Crawling, or any other form of forward motion that a baby might choose to use, is the stage between sitting and walking. Parents should keep in mind that not all babies crawl and some choose to develop their locomotive skills in different ways. No matter what method your baby uses, this important phase of development gives her the arm, leg and overall body strength to handle future standing and walking skills.
Types
In a traditional crawl, the baby balances on hands and knees and propels himself forward using all four limbs. Some babies prefer a slithery movement while lying flat on their stomachs. Bottom scooting involves moving while sitting up and scooting himself around that way. Infants who crab crawl may even move backwards instead of going forward. In some cases, a baby will skip crawling altogether and move right to standing or walking.
Importance
The important part of this stage in development isn't the specific method of locomotion, according to DrGreene.com, a website created by San Fransisco pediatrician Alan Greene, but the fact that the infant is becoming mobile at all. Any movement that provides forward momentum is worthwhile at this stage, and parents should encourage babies to explore their surroundings by placing toys just out of reach and setting up obstacle courses made of pillows, cushions and boxes.
Timing
According to the website BabyCenter, the typical age when babies begin to crawl is between 6 and 10 months of age. However, since 1994, when a national campaign began to encourage parents to put babies to sleep on their backs, the average age for beginning crawling has become later. This may be because previously, babies spent time practicing their future crawling skills when they awoke on their tummies in the morning and now they don't have that opportunity since they awaken on their backs. BabyCenter advises that if your baby has shown no interest in getting mobile by 12 months, check with your pediatrician.
Associated Milestones
The ability to sit up without assistance and without falling over is a milestone that typically occurs just before a baby develops the ability to crawl. After crawling, the next steps in a baby's development include standing and cruising the furniture, or walking from place to place while holding onto furniture in the home.
Stages
For a true crawl, a baby will begin by learning that she can rock back and forth while sitting, using her arms to prop her up and keep her from toppling over. She may then maneuver to being on all fours in preparation for crawling. Eventually, the baby will discover that she can move her limbs and make herself go forward.
Concerns
Once a baby starts crawling, he can get into far more mischief than he ever did merely lying or sitting. Parents with a baby who is indicating a readiness to crawl should childproof the home and keep a close eye on the infant to ensure that he doesn't crawl his way into a dangerous situation.
