Does My Baby Really Need to Crawl?

Crawling on hands and knees is an extremely important developmental milestone that should not be skipped. Crawling is important for a baby’s cognitive development, social-emotional development, gross motor development, fine motor development, and speech-language development. Here is how:

• Crawling uses core muscles and therefore helps to strengthen them. A strong core is extremely important for posture and balance during sitting, standing, and walking.
• Crawling encourages a child to explore their environment, sparks curiosity, and helps to improve problem solving skills.
• Crawling helps to develop and improve shoulder stability and arm strength, which are important for climbing skills, handwriting skills, and getting dressed.
• Crawling also helps to improve hip strength and alignment, which is also important for posture during upright mobility.
• Crawling works on developing bilateral coordination (moving hands and knees synchronously) and allows both sides of the brain to work together.
• During crawling, a baby uses their vision from a new perspective. This helps widen their visual field and helps to activate different areas of the brain important for development.
• Crawling helps to develop fine motor skills. It helps to open a baby’s palms and strengthen the tiny muscles in their hands that are important for grasping, holding, and handwriting.

How can I help my baby to learn to crawl on their hands and knees?

• More tummy time.
• Limit the time the baby spends in car seats, walkers, and highchairs.
• Placing toys just out of reach.

If you have questions regarding your child’s development. Please call us at 410-358-1997. For more info on Pediatric Physical Therapy click here.