Crawling is the very first way that your baby will be able to get around on his own. While learning to crawl, he will start by balancing on his knees and hands. Eventually, he’ll discover that he can move forward and backwards by using his knees to push off.

In general, your baby will probably learn to crawl somewhere between six and ten months of age. Some babies might not crawl much at all; these babies often prefer another method of mobility, such as rolling from one spot to another, or shuffling on his bottom. Some babies will skip crawling altogether, and move right on to standing and walking.

Crawling will often start shortly after your baby is able to sit up well without help from you for support. At this stage, she can keep her head up to check out the world around her, and her leg, back, and arm muscles are well enough developed to keep her from falling down when she does get up onto her hands and knees in preparation for crawling. It will probably take a couple of months to confidently move from her sitting-up position to a position onto all fours. As she gets better and better at it, she’ll learn how to move freely between a crawling and a sitting position.

You can encourage your baby to begin to crawl by placing games with him. You can sit on the floor in front of him, and place toys just outside of his reach. If you wish, you can create an obstacle course of sorts with boxes, pillows, cushions, etc. that will help him negotiate the way from his spot to yours.

Once your baby is crawling, make sure to childproof your house. Safety measures include:

- Check floors for splinters or sharp objects.

- Put covers onto electrical sockets.

- Look for floor lamps or other electronic devices that could be pulled down on top of baby by the cord.

- Avoid a tablecloth that can be pulled off the table.

- Remove breakable, valuable, dangerous, or small choking-hazard type items, from lower shelves.

- Pay special attention to using baby gates at stairways. Make sure that the gates are the right type, that they are secure, and that your baby can’t get through them or trapped by them.

Posted in Baby and Toddler

Related Articles:

Toddler Proofing Your House

What Should I Expect After Delivery?

Should Our Babysitter Be Paid More Now That We Have a New Baby?

What Can I Expect From My Newborn?

What Plays a Role in The Hourly Rate We Should Pay a Babysitter?

When Will My Baby Be Able To Sit Up On Her Own?

What Should I Expect on My First Fertility Treatment Appointment?

Toys For Babies 6 To 9 Months

When to Expect Your Period after a Miscarriage

Why Do Babies Need Tummy-Time?

The Stages of Labor What to Expect

Infant Development 6-9 Months