Is it true that girls and boys develop differently? Yes, it's true, and the female sex develops faster than the male sex. According to statistics, girls begin to sit, crawl, and walk faster. But still, gender does not play a special role in physical development, and doctors do not pay attention to whether the person in front of them is a boy or a girl, but are guided by general data. The ability to crawl and sit independently also depends on the weight and development of the baby! For example, a skinny girl will crawl faster than a skinny boy, but a well-fed baby will be lazy, and the skinny boy will beat her to it! Another factor is activities with the baby. If parents, by their own example, show a boy how to crawl, conduct classes, exercises, and do gymnastics to strengthen his muscles, then this child will crawl faster than a girl. Today we’ll talk about what time boys start sitting and crawling, and for this we’ll use the average standards from the child development table. You will learn the established norms, why the baby did not crawl on time, and how to help him.

Is it necessary for a child to crawl: role in development

Children try to reach their cherished goal for the first time from the age of 5-6 months, even if they do not yet know how to sit. Kids see a toy, some thing that attracts their attention, get down on all fours or on their knees, and rest their hands on the sides of the crib or sofa (chair) and try to get the thing they like (usually this is something that they have never touched before, even what they are not allowed to do).

At what age do boys begin to crawl consciously? This usually occurs at the age of 8-10 months, it depends on the body type and the readiness of the muscles for stress. If you look at the statistics of reviews, girls begin to crawl confidently and coordinated from 7-9 months, it turns out that boys a little later.

How does this stage affect the baby’s development?

• when crawling, the muscles that will soon be needed for walking begin to be loaded;
• the back muscles and spine are strengthened, and this leads to correct posture;
• different parts of the baby’s body begin to work synchronously;
• crawling helps connect both hemispheres of the brain to the work;
• children learn to navigate in space;
• balance develops.

If a child crawls early, this indicates his good heredity, physical and mental activity. When boys begin to crawl later than 11 months or do not want to do this at all, it is worth consulting with a pediatrician and other specialists. After all, this may indicate a delay in development or health problems.

What does the skill depend on?

Dr. Komarovsky answers the question of what time boys start crawling this way: it is impossible to definitely name the age, it all depends on the child’s readiness. He will crawl as soon as he is ready both physically and mentally.

At what time does a child (boy) begin to crawl on his own? This depends on the following factors:

• baby’s weight (the larger the baby, the later he will crawl);
• time of birth: premature babies are often slightly behind in development;
• the presence of past diseases: children weakened by diseases physically develop more slowly.

How do babies learn to crawl?

1. At the age of 3-4 months, babies begin to confidently hold their head when lying on their tummy. They lean on their arms, turn their heads to the sides, examining the area.
2. From 4-5 months, babies can already lift themselves up on their arms when lying on their stomachs. They independently roll over from their back to their stomach. If you place the baby upright, holding him with his hands, he will begin to lean on his feet.
3. From 5 months or six months, children begin to try to sit independently. To help, it is recommended to cover the child with pillows, this will strengthen the back. Children begin to sit independently in different ways; some confidently hold their back from six months, others from 8-9 months.
4. From the age of six months, babies try to crawl on their bellies, grunt funny, raise the back of their body high, straighten their legs, and rest their faces on the floor!
5. From six months onwards, you need to closely monitor your babies, ensure complete safety in the house (hide all sharp, cutting, flammable things, block sockets, cabinet doors where you can press your hands. Some babies start crawling early!

By 7-8 months the baby can crawl on his belly; by 9-10 months the child should be able to sit up independently. At the same time, he easily turns over on all fours, although hesitantly, he tries to crawl.

The main stages of development of the ability to crawl

We figured out what time a boy starts crawling on his own. We invite you to find out what stages precede the development of a skill and what you need to pay attention to:

1. From the age of three months, it can be noted that the baby, lying on his stomach, actively rows with his arms and legs, rests his face on the surface, as if something is bothering him. It may move a little back or to the side, this is how a child learns to crawl, still unconsciously, without even seeing the goal.
2. Gradually, children begin to control the handles; they rest first on the elbows, then on the palms. Notice how the baby begins to sway, leaning on his arms - this is how coordination improves.
3. Next, the child begins to slowly try to crawl; for some reason, many can crawl backwards at first! The first crawl is cross. That is, the left hand moves synchronously with the right leg and the right hand moves with the left leg.

It happens that babies skip the stage of crawling on their bellies. There's no need to worry about this. This is considered normal if the child crawls on time. Many people immediately get on all fours.

Should I worry if my baby doesn't crawl on time?

We understand at what months a baby boy begins to crawl. What good reasons can there be if a child does not crawl on his own by 10 months?

• Excessive fatness.
• Weak muscles.
• Injuries suffered during childbirth.
• Prolonged stay of the child in stirrups or in a cast.
• Just temperament.

The doctor will prescribe a diet, physical therapy, massage, physiotherapy and other measures to eliminate the causes, and the baby will soon crawl. If there are no such reasons, but by 10 months the baby has not crawled, you should consult a doctor about undergoing an examination.

Why do boys start crawling later than girls?

Neuropsychologists have been studying this phenomenon for a long time, and they have discovered that from birth boys’ brains work differently, hence the difference in development by age. For example, up to 8 months, girls have less acute hearing, but noise irritates them more. Boys are less demanding of tactile contact; they do not need affection and stroking as much as girls.

Girls need less space to develop: they play with dolls and build houses for them in one corner. Little boys need space; if there is not enough vertical space, they strive to conquer the horizontal: they hang on doors, climb on wardrobes (they immediately fall off them), conquer the backs of sofas and other furniture.

Why do boys develop physically slower? Perhaps the fact is that at this time the development of mental ability is intense. It has long been proven that from childhood, boys think more broadly, solve more non-standard problems, they have many interesting ideas, their horizons are broader and more developed than those of girls.

If the neighbor's girl is the same age as your boy, she is already crawling, but your son is not, this is not a reason for frustration! Girls develop faster, write more beautifully, read faster, boys solve geometric and mathematical problems better, understand physics and chemistry better, they are always driven to adventures, new discoveries (remember, there was not a single woman who discovered new islands and continents). All this is a plan of nature that is not yet known to us.

So, we figured out what time boys start crawling, how they learn it, and why they lag behind girls. The reasons for late crawling are clear. How can you help your child learn to crawl? There are special exercises.

Gymnastics for arms

Exercises will help strengthen the muscles of the baby’s arms and back:

1. Place the child on his back, let him grab your thumbs with his hands. Use the rest of your hand to clasp your baby's wrists. Start pulling your arms towards you, the baby will begin to strain them and try to raise his back. Relax your hands, do not pull the baby towards you. Repeat 10-15 times.
2. The position is the same as for the first exercise. Do not pull the arms towards you, but spread them to the sides, pull them a little to the sides, then lift them up (above the child’s head), pull them again a little, fold them on the chest. Repeat 10 times.

Exercises are done several times a day.

Coups

What time do boys start crawling? It also depends on whether his parents work with him or not! If at 4-5 months the baby has not yet mastered rollovers, help him learn:

1. Hold your baby's right arm with one hand while he is lying on his back. With your other hand, place your right leg on top of your left, push the pelvis so that the child begins to roll over, help him.
2. As soon as the baby manages to roll over onto his stomach, begin to help him roll over back onto his back. Repeat the exercises 5-7 times.

You need to do this every day until your child pleases you by turning over on his own.

"Frog"

Their further physical development does not depend on how many months boys begin to crawl. They may start crawling later than girls their age, but they will walk earlier, or run faster later! And yet, every parent wants to boast to their friends that the baby started crawling early! To speed up the process, do the “Frog” exercise every day, which will help your baby quickly learn to crawl and understand how it’s done:

1. The child is on all fours or on his tummy, place your palm under the heels, push a little, the child will begin to lean and push off, push, but not too much, otherwise the baby may fall face down from a sudden movement.
2. The legs will be bent, the baby will raise his pelvis and begin to crawl forward with his body, straightening his legs.
3. Repeat several times.

Other exercises, massage

1. Place your baby on his back, twist and turn his legs like a bicycle, and play with his hands (helps develop coordination).
2. Massage your arms, legs and back.
3. Place the baby vertically, he should rest his feet on the floor.

Arouse interest

What time do boys start crawling? Some earlier, some later, but still no later than 10 months the baby should crawl independently and confidently. Arouse his interest in this activity:

1. Place toys on the floor (preferably new ones, not boring ones), but away from the baby. He himself must crawl to them.
2. Sit down away from the child, call him to you (a grandmother who came to visit, a dad from work, an older brother or sister who came from school can help with this). Don't approach yourself, let the baby crawl! You can take something in your hand that interests him.

All parents are concerned about the question of what time their children begin to crawl. Boys and girls develop slightly differently, but there is still a certain standard criterion, and if the baby does not fall within this framework, regardless of gender, you need to consult a specialist.

A baby's ability to crawl is a skill that many parents look forward to. The ability to move independently by crawling normally appears in children from 5.5 to 9 months. If your baby crawls, this indicates that his back muscles and spine are developing correctly. But not all babies go through the crawling stage; some even skip it altogether, going straight to walking. Is this acceptable, what are the norms for the development of the skill and at what months does a baby begin to crawl, we will consider in our article.

At what age does a child begin to crawl?

Conscious motor activity does not appear in the baby until he learns to hold his head well and masters turning over from his back to his stomach. When the child is able to independently, without any effort, turn in the back/tummy position and back, turn with his head held high, then his muscles have already become stronger and are ready to master the next important stage - the skill of crawling.

The formation of this skill can also be influenced by some factors that must be taken into account when assessing the baby’s development. The most significant among them are:

On a note! The presence of the crawling reflex can be observed even in newborn babies. Checking for the presence of this reflex is very simple. Lay your baby on his tummy and place your palm on your baby's feet as a support for his legs. The child will immediately try to push slightly away from your palm, unconsciously trying to move forward.

Development of crawling stages in infants

Each infant may have his own “individual style” of crawling, but in general, experts identify several stages through which the baby gradually goes through to fully develop the skill. The sequence of stages can be viewed in the table, which describes the infant’s motor development step by step in a certain period.

Child's age	Development stage	Characteristic signs
5-7 months	Stomach crawling	The baby turns over on its tummy and tries to actively move forward using the arm muscles (active load on the shoulders and elbows). The movements may resemble the activity of a “caterpillar.” The baby is not yet able to move forward; more often he is able to crawl backward or even to the side.
6-8 months	Crawling on your bellies	The child is already trying to pull up his legs one by one in an attempt to move towards the object or mother. The support is on the palms, which simplifies the crawling process. At first, the baby will be able to crawl backwards; this is a normal course of skill development. Gradually, “plastic” movements should lead to the ability to get up on all fours
7-9 months	Crawling on all fours	Having learned to bear weight on all fours, the child will learn to rearrange his legs and arms. The process may look like rocking, still awkward and clumsy, but every day the skill will strengthen the muscles. Around the end of the 9th month, children master crawling in full understanding and begin to crawl on all fours.

Interesting fact! On many forums for parents you can find discussions about when girls and boys begin to crawl, emphasizing the fact that motor activity differs in both sexes. But it is worth noting that the development of crawling skills does not depend on the gender of the child. Therefore, if you have a son, then you should not worry that boys begin to crawl later than girls or vice versa.

In most cases, the child goes through all stages of crawling development. Some infants prefer to act according to their own “plan”, choosing the most convenient method of transportation for themselves and using it for a long time. Babies who are active from birth can bypass the first stages and immediately learn to crawl on all fours. Others can move on their bellies for up to 8-9 months, and then, having learned to sit and stand up without support, try to take their first steps.

Exercises to develop crawling skills in children

The desire for independent movement and knowledge of the child’s environment is inherent in nature. If the child has the opportunity to crawl during active hours and there is a suitable surface, then many parents simply let the process take its course. If you want to help your baby learn to control his body and improve his coordination of movements, you can do simple exercises with him.

Developing arm muscles

A good exercise for a child aged 5.5-6 months with a developmental mat. Place the baby on the mat in a prone position. Bright toys on the rug should be hung at eye level. The baby will try to reach the toy, leaning on one hand in order to touch it with the other.

Exercises on the ball

A special fitball will help strengthen the child’s back and abdominal muscles. In the first lesson, you need to place the baby with his back on the ball, holding it under his armpits. Easily swing the ball forward/backward. 3-5 minutes is enough. In the second lesson, we place the child on the ball in a lying position on his stomach, holding him by the back and feet. We put a toy in front of the ball. The child will try to get it by moving his palms over the ball.

Daily massage

Many neurologists recommend massage to help the child begin to crawl. Massage increases blood flow in the spine and stimulates the back muscles. Light stroking movements from the shoulders to the lower back should be alternated with more intense ones. You can carry out the procedure yourself by watching a training video, or trust a specialist.

The baby is not crawling - should we sound the alarm?

In rare cases, it happens that the child does not begin to crawl at all. Instead of crawling, he uses an alternative method of locomotion, such as trying to bounce while sitting, rocking on all fours and bouncing, or sliding on his stomach. There is no need to worry about this if:

• the baby uses both arms and legs equally;
• learns to coordinate the movements of the left and right sides of the body, trying to be in motion even without the ability to crawl;
• The child, in combination with the above, has all the conditions for proper physical development and growth.

Important! If you feel that something is wrong with your baby's motor development, consult your pediatrician.

The most important thing for a child is to be able to independently explore his environment and strengthen his body, preparing it for walking. Encourage your baby in his first attempts to crawl, develop the skill in a playful way. With the right approach, your efforts will be rewarded, and the child will cover any distance with the help of crawling.

The achievements of a growing baby are always a joy for parents. Its development in the period up to a year is rapid. It seemed that just recently the baby could only move his arms and legs and reach for rattles. Now he is turning over with all his might, trying to sit down and get on all fours. Soon he will learn to crawl and begin to actively explore the available living space. At the same time, adults are often concerned with the question: do all children crawl before taking the first step, and do babies need to be stimulated to develop this skill?

Every mother looks forward to her baby starting to crawl. The role of crawling in the development of the baby

The child makes his first attempts to reach the desired goal at six months. Trying to reach a rattle or ball with his hand, he gets down on all fours and slowly learns to move on his knees towards the goal.

By 9 months, movement on all fours becomes conscious and coordinated. The stage when a child begins to crawl on all fours indicates that his bones and muscles are ready for new physical activity. Such training has a positive effect on the development of the baby:

• the process involves muscles that will soon be involved in walking;
• strengthening the back muscles contributes to the development of correct posture;
• synchronization of the work of different parts of the baby’s body;
• inclusion of both hemispheres of the brain;
• mastering the skill of balance;
• orientation in space.

Early learning of the crawling skill indicates the baby’s positive activity and good heredity. Perhaps one of the parents began crawling also early. If a child does not strive for physical activity at nine months of age, it makes sense to consult a neurologist. The cause of delay is hereditary factors or health problems.

The child begins to make active attempts to crawl by 6-7 months, however, all babies are individual, and the period may vary

Children's pediatrician Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky focuses on the importance of crawling in infancy. It stimulates walking much more effectively than walkers and jumpers. However, the doctor emphasizes that it is impossible to give a specific date for when a child will crawl. He can do this if he is completely ready.

Use skill: how does it arise and what does it depend on?

At what months does a baby begin to crawl? This indicator is influenced by the following factors:

1. Gender of the child. Girls are often ahead of boys in development, and crawling is no exception.
2. Baby weight. Overweight babies (regardless of gender) master crawling somewhat later than their peers.
3. Time of birth. Babies born prematurely or weakened as a result of illness begin to crawl later than their peers.

The time when a child begins to crawl depends little on the ratio of his height and weight. If they are ahead of the norm (the baby looks larger and older than his peers) and the child develops normally, there is no reason for a delay in mastering the skill of crawling.

How does a baby learn to crawl?

It is important to understand that a child masters the skill of crawling gradually. The development of motor functions occurs in stages:

• 3 months – the child confidently holds his head while lying on his stomach, turns it in different directions, lifts his body, leaning on his hands;
• 4 months - the baby can rise in his arms from a lying position, roll over from his back to his tummy, rest his legs if he is held vertically;
• 5 months - the baby tries to sit and crawl on his belly;
• 6-7 months – the baby rolls over well from his back onto his tummy and gets on all fours, actively mastering the skill of crawling, so parents should carefully monitor his safety.

The main skills that a baby masters in the first year of life are presented in the table:

Baby's age (months)	Skills
1	The newborn reacts to loud sounds, follows the movements of adults with its eyes, and uses a rattle.
2	The “grasping reflex” develops; the baby follows objects moving vertically, moves his arms and legs, trying to synchronize their actions.
3	The child coos, examines his face with his hands, recognizes his parents.
4	In the tummy position, the child holds his head well, stretches out on his arms, and can sway.
5	The first teeth may appear. The baby “plays” with the bottle and spends a long time paying attention to his favorite toys.
6	Knows his name, tries to sit up, repeats sounds after adults.
7	The baby knows close people, manages to stand up, sits confidently, and pronounces simple words.
8	He eats food, holding a piece in his fist, and transfers the rattle from hand to hand.
9	Sits confidently and crawls towards objects of interest.
10	Interested in small objects.
11	Imitates the intonation of his parents and sits down independently.
12	Crawls well, walks with support or independently.

Main stages of mastering a skill
The development of the skill of crawling occurs gradually, the first attempts are more like rocking on all fours

Babies master the skill of crawling gradually. At three months of age they try to crawl forward on their bellies. The direction of movement is forward, sideways, backward, so it is not always possible to understand that the child is trying to crawl. When performing such exercises, the baby moves like a small caterpillar, which requires a minimum of energy. Gymnastics teaches you to control your arms - pushing off with your elbows, the child automatically crawls back. Having realized how this happens, he repeats the movements again.

Having learned to control his hands, the child tries to get up on all fours, leaning first on his elbows and then on his palms. Many parents notice how their babies sway while standing on all fours. Long training sessions improve the coordination of the baby’s movements, and he begins to cross crawl, alternating the movements of his arms and legs. The right arm and left leg move synchronously, and vice versa, gradually the rhythm becomes clear, and the crawling speed increases.

Many parents are interested in: what happens first - the child learns to crawl or sit? Experts believe that first the baby must learn to crawl on its belly, and then learn to sit. It is forbidden to force a child to sit down. The baby must get stronger and sit up on his own, since sitting creates a vertical load on the spine.

It is important for parents to focus on developing crawling skills. It will strengthen the muscles and help the child sit up. It happens that babies do not crawl on their tummy at all, and immediately go to all fours, which is also a variant of the norm.

The baby is not crawling - is it worth sounding the alarm?
To prepare the baby for crawling and strengthen his muscles, it is recommended to massage the baby

During walks, mothers often share their babies' achievements with each other. Having learned that many babies already crawl, and it’s time for the baby to master this skill, mothers begin to actively encourage him to crawl. Professional children's massage and exercise therapy give good results - the muscles are strengthened, and the baby begins to move actively. However, it happens that none of the possible measures gives results.

There are several reasons why the baby does not crawl:

• poor muscle development;
• birth injuries of the newborn;
• long-term stay in a cast, stirrups;
• excess weight;
• characteristics of temperament.

If your baby is already 9 months old, but shows poor physical activity, you should tell your pediatrician about this at a routine appointment. The doctor will recommend correction methods - massage, diet, exercise therapy, and, if necessary, refer you for consultation to specialized specialists (orthopedist, neurologist, cardiologist and others).

What should parents be wary of?

Only a specialist can figure out why a baby does not crawl. Mom should be wary if he tries to make characteristic movements, dragging an arm or leg behind him. Also, you should not lose sight of the situation in which a baby over 9 months crawls only on his belly, without making an attempt to get on all fours. It is advisable to read the literature that will tell you how long and how to stimulate the crawling skill.

In some cases, if the child has a prolonged lack of interest in crawling, it is necessary to consult a doctor. How long does it take for premature babies to crawl?

The development of premature babies depends on the time of birth. Babies with 1st degree of prematurity begin to cackle at 2-3 months, babies with 3rd and 4th degrees of prematurity - a few weeks later. As a rule, three-month-old babies confidently hold their heads, and at six months they roll over from their tummy to their back and back. These babies sit on their own at 8-12 months and stand up at one year old.

Since the first motor activity that prepares for crawling occurs in premature babies at 6-9 months, they begin to crawl later than their peers. Typically, children born prematurely master this skill at ten months of age.

How to stimulate active crawling?

Pediatricians do not recommend helping a child crawl and get on all fours. The baby will achieve everything on his own after his muscles get stronger and are ready for the load. However, parents cannot always be passive observers. You can help in the following ways:

• lay the baby on his tummy on a rug or bed so that he has plenty of room for visibility and movement;
• place bright balls or attractive toys within sight;
• seeing the object of his interest, the baby will begin to stretch his arms;
• Having noticed this moment, it is important for parents to create supports for his legs with their hands - he will push off and begin to crawl on his tummy;
• soon the baby will understand that he can control the body himself, and he needs to be shown an example of moving on all fours;
• over time, the baby will notice that he can do the same, and regular exercise and massage will help strengthen his muscles;
• You should not ignore the advice of a neurologist and pediatrician regarding massage - there are known situations when completely passive babies, after a course of massage, became active and learned to crawl in a few weeks.

Bright toys that are not easy to reach can help your baby crawl.Safety rules

The safety of an apartment for a baby who has learned to crawl can be determined by assessing the situation through the eyes of a young researcher. To make your trip around the apartment educational, you should avoid encountering dangerous objects and ensure the following conditions:

• comfortable temperature - there should be no drafts on the floor, clothes for crawling must be comfortable and sufficiently insulated when the apartment is cool;
• sharp corners, wires, potentially dangerous objects - contact with them should be excluded by installing protective locks, plugs, hiding or hiding anything that the baby can pull and taste;
• household chemicals and hazardous liquids - all clothing care products, medications, cat food, paints and other potentially hazardous liquids should be hidden in cabinets with special restrictions;
• cleanliness - you should not strive for absolute sterility of the floor, since the baby needs to get used to “household” microbes, but there should be no garbage or animal hair.

In each room you can organize a safe corner with your favorite toys and interesting things. Then the baby will have a purpose to move around the apartment and the mother can relax, detachedly watching his games. There are a lot of interesting things ahead, because when the baby learns to walk, there will be more worries and concerns about safety.

“Stomp, stomp, stomp baby,” is sung in a funny children’s song. This event will occur approximately a year after the child is born, and by then he will have time to master many other useful skills.

Before they start walking, children try to move around by crawling from place to place. Why and when does a baby start crawling? Do all children have to be able to do this?

When does it start to crawl?

From the first minutes of life, a newborn baby begins to explore the world around him. He looks at everything around him, listens, touches and tastes any thing he can reach. And so, when there are no unexplored secrets left within reach of the hand, natural inquisitiveness encourages the baby to show interest in other subjects.

This period of active cognitive activity begins somewhat earlier than children learn to walk. Therefore, in order to reach a bright toy or mother’s mobile phone, the baby tries to move forward in other ways available to him.

At first, he begins to get good at rolling on his side and on his stomach. Then he will be able, pushing off with his leg or arm, to turn in the other direction, move forward or backward. And when the baby finally understands and masters his new capabilities, he will learn to crawl in the direction he needs.

Usually, the first attempts to crawl are observed in children from the age of five months. By the age of seven months, the most active and persistent babies can crawl quite long distances.

Such data on how many months a child begins to crawl cannot be considered the norm, since in infancy the development of children occurs purely individually.

The period when the baby begins to crawl depends on several criteria:

1. Degree development of the musculoskeletal system. The faster the muscles of the arms and back become stronger, the more confident the child will feel when leaning on his arms, and will soon begin to crawl.
2. Degree nervous system development. Understanding the principle of movement by crawling is the result of hard work of the brain. By this moment, the baby should have formed neural connections responsible for coordination of movements, development of a sense of space and distance.
3. Features of development. Each baby masters the world around him at his own pace. Some people prefer tactile sensations and then they begin to crawl earlier. Others immediately want to observe and only then try to touch.

In addition, it is believed that the time period at which girls begin to crawl begins a little earlier than for boys. It has also been found that premature babies do this a little later, at about ten months of age.

1. Body type. It is usually more difficult for chubby toddlers to learn to crawl, so this process may take them longer.
2. Stimulation. Creating favorable conditions for the development of the ability to crawl can contribute to the earlier development of this skill.

Thus, it is impossible to accurately predict when a baby will learn to crawl. It often happens that a child at 8 months is not yet crawling, but is already beginning to learn to stand and step from object to object. He may not have the need to crawl at all.

Ways to crawl

The little one chooses the method of movement depending on how it is more convenient for him or how he likes it best. There are three main manners of crawling:

• on the stomach;
• in Plastun style;
• On knees.

The easiest way for a baby to learn to crawl is on his stomach. Already at three months he can roll over and lie on his tummy for a long time, looking around him. At the same time, he makes involuntary movements, rests his hands and feet on a hard surface, trying to move in the direction of interest to him. Read more about when a baby starts to roll over

However, the baby cannot rise, but, on the contrary, presses his stomach to the floor. This can rather be called poking.

With this method, the baby cannot move quickly. Often, crawling on his stomach, he moves not forward, but backward. The ability to crawl in this way strengthens the muscles of the back and neck, helps get rid of intestinal colic and improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. For other methods of getting rid of colic, see the course Soft Tummy

The way when a child begins to crawl on his belly is very similar to how adults do it.

The main differences from the previous crawling model are the movement of the legs. The baby, lying on his stomach, spreads his legs wide and bends them at the knees. And then, pushing off from the floor, he straightens his legs and thus moves forward. At the same time, he rises on his hands, tightening his body.

Crawling on the belly helps children develop the skills of alternating movements and is an excellent prevention of hip dysplasia.

By the time a child begins to crawl on all fours, he usually already knows how to sit well. After all, it is from a sitting position that it is most convenient to get on all fours. In this case, the baby rests on the surface only with his arms and legs. He can stand on his knees or on straightened legs. Read more about when a baby starts sitting

Crawling on all fours is considered the most difficult way, because the child must keep his body in an elevated position. In addition, he needs to be able to maintain balance and coordinate his movements.

"On knees"

At first, the baby performs all movements not very confidently, often standing in one place, swaying back and forth. However, when he fully masters the technique of crawling on all fours, he will move quite quickly. This method is very useful for forming the curves of the spine, the ability to correctly distribute the load on the body during movement and control the direction of movement.

The baby can immediately learn the most basic method of crawling, and then move on to another technique. The most difficult is the ability to crawl using the “cross” method.

Refusal to crawl: is there any reason to be wary?

The ability to crawl is very important for a baby's development. If a child does not want to crawl, you should not ignore this, considering crawling simply as a transitional stage between sitting and walking.

After all, when the baby begins to crawl, the first signs of independence are formed, he has greater freedom and opportunities.

In addition, crawling is very useful for:

• training the muscles of the back and limbs;
• formation of the skeleton and development of the musculoskeletal system;
• development of coordination of movements and the ability to navigate in space;
• preparation for upright walking;
• improvement of psychomotor development (when crawling with support on the palms of the hands, the child receives a large number of tactile sensations);
• development of the nervous system and brain.

The ability to crawl affects the development of the cerebral hemispheres; a strong relationship is established between them and there is no predominance of one of them over the other. Children who have learned to crawl have abilities in both the exact sciences and the humanities and have creative inclinations.

Neurologists believe that the crawling period is more important for the development of a child’s nervous system than the first steps.

Also, the ability to crawl has a positive effect on the timely development of speech and the absence of speech therapy problems.

Therefore, if the baby has no desire to crawl at the age of 8 months, it is advisable to establish the reason for this behavior and try to correct the situation (you must remember that the period at which boys begin to crawl may come a little later).

Reluctance to crawl can be caused by several factors.

1. Health problems. Muscle weakness, deviations in the development of the musculoskeletal system and nervous system may be observed.
2. Temperament. Children show their curiosity and activity to varying degrees. Some people prefer to watch rather than try to reach and touch an object. This baby does not express much interest in crawling.
3. Finding in a closed space. Spending most of his time in the crib, the baby simply does not understand that there is a big and interesting world outside of it that he can explore.
4. The child is not allowed to lie on his stomach. There is no need to specifically lay the baby on his stomach, but you need to stimulate his activity by any means.
5. Weight. Even overweight children will try to move in every possible way. Most often, a large child does not crawl on all fours because it is difficult for him to support his body.
6. No need to crawl. Overly diligent parents are so protective of their child that they rush to help him in any situation. The baby simply does not need to try to get something, because the mother helpfully presents everything in which he shows interest.

In most cases, the reason for the reluctance to crawl is not very serious and the problem can be solved. The main thing is to know how to teach a baby to crawl and show a little patience.

Crawling is a natural reflex that is present in children from birth, but fades over time. Therefore, parents do not need to try to teach their toddler to crawl. It is enough to create the necessary conditions for him and simply observe the baby’s behavior, only slightly directing his actions.

Important to remember! Before you try to teach your baby to crawl, make sure that the baby is developing normally and has no health problems.

Parents' help should include the following.

1. To make a child want to crawl:

• put it on the floor more often, surrounding it with interesting things and moving objects;
• you need to interest him, lure him with a bright toy or a loud rattle;
• in the process of trying to learn to crawl, it is important to praise and encourage the baby more often;
• as a role model, demonstrate to him how to crawl.

1. Develop the musculoskeletal system:

• do a strengthening massage (if a child has problems with physical development, you should seek the services of a professional massage therapist);
• do gymnastics with the baby (the simplest exercises should be started from the first month after birth);
• carried correctly in your arms.

1. Learn to navigate in space and control your body:

• learn special exercises (flips, “frog”, etc.);
• exercises with a fitball, exercises with a roller (the most effective way to teach a child to crawl on all fours);

1. Ensure compliance with safety precautions and hygiene requirements:

• put the baby on a clean floor covered with a rug or blanket (no need to teach him to crawl on the bed or lay a mattress on the floor);
• remove objects that the baby can pull onto the floor, shorten long curtains;
• remove small and sharp objects;
• remove cords from electrical appliances, power extension cords and carriers;
• dress the baby in clothes that will not restrict his movements.

Compliance with all these points will soon lead to positive results. The most important thing for parents is to understand: in order to start crawling, the baby must want it himself, and you shouldn’t expect any effect from regular training.

After the child has learned to hold his head up and roll over on his own, he tries to learn new skills. Someone is trying to get on all fours in order to... Some people first learn to sit down.

Learning to sit

With each month, the muscles of the back, neck and abs become stronger, and gradually the child develops a desire to change the boring horizontal position of the body. As a rule, this occurs at the age of 5-7 months. By the age of 8 months, 90% of children can sit independently and confidently.

How do you know when your baby is ready to sit down? Extend your hands to him. If he, holding your palms, pulls forward, tensing his abdominal muscles, this means that a start has been made. Some parents, in order to speed up the process, begin to “sit down” the child: they sit them down or on a soft surface, holding them with their hands. This can only be done after the baby is six months old.

When sitting for the first time, the child will fall, but will gradually learn to lean on his hands, and by 7 months he will be able to sit without support and even turn around to get his favorite toy. One fine day, the baby will lean forward and try to maintain balance, leaning on both hands, this will be a signal that your baby is coming soon.

Learning to crawl

Each child is unique, so it is possible that at first he will learn to crawl rather than sit. Once he has mastered the rollover and is lifting himself up on his arms so he can see you, the day will come when your baby will get on his knees and start pushing off.

Usually children are 6-7 months old. Some start backwards, others on their stomachs. Everyone chooses the method that is most convenient for them. The first attempts are always slow and uncertain. By 9-10 months, the baby will learn to cross crawl, alternating the left leg and right arm with the right leg and left arm. By the year he will finally get used to it and pick up a decent speed.

How can you help your baby? Do not keep him in a playpen or crib all the time; from the age of 4 months, place the child on the floor or on the sofa, lay out toys in front of him. Then he will have an incentive to get to them. Make the task more difficult as necessary by placing obstacles in the child's path in the form of pillows or blankets.

All children develop differently, so don’t worry if your friend’s child is already crawling, but yours is not yet at the same age. However, you should be concerned if the baby does not begin to move on the eve of his first birthday.

A baby's crawling is an important stage of its development, which affects not only the physical health of the baby, but also affects its psychological state. When a child begins to crawl, his parents breathe a sigh of relief, because the ability to move independently is evidence of the correct development of arms, legs and back.

When crawling, the muscles develop and strengthen, as if preparing the back for subsequent upright walking. However, there are babies who do not crawl, but immediately begin to walk. Whether this is considered normal and at what months crawling should begin will be discussed in this article.

At what age should a child normally start crawling?

At what months do babies start crawling? Dr. Komarovsky and other experts argue that the beginning of any stage of development is individual for each child. The baby will crawl when he is ready for it psychologically and physically.

Until three months, the baby lies on his back most of the time and does not notice many things around him. A three-month-old baby can already hold and turn his head, as well as roll over onto his tummy, opening up a broader horizon and beginning to be interested in everything around him.

By the age of five months, the baby no longer just looks at toys and other things that are attractive to him, but tries to crawl towards them on his stomach. Next comes the stage of crawling on all fours. It can also occur at the age of five months, but more often children begin to crawl after six months. Around this time they begin to sit.

For large children, movement may be difficult. For this reason, they begin to crawl at 8-9 months. If this does not happen at 9 months, the pediatrician may prescribe special procedures (massage) that will contribute to the development of the skill. Crawling on all fours should precede upright walking, since it is this that develops walking skills. At the same time, the muscles and spine are strengthened, coordination of movements develops, the child learns to control his body, think independently and make decisions.

The lack of interest in nine-month-old children to move independently is often due to insufficient development of muscles, skeletal system and joints. A child who is constantly in a confined space simply does not know how interesting the world around him is and does not strive to understand it. For this reason, it is important that the child does not spend too much time in the playpen and crib. Interest in moving in space can also be suppressed by parents who immediately give the child what interests him, in which case the need to crawl simply disappears.

Later, premature babies begin to crawl, as well as those with a calm temperament, who prefer to observe rather than check by touch. In addition, the age at which crawling begins depends on the gender of the child: it is believed that girls develop faster and master the skill earlier than boys. In this regard, for one child the norm for starting use will be 5 months, and for another – 9 months.

Stages of crawling in children

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Each baby's crawling style may be different. However, there are several main stages of crawling. In the table below we will look step by step at mastering the skills of movement by newborns:

Crawling style	At what age	Characteristic
On the stomach	5-7 months	The child moves forward using his arm muscles. This puts significant strain on the elbows and shoulders. The movement resembles the crawling of a caterpillar. Moving forward is difficult; it is better to crawl to the side and backward.
In Plastun style	6-8 months	Attempts to alternately pull up the legs. The main support is the palms. At first the baby crawls backwards this way, which is quite normal. After this stage, the baby is ready to get on all fours.
On knees	7-9 months	First, the baby learns to stand in this position, supporting his weight, then he moves his arms and legs. The initial movements are clumsy and awkward, but with gradual strengthening of the muscles the baby gets better and better. At first, the child moves forward first one, then the other hand, and simply pulls his legs behind him. Further, the movement becomes cross - when moving the right hand forward, the left leg rushes behind it, and the right leg follows the left hand.

Some children may miss certain crawling milestones. Some immediately begin to crawl on all fours, while others move on their bellies up to 9 months, and after that they begin to walk.

The importance of crawling for a child's development

Doctors believe that the period of crawling has a much more important effect on the development of the baby’s nervous system than walking. It is at this stage that motor skills develop and the beginnings of speech development are laid.

Factors that make crawling important:

• mastering everything in sight;
• development of proper coordination of the torso (its lower and upper parts);
• development of the brain hemispheres and their alternate activation;
• improved perception through the eyes;
• improving tactile sensitivity;
• the child’s acquisition of spatial ideas about his body;
• perception of the relationship of one’s body with what surrounds it;
• orientation in space;
• laying the foundation for the development of speech, writing and reading.

A baby who misses the crawling stage (especially if he was born premature) is deprived of an important stage of brain development. He does not master spatial connections and general perception of space in a timely manner. A quick transition to walking provokes a strong load on the spine. The back muscles are not sufficiently strengthened, so when you start walking, some pathologies may develop.

Moving on all fours, the child carries out brain activity, alternating the movement of arms and legs. In the absence of the opportunity to learn this, disturbances in thinking and coordination are subsequently possible.

Why doesn't the baby start crawling?

There are times when a child does not begin to crawl, which worries his parents. In this case, the child moves differently: he likes to sit for a long time, bounces while sitting, swings on all fours, or slides on his stomach. If at the same time he uses both pairs of limbs and learns to coordinate both sides of the body, the worries are unjustified. If parents suspect problems with motor development, they should contact their pediatrician. He will dispel all doubts and recommend how to help the baby crawl.

Reasons why a baby refuses or cannot crawl:

Useful exercises for skill development

It is important to understand that it is impossible to force a baby to crawl when he is not ready for it. Only if the child already knows how to roll over and get on all fours can his actions be stimulated.

Rules that can help your baby crawl:

Every mother eagerly awaits the moment when her baby starts crawling.
Many parents are concerned that their child passes the crawling stage and immediately stands on his feet and tries to walk. Let's figure out whether we should worry about this? And at what months do babies start crawling?

At what months does a baby begin to crawl?

Crawling is one of the key stages in a child's development. Before your baby starts walking, he needs to strengthen his back muscles and prepare his body for the load.
Thanks to crawling, a child can better understand the surrounding space. This is how his independence develops, and his joints become stronger.
There is no exact answer to the question of when a child should start crawling. The development of a child occurs absolutely individually and the acquisition of certain skills occurs in each person at their own time.
The age at which a baby begins to crawl is influenced by many factors, such as:

• the child’s weight (chubby toddlers usually take longer to learn to crawl and move on all fours);
• rate of physical development;
• baby's character.

As a rule, by the age of 6-7 months, many children already know how to crawl independently.

Children's manners and methods of movement are different and sometimes quite funny. Some children, instead of crawling forward, begin to crawl backward.

Why doesn't a baby crawl at 8 months?

There are reasons that may well explain the baby’s reluctance to crawl:

1. The child suffers from diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Such violations are easy to identify at home. You can guess about problems if the child has difficulty holding his head up, if toys fall out of his hands because he cannot hold them, if the baby does not sit down and cannot raise his arms up. In the absence of these factors, we can say with almost complete confidence that everything is fine with the child. Some children, instead of crawling, immediately rise to their feet and try to walk.
2. The reason that the child does not crawl may also be that the baby’s development is delayed. In this case, not only crawling is observed later than the prescribed period, but also all other actions. It is advisable to refrain from treatment with potent chemicals. You can get by with simple massage and physiotherapy.
3. The child simply may not understand that he needs to crawl. Due to his non-specific temperament, he may act differently, that is, the baby immediately tries to learn to move on his feet. Naturally, he will be capricious, because the actions will not work out initially. He looks at adults and sees that they are walking, and tries to repeat their movements. If there are no particular problems with the baby’s musculoskeletal system, then you can help the baby by demonstrating exactly how to walk.
4. There are children who are simply lazy by nature. And parents often get tired of motivating their children to perform the necessary actions.

If by the age of 1 year the child does not crawl, does not sit or stand up, and does not make any attempts to move independently, then this may indicate the presence of serious illnesses and parents should consult a pediatrician for advice.

How to teach a child to crawl?

Many parents ask the question: “How to teach a baby to crawl?” The easiest way for a child to learn to crawl is on his stomach. The best solution is to show the child what to do and how to do it, or to gently push it. In order to teach a child to crawl, you can carefully move the baby’s arms and legs to make it easier for him to understand what to do. The main thing is not to indulge the whims when the child is too lazy to move towards the toy. And even more so, you cannot insistently demand, otherwise, instead of correctly performed movements, parents will receive screams and tears.
A number of simple exercises can help teach a child to crawl:

1. In order for a child to crawl on all fours, he must be able to lean on straight arms. Parents need to place the baby on his tummy and help him rise up using his arms.
2. Before teaching a child to crawl, the baby must learn to stand on all fours. To do this, you can twist a cushion out of a blanket and lay your baby along it, tummy down.
3. Some children, trying to crawl on all fours, begin to lean on their feet rather than on their knees, which significantly complicates the task for the baby. Parents should show the most comfortable position to the baby. Place your baby on all fours so that his knees are bent. Try helping your baby move his arms and legs.
4. In order for your child to learn to crawl, you must give him a full sense of his capabilities. Remember - your child feels you, so every movement he makes should be encouraged by you. Praise him and motivate him to do new movements. For example, put his favorite toy in front of him so that he has to make an effort to get it - these are little tricks that really work. If your child wants to take something, do not help him, let him make the effort himself and get what he wants.
5. Fitball exercises. This exercise helps your child strengthen his back muscles. The baby is placed with his stomach on the ball and gently rocked.
   For more information about fitball exercises, watch the video.
6. Exercise frog. Place your baby on his back. Grab your child's legs by the shins and begin to gently bend them into a frog position. Turn the baby over onto his tummy and repeat the same thing. It will be helpful to let your baby push his feet off your palms.
7. Imitation. A good role model would be babies or adults crawling around on all fours.
8. Massage. At home, the mother can give the baby a general strengthening massage, which consists mainly of stroking, since the baby’s skin is very delicate.

The period when your baby begins to crawl is very touching and important, so parental support in this matter is necessary! Be there for your child as they overcome a new obstacle in their life.