When will my baby begin to crawl?

Crawling is an important stage in development, and parents watch with delight as their baby becomes mobile. Although some babies start crawling before they’re six months old, most begin between six and ten months, and some never crawl, going from sitting to walking without the middle step. Because children develop at their own pace, each baby will begin to crawl when she’s ready. But if your baby has not begun by the time she’s nine or ten months old, you may want to talk to your pediatrician about her motor development.

Some parents wonder if they can motivate their baby to crawl by putting toys just out of her reach. Rather than help, this may only frustrate her if she’s not able to start moving. There’s really no need to encourage crawling because babies have an innate desire to get to many different objects and explore their surroundings. As soon as she’s developmentally ready and able to extend herself, she’ll start crawling.

When your baby first begins to move, you may see her “belly crawl” across the floor. She’ll move backwards or forwards, pulling with alternating arms while her belly stays flat on the floor. Later, she’ll get up on all fours, rocking a little. Eventually, she’ll move slowly on all fours, mastering the movement until she becomes a proficient crawler.