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The Six Stages of Crawling: A Guide for Parents

• Building neck muscles through tummy time is the foundation for crawling.
• Newborns can only lift their head for a few seconds at a time, but with practice and patience, they will be able to hold it up for longer periods.
• Propping up a newborn on a pillow during tummy time or giving them something interesting to look at can help extend their tolerance for this exercise.
• Rolling over both from back to belly and belly to back is a major foundational element of crawling.
• Sitting up on their own is a sign of a developing spinal column and strengthens the core.
• Pivoting or rotating in place while on their tummy is a sign that your baby is getting close to crawling.
• Rocking and planking are exercises that get babies used to moving their legs and balancing themselves, preparing them for crawling.
• Army crawling, where babies use mostly their arms to move and propel themselves with a little bit of leg strength, is the first true forward motion in crawling.
• Hands and knees crawling, where babies lift their belly off the ground and crawl on all fours, is the final stage of crawling.
• Tummy time, playing with older children, and praising and encouraging your baby are ways to help them succeed in crawling.
• Surrounding your baby with positive reinforcement and support can help build their confidence and self-esteem.
• As your baby starts to crawl, childproofing your home becomes essential to keep them safe from potential hazards.