitting position to the crawling position.

This truly is a fun time for parents to watch and observe. Don’t stress out too much about initial unsuccessful attempts; just remember to clear the floor from all small and big things your baby might be able to reach in his newfound freedom. Take a lot of pictures and enjoy!

By: Valentina Kaltchev

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