Mothers are always on the lookout for baby milestones. The first smile, the first rollover, and the first crawl are some of the many firsts that moms are excited about. Some say that crawling is an optional skill and that it cannot be used to measure the overall development of a baby at a certain age.
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So, how old do babies start crawling? Some babies crawl at six months while others do so at 9 to 10 months. Other babies skip this stage altogether. As babies grow and develop different skills from each other, moms should not compare their developmental milestones as well. Below are tips to teach your baby how to crawl.
1. Give him plenty of tummy time.
It had been observed that babies who spend plenty of play time on their tummy crawl earlier than those who don’t. They usually learn how to crawl as early as six months. During this time, the baby learns to lift his head and chest while lying on his tummy. Then the baby tries to move about on his belly and then pushes forward with his hands. By the time that he is eight months, the baby can already sit by himself and can try to move from a sitting position using his hands or knees. Playing on their bellies helps babies develop strong muscles in the arms, shoulders, and torso which support them to crawl.
2. Put his favorite toy in front of him.
To encourage a baby to move forward, you can put his favorite toy a short distance in front of him. You can also use any exciting things to the baby such as shiny or colorful things and see if he can move towards them.
3. Wean him from the walker and the playpen.
Some babies do not know how to crawl because some of them may be cooped up in their playpen for long periods of time or are using the walker most of the time. Babies who only have these activities will not be able to learn how to raise their tummy and move with their hands and knees. For babies to learn how to crawl and then eventually stand up and walk, they should be given enough time to play and explore.
4. Have a clean and safe space for him to move about.
To inspire a baby to crawl, make sure that he has an ample enough space which is cleared of dangerous objects, for him to move about. He should also be supervised as there may be potential hazards at the baby’s eye level such as electrical cords or sockets that he may encounter while he is busy crawling about.
Crawling is, in fact, something which is not taught to babies because it is developed out of instinct. Just as other developmental skills, it is not forced only guided. Crawling may happen early for some and late for some, and it is but normal.
Because just like adults, babies too, have different choices and interests.
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