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Crawling:  A Milestone That Should Be Encouraged

Crawling: A Milestone That Should Be Encouraged

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There comes a time in the second half of your baby’s first year when all of a sudden he transitions from a cute stationary little lump to a full force energizer bunny zooming around, trying to get into every possible unsafe corner of your home. The onset of crawling, which typically begins anytime between 7-10 months, often causes parents to go into the frantic mode of “baby-proofing”.
And while crawling can be exhausting for parents, you can take comfort in knowing that this stage is critical as a foundation for so many future skills. Most pediatric occupational and physical therapists are hard core advocates of crawling as a crucial stage of development. And here’s why:

 

1) Crawling builds the brain.

 

Both sides of the brain need practice working together. Our brains are separated into two halves, the left and right hemispheres, and are connected together by a neural “roadway” called the corpus callosum.  As your baby crawls, his left leg moves in sync with his right arm.  This reciprocal movement activates and coordinates both sides of the brain and helps to integrate some primitive reflexes that were needed earlier on but are no longer necessary.  Using both arms in a coordinated way is termed bilateral coordination, and is necessary to button a shirt, climb a ladder, open a water bottle, and stabilize a piece of paper while writing.

 

Crawling:  A Milestone That Should Be Encouraged

 

 

2) Crawling increases strength.

 

In order the develop a proper pencil grasp, your child needs sufficient strength from the core to the shoulder and all the way down through the fingers. Crawling is the only stage which significantly strengthens the upper body in preparation for more advanced fine motor skills like coloring, cutting, and writing. Weight-bearing through the arms builds upper body strength from the shoulders all the way to the tiny muscles in the hand, developing the palmar arches so your child can effectively hold a pencil in elementary school.

 

Crawling:  A Milestone That Should Be Encouraged by Tots on Target

 

3) Crawling improves vision.

 

 

By actively moving through his environment, your baby is developing more efficient binocular vision (coordination and use of both eyes).  As he looks to find his favorite toy on the other side of the room, his eyes work as a team as he crawls on over, developing depth perception in a 3-dimensional world.  Adequate binocular coordination is necessary to copy notes from a board, catch a ball, and go up and down stairs safely.

Crawling:  A Milestone That Should Be Encouraged by Tots on Target

 

 

4) Crawling develops the sensory systems of touch and proprioception.

 

 

Crawling on different surfaces like carpet, tile, and even outside on the grass, helps to refine your baby’s tactile system (sense of touch).  A refined tactile system greatly impacts both gross motor and fine motor coordination, allowing us to build, draw and paint. Weight-bearing during crawling also provides valuable proprioception, telling the brain where the body is in space, which is necessary to develop a good sense of body awareness to avoid tripping and bumping into obstacles.

 

Crawling:  A Milestone That Should Be Encouraged by Tots on Target

 

 

What to do to help your baby achieve this step:

 

TUMMY TIME! Get your little one used to playing on his belly, which will help develop his core and upper body strength.  Eventually, he will push up on his arms and begin to get his legs underneath his body.  After rocking back and forth on his arms and legs, he’ll develop the courage and motivation to get a move on and explore his world!

 

 

Crawling around or over obstacles will help to improve his strength, balance, and motor planning abilities. Once he’s on the go, try placing your couch cushions on the floor for him to get his brain working and figuring out how to get to his destination. Toys like tunnels and balls also provide the motivation and curiosity to keep your baby moving.

 

What if my baby misses this stage of development?

Even if the crawling stage is missed, you can go back to it!  This means that you can still encourage your toddler or preschooler to crawl during play. Creating obstacle courses, holding yoga poses, and even hanging from monkey bars are all ways you can help your child achieve similar benefits.

 

Bottom Line: Crawling is important for both brain and body development. It should be encouraged to help create connections within the brain, build strength for more advanced gross and fine motor skills, develop more advanced binocular vision and depth perception, and shape strong sensory systems.

-Maryann Deutsch, MS, OT/L & Dr. Allison Mell, PT, DPT

 

Tots on Target

 

Tots On Target is a FREE virtual community where you can ask questions or discuss any area related to child development. You’ll get answers about tummy time, healthy meals, toddler tantrums, potty training and more from other parents and real professionals who can give you the guidance you need for all your daily parenting challenges. Create your account at www.totsontarget.com now!
 
You can also follow Tots On Target on Instargram (@totsontarget) and Facebook (@Tots On Target) for our daily tips, information, and activities that will help keep your tots on target.  Subscribe to the Tot Talk with Tots On Target Podcast to hear amazing interviews and discussions on many interesting child related topics.
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