With every age a baby attains, you should expect developmental milestones. However, before the baby reaches the next development stage, they start showing some signs.
Using crawling as an example, there are some signs baby is ready to crawl and this may be grasping people and holding things for balance or sitting upright without support.
These are pre-crawling signs that will help you assist the child in developing his muscles and the right skills to crawl faster.
In this post, we shall discuss the signs a baby is ready to crawl so that you know what to note in your baby and how to assist the child before and during the crawling stage. Firstly let’s see some of the first signs of crawling in an infant.
First Signs Of Crawling You Will Notice
There are usually tell-tale signs in every stage when a child is developing and below are some of the first signs of crawling you will notice in an infant:
1. The baby rocks back and forth
2. Lunges forward to grab things
3. The baby starts crawling on the tummy
4. The baby rests on all four
5. The baby seemed to do mini push ups
6. The baby does swimming action with the tummy
Tips To Get Your Baby To Start Crawling
When your baby starts showing such signs as rocking back and forth, stretching to touch things, it shows that the baby is getting ready to start crawling. You can help stimulate the baby to start crawling using these tips.
1. Frequent Tummy time: To help the baby develop the core muscles, you should allow him to spend time on his tummy. You can do this 3 to 4 times a day and increase the sessions as your baby grows older.
2. Elevate: Help the baby elevate and stretch the hands by giving him things so that he can reach out for them.
3. Positioning: Try to put the baby in a position where he isn’t always sitting or lying. You can try lifting him off the floor so he can get used to his weight.
4. Use distractions: Use mirrors to spark natural curiosity.
5. Toys: Use toys to get the attention of your baby. The child is most likely going to want to follow the toy.
6. Position the baby on all fours
7. Place the baby on the floor to get used to it.
8. Get on the ground yourself.
9. Imitate the crawling movement while on the ground
10. Time for rest
11. Massage the baby to make the joints more flexible
12. Ensure you have safety in mind and prevent accidents
13. Start limiting the use of supporting devices like strollers walkers.
14. Teach your baby to learn how to bear his weight
Types Of Baby Crawling Style
One of the signs a baby is ready to crawl, is that he will start showing one or more of baby crawling styles. Not all infants crawl the same way and while it can be confusing, there are various ways of crawling which are listed below
1. Classic: When the baby moves one arm together with the opposite leg.
2. Scoot: Moving the bum across the floor.
3. Commando or tummy crawl: Using the arms and leg to push while lying on the tummy.
4. Others are Bear Crawl, hands, knees, crab crawl, rolling crawl, and cross crawl.
Do not be alarmed if your baby does not crawl the way you expected or considered normal. If anything in your baby’s crawling patterns alarm you, you can source for additional information online before visiting the doctor.
10 Signs Your Baby Is Ready To Crawl
In this section, we will discuss some of the signs baby is ready to crawl in details below. We will be discussing ten signs a baby is ready to crawl, so follow through with me.
1. Holding On To Different Things
One of the easiest signs baby is ready to crawl, is that you will notice that the baby starts grasping and holding onto different things. It could be your clothes, bedsheets, your arm, basically anything he can use to support himself.
The baby grasps things to give himself balance and help him move around. Holding onto things shows the baby is ready to leave the sitting position and wants to support himself to the ground.
It is also a sign that the child is not content with his sitting position. He wants to explore, see the world, and grab those things of different shapes and sizes, far away.
Grasping things tight and holding things helps strengthen the baby’s muscles and build the motor skills in the child. It also shows that the baby is more active now than before.
2. Sitting Well With No Support
Before babies crawl, they often have to pass the first stage or developmental milestone, which is sitting. Sitting would help the child build his back and abdominal muscles and stabilize the neck.
When the child can sit upright, most times unsupported, it signifies that the baby is ready to crawl.
Sitting without support also indicates that the core muscles are developing, which helps to give the baby balance and proper coordination.
Balance, coordination, development of back and abdominal muscles, development of the muscles of the arm etc, are all needed when the baby starts crawling.
3. Pushing Forward
Before my baby started crawling, I would always notice that he tries to push himself forward, sliding back and forth on the bed or the carpet on all fours.
He was often unsuccessful in crawling or moving closer to me, but he kept on doing this repeatedly. So, I tried to help him push forward, and when he was much bigger, I let him do the job by himself.
When the baby starts pushing up, the baby begins preparing for crawling. The muscle of the arms and lower limbs are strengthening and building up, ready to support the infant for the next stage of development.
To help the baby, play with your toddler regularly. This exercise will strengthen the core. Doing this every other time a day is helpful.
This exercise also helps the baby develop the neck and chest muscles. As babies push forward and try to change position, he would figure out how to reach an object.
With time, the baby starts belly-crawling which would help make the baby’s body more flexible, and it would be easier to crawl when the time is right.
4. The Baby Stays On The Floor
When your baby pushes to stay on the floor rather than being carried or staying on his rocker, it is also one of the signs baby is ready to crawl.
Since, at the crawling stage, the baby would spend more time on the floor than anywhere, the baby begins to prepare by wanting to stay more on the floor than elsewhere.
Staying on the floor allows the baby to refine and balance out his muscles on a more solid surface which is the ground.
Parents and caregivers are expected to get down on the floor too with the infants, so they feel more comfortable and so they do not feel awkward staying alone on the ground.
At this time, also ensure proper hygiene. Mop the floor and wash your baby’s hands frequently so they do not put their hand in their mouth. Wipe surfaces free from dust, dirt, etc.
Make your baby safe by putting appropriate baby proofs, i.e., padding the floor with padded rugs, removing sharp or harmful objects nearby, and removing anything that the child can easily swallow or swallow pick.
While you are on the floor, flex your arms and leg and show your baby how to crawl. Also, try pushing the baby’s lower legs and arms to stimulate crawling on the floor.
5. Reaching For Things Nearby
The baby is almost interested in any and everything at this stage. The different colors, shapes, sounds will surely spark his curiosity.
Once he sees something nearby, he tries to reach for it while on your arms or the bed or floor; when you notice that your baby starts doing this, it is another of the signs baby is ready to crawl.
When my baby was 4-5 months, I always put different toys in strategic places like the beds and on his play mat. I would notice that he always tries to reach them. He stretches out his hands and tries to push forward, sometimes to no avail.
If he likes the toy, he becomes irritated and starts crying until he gets it. Then, I would place him on all fours and, with my hand, push his arms and legs forward to help him get the toy.
If he isn’t interested in the toy, he would turn the other way and forget about the toy. My baby also loved to stretch out his hands when I carry him while holding something that he is interested.
He always loved to put them in his mouth. He would stretch and stretch sometimes, and I played with him by taking the object a bit farther and farther till he could no longer grab it, then I gave it to him.
Aside from motivation, your baby is developing curiosity and determination at this stage, and you would do well to help him build it by being part of the process of him learning how to crawl.
6. Pulling Up
Your baby will show signs that he is ready to crawl when he tries to pull himself up independently. To “arm-crawl,” i.e., crawling by using just one arm.
Crawling takes a lot of coordination and balance with both the upper limbs and lower limbs, and your baby will not just get there at once.
Expect your baby to drag your ponytail, grasp your cloth, hold on to the chairs, table, sheets, anything to pull himself up in an upright and sitting position.
When your baby can pull himself up using support, know that he has reached an important developmental milestone because pulling up requires him to develop strength in the upper body.
It also helps him build his arm muscles. So when your baby uses you as a gym to pull himself up, smile back to encourage your little one of the job well done.
7. Positioning On All Fours
Babies who are ready to begin crawling will constantly position on all fours; that is, the crawling position, supporting themselves with their arms and legs even when they haven’t started pushing themselves and crawling.
With this, they start developing how to balance themselves and strengthen their arms and leg muscles in preparation for crawling.
To get into the crawling position, they may hold onto objects to help pull them in place; in the crawling position.
Expect for them to do any of these: lie on the belly, move their feet, stay in a crouch position, and then rock back and forth. All these are signs baby is ready to crawl.
8. Moving In Different Positions
Before the onset of crawling in babies, you will notice that the baby tries to move himself in any position possible the crawl position, pivot position, crouch position, anyone that is easily accessible to them.
Allow the child to explore the different positions, so he can be more flexible and crawl well when it’s time; be sure to keep him safe by watching and putting away any harmful object nearby.
9. Moving The Arms And Feet Rapidly
One of the signs baby is ready to crawl can be noticed when the baby moves the arms and legs a lot. While resting on the back, the baby will often wiggle his hand and leg, and he is usually very excited when doing that.
While sitting, the baby always wants to stretch and take something from you or someone else.
While he is on all fours, the baby will rock himself back and forth repeatedly, and even if he doesn’t crawl, it is just to show that he is ready to begin crawling.
10. Cross-Legged Position
While the baby’s back is on the bed or rug, he will energetically move his legs up and down. You will also notice that he tends to cross both legs frequently. He may also cross the legs when sitting or in any position if comfortable.
Leg crossing helps build the infant’s upper body strength, and it is an important position that, when mastered, can help the baby start crawling and walking in no time.
So when you see your baby get in this position, you are allowed to get excited too as this is one of the significant signs baby is ready to crawl.
Conclusion
By the 8th to 11th month, your child should already start crawling. Pre-crawling signs start showing form around 5 or 6 months.
If your baby shows these signs but does not crawl there may be no need for alarm as some babies skip crawling to start walking.
However, watch out, if your baby isn’t showing developmental milestones like sitting without support, grasping things, or moving in different positions, then you need to call your child’s pediatrician for proper evaluation.
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