At what age does a baby start crawling?
What is the normal age to start crawling?
Every day brings its share of new progress! One day, baby rolls over, the next day, he stares... His growing need for autonomy and independence is felt. Soon, he will start to move around on his own! But at what age does he start to crawl?
At what age does a baby start crawling?
The development of baby's motor skills and coordination of movements is gradual. Often, shortly after acquiring the ability to sit up without help, Baby takes on the new challenge of crawling! This way of moving is not an essential step before walking and it is not necessary for its acquisition. While some Babies spend several months crawling, others a few days and some babies do not crawl at all and crawl, without an intermediate step. Before crawling like a real commando soldier and covering several meters on the ground, Baby, lying on his stomach, must learn to coordinate his movements to move forward but also develop the mobility of his neck in order to be able to lift his head, something possible only if the muscles of his back and especially that of his neck are sufficiently developed. And it is through training that the toddler understands the principle of movement and coordination. In principle, a baby crawls between 7 and 9 months but there is no precise rule, everything depends on the learning pace of the little one, his muscle tone... In all cases, it is the baby who has the last word and who decides to crawl or not, let him do it.
How to make your home safe for baby crawling?
As soon as your baby starts moving around on his own, it is best to secure the house so that he can move around without taking any risks. To get an idea, you can bend down and get to his height in order to gauge the different dangers around him and how your baby sees the world around him.
- Block access to stairs with a safety gate .
- Put away dangerous objects and small objects that he could grab and swallow that could pose a choking hazard.
- Some potted plants can be toxic if ingested. It is best to keep them out of reach of your baby when he starts crawling around.
- Hide electrical outlets. Electrical outlets are often located at baseboard level, just at the height of a crawling baby! They can be attractive to a toddler who will be sure to try to put his fingers in the small holes... It is better to isolate the outlets of the house with outlet covers.
- Secure very light furniture that could fall if baby brushes against it.
- Protect corners that could be at his height (coffee table, etc.) and where Baby could bump into and hurt himself.
- Place rugs on the floor, especially if you have tiles, to avoid too cold contact and provide a more pleasant experience for your baby.
- In any case, don't lose sight of your baby when he crawls, stay vigilant, a crawling baby runs away quickly!
When should you worry if your baby isn't crawling?
The time when a baby starts crawling varies from baby to baby. If your baby does not start crawling during this period, do not worry. Each baby has a different motor skills that develop, depending on the child's pace. In addition, some babies do not go through the "crawling" stage and move first by pushing on their legs while remaining seated on their diaper or get on all fours directly. Keep a more global view of baby's progress: are their motor skills continuing to develop? Are they interacting with the world around them? There is no need to be alarmed as long as Baby continues to evolve and is becoming better at coordinating their movements and continues to wake up. However, if you have any questions or concerns about baby's motor development, it is best to talk to a pediatrician or doctor.
