When do babies start crawling: 6 tips to encourage crawling

You and your baby have already experienced so many firsts together: Their first smile, , the first diaper blowout… and the list goes on! One of the most exciting developmental milestones your child will conquer is crawling. The first time your crawling baby takes off on all fours, a whole new world of opportunity opens up — including more independent exploration and plenty of safety concerns, too.

When should I expect my baby to crawl? 

Many babies will crawl between 7 and 10 months of age []. — but what is the average crawling age, exactly? Of course, baby development is on a spectrum, and some babies may be crawling at 6 months, may start later than , or some may skip crawling altogether. 

In 2022, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) removed crawling as a milestone [], noting that evidence for the age that 75% of babies crawl by is not sound enough to provide a milestone. It’s therefore more important than ever for parents to know about the development of crawling and when to reach out for support.

Newborns

Surprise — your newborn already has a crawling reflex! This reflex will help a newborn crawl to the breast immediately after delivery, lying on their mother’s stomach []. It will disappear after two months, then reappear toward the end of your baby’s first year when they start . 

While you won’t expect your newborn to truly crawl in this stage, you can start laying the foundation for movement early through . The AAP recommends beginning as soon as your baby is home from the hospital [] — even short sessions start building the neck and shoulder strength your baby will need months from now.

1 - 2 months

Crawling is still a long way off, but your baby is quietly putting in the groundwork. Look for:

• Brief head lifts during

• Turning their cheek from side to side

• Stronger neck control week by week

Tummy time sessions may only last a minute or two at this age, and that’s completely fine. Every little bit counts!

3 - 6 months

Things start to get exciting around 3 - 6 months. Gross motor skills and pre-crawling abilities are really beginning to take shape:

• Around 5 months, your baby may rock on their stomach, kick their legs, and “swim” with their arms — all skills needed for rolling over and crawling []

• Many babies push up onto straight arms during tummy time by 5 - 6 months

• You may see your baby start “pivoting,” which looks like rotating in circles on their belly while reaching for a toy

• When their feet touch the floor, they may curl their toes, bounce up and down, or practice “walking” — all preparations for crawling and standing []

7 - 8 months

This is the prime window for baby crawling age! Many babies make their first attempts at crawling within this range. Signs it may be just around the corner:

• Rocking back and forth on hands and knees

• Getting up into a plank or hands-and-knees position

• Attempting a belly crawl or commando crawl

• Pushing backward before figuring out how to go forward

Not crawling yet at 8 months? No need to stress. Many babies get there closer to 9 or 10 months.

9 - 10 months

By now, many babies are crawling confidently and pulling up onto furniture. The average age for hands-and-knees crawling is around 8.5 months, so by 9 - 10 months, most babies who will crawl are well on their way []. Babies who haven’t crawled yet may still get there, or may move on to:

• Bottom scooting

• Bear crawling

• Pulling up to cruise along furniture

While hands-and-knees crawling is the classic goal, some babies find their own way to get moving — and that can be OK! If your baby isn’t sitting independently, crawling, or pulling to stand by 9 - 10 months, it’s worth mentioning to your pediatrician at their next well baby visit.

Crawling stages

Some experts distinctly cite 7 stages of crawling, but it’s a bit more complicated than that. Not all babies will go through all of the same stages before they crawl. Some babies may skip some stages, others may go out of order, and some will be working on multiple stages simultaneously, and that’s OK. 

Here are some of the moves your baby may try out that could mean they’ll start crawling on their hands and knees soon!

1. Tummy time

Tummy time is not only helpful in preventing babies from developing flat heads, but it’s also the start of strengthening all the muscles needed before crawling can happen. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends [] that infants participate in 30 minutes of tummy time and other playful activities spread out throughout their day, every day, as soon as they are home from the hospital. When your baby is an infant, they may only tolerate 3 to 5 minutes at a time on their tummy.

As your baby gets ready to crawl, you'll notice their head and neck coordination becoming stronger in the prone position, and they will also start pushing up on their arms.

2. Pivoting

Now that your baby’s head and neck muscles are stronger, you may see your baby start to move in circles on their belly. Encourage pivoting in both directions — this helps ensure both sides of the body are developing equally. For some babies, this is their very first taste of locomotion.

3. Planking

Some babies will rise up from their bellies into a plank position on their hands and toes, while others may assume a hands-and-knees position. 

4. Moving forward on belly

Some babies may scoot or even seem to jump forward on their bellies, reaching toward whatever has caught their eye. Others may try a step or two in the hands-and-knees position.

5. Rocking on hands and knees

Once your baby can balance on all fours, you may notice them rocking forward and backward — a key gross motor skill that signals crawling is close.

6. Moving from belly to sitting up

Some babies will transition from lying on their belly to before they crawl, though others will reach this milestone afterward.

7. Pushing backward

While the ultimate goal is to move forward, some babies start by pushing with their arms, so they move backward at first.

7 tips and tricks to encourage your baby to crawl

Wondering how to get your baby to crawl? We already mentioned how important tummy time is, but there’s plenty more you can do. Try these 7 tips and tricks, and remember to stay close to your baby to keep them safe.

1. Place toys up high temporarily

Place one of your baby’s favorite toys off the ground on a chair or couch for a moment as an exercise. This way, your baby will be motivated to lift their head and push up onto their hands and knees to find their toy.

2. Offer some support

During tummy time, offer your baby some support under their chest. You can use your hand or position them so that their tummy is over your leg while you’re in a sitting position on the floor with your leg stretched out straight in front of you. 

3. Do “push-ups” together

Get down on the ground facing your baby, and with a big smile on your face, do some push-ups. You can go on your knees if you can’t do a full push-up yourself. Your baby may get excited and eventually attempt to copy you.

4. Rock to music

Get on your hands and knees with your baby, play some music, and show them how to rock forward and backward. This may encourage your baby to mimic you. 

5. Crawl to a favorite toy

If your baby has a favorite toy, place it a few feet away. Show your baby how to crawl on their hands and knees to get their toy. Your baby may surprise you and crawl too!

6. Dress for the occasion

When you set aside dedicated crawling practice time, try leaving your baby’s knees and toes exposed. Slippery clothing like pants, leggings, tights, and socks can make it harder to get traction on hard floors — so even a session or two a day with bare knees can make a real difference when they’re just getting started.

7. Play in a kneeling position

Help your baby practice kneeling by supporting them in an upright kneeling position during playtime. This builds the hip and core strength needed for crawling, and gives your baby a chance to get comfortable bearing weight on their knees before they take off on all fours.

Crawling styles

Crawling babies are endlessly creative when it comes to getting around — here are the styles you might spot!

While crawling babies are endlessly creative when it comes to getting around, keep in mind that the classic hands-and-knees crawl is still the goal. The styles below may appear along the way, but aren’t something to actively encourage over the classic crawl.

Classic crawl

This is the style you are most likely to associate with the word “crawling” — and it’s considered the gold-standard ideal. The classic crawl is the goal, as it involves reciprocal movement of opposite hands and knees, which builds the coordination, core strength, and bilateral body awareness that support development down the road.

Belly crawl

Belly crawling, also known as arm or commando crawling, may or may not precede classical hands-and-knees crawling. Babies may crawl forward on their bellies by pulling themselves along. You’ll likely see that reciprocal opposite-arms-and-legs coordination pattern as they move.

Some babies will utilize an inchworm-style crawl in the belly position, too. This is where they pull themselves forward with both arms, then belly-flop onto the ground. While they’re pulling themselves forward, they’re almost in a plank-type position on their hands and feet. The army crawl style is more common, but your baby may experiment with either or both.

Bear crawl

As its name suggests, in this style of crawling, babies are up on outstretched hands and feet, just like a bear, as they move forward. If you don’t see this type of crawling earlier on, you may see it later as your baby prepares to .

Rolling crawl

Some babies utilize a rolling maneuver to get from point A to point B. While it may seem dizzying, it can still help them get where they want to go.

Bottom scoot crawl

In this crawling style, babies sit upright and use their arms to scoot their bottoms forward across the floor. They may also use a leg to help and may move in various directions.

Crab crawl

In this less common crawl style, babies propel themselves forward using one knee and one foot with both arms. 

Keep your crawler safe

Now that your baby is on the move, it’s important to ensure their world is safe! If you haven’t already, . It can be helpful to get down on all fours and move around your house to see the world as your baby does. 

A few key things to tackle:

• Block off stairs with a baby gate at both the top and bottom

• Cover or remove pointy corners on furniture like coffee tables and shelving units

• Clear low surfaces — anything on tables, shelves, or counters within reach is fair game for your curious crawler

• Secure heavy furniture like bookshelves and dressers to the wall to prevent tipping

Make sure you keep a close eye on your baby now that they can move independently. If you place them down on a bed or couch, anticipate that they will not sit still! is often  the safest place to put your baby down from here on out. If you are concerned that your baby will bruise their knees or bump their head on your hard floor, consider utilizing a crawling mat.

When to worry about your baby not crawling

There are so many ways babies can move before they learn to crawl, and so many ways to crawl, too. Here’s what you should know if your baby isn’t crawling just yet:

• Crawling is important for developing the muscles, balance, and coordination needed for standing and walking, but not all babies crawl.

• In some cultures, parents carry their infants to avoid having them crawl on the ground — to prevent germs or to protect them from predators.

• There is no evidence supporting the claim that skipping milestones, such as crawling, leads to developmental issues [].

• As long as your baby is moving and showing interest in exploring the world around them, they’re likely developing just fine!

When to call the doctor

Every baby develops at their own pace, but there are a few signs worth flagging with your pediatrician:

• If your baby isn’t attempting to move or isn’t moving both sides of their body equally, reach out to your trusted healthcare provider.

• You can also request a free evaluation from your local early intervention clinicians — in the U.S., no doctor’s referral is needed, and they come right to your home.

• You can find your local early intervention therapists by .

Crawling and sleep

It’s common to experience sleep challenges right around the time your baby learns to crawl. Your baby may find it more exciting to practice around their crib than to rest their body, close their eyes, and go to sleep. This can be part of the reason some babies around 8 or 9 months. 

Takeaway

• Baby development varies widely: Crawling on hands and knees typically happens between 7 and 10 months, but some babies start earlier, later, or skip it altogether.

• There are many ways to crawl: Hands-and-knees, belly crawling, bear crawling, bottom scooting — all valid ways to get moving.

• You can help things along: Tummy time, placing toys just out of reach, and modeling the movement yourself can all encourage crawling.