Why does crawling matter?
4-point (hands and knees) crawling isn’t just about getting from point A to point B, it’s a major step in building your child’s foundation for movement, coordination, and strength as they get older.
- Core, hip, shoulder, and hand strength establishes a solid foundation for future gross and fine motor skills like walking, climbing and drawing/writing.
- Vestibular system development supports balance and body awareness, which your child will need for walking, running and preventing falls.
- Reciprocal (cross-lateral) coordination, which is the connection between both halves of the brain that allows us to move the opposite arm and leg simultaneously. This pattern mimics the arm swing in a typical walking pattern.
- Visual skills, such as visual tracking, binocular vision and depth perception, helps with reading, writing, and contributes to hand-eye coordination.
- Hand-eye coordination develops by alternating looking at their hands and where they are moving as they crawl, which helps them to link their visual input with a motor action.
How can I encourage my child to crawl?
Encouragement starts with opportunity. Give your child plenty of supervised floor time, both on their back and their tummy. Children learn through exploration and movement.
Here’s how to help:
- Make it fun! Use toys and mirrors to motivate forward movement by placing them just out of reach.
Support transitions like moving from sitting to 4pt or belly to 4pt. - Try tummy time on different surfaces, such as a blanket on grass or carpet, to increase the input to their sensory systems.
- Consistency is key! Even short bursts a couple of times a day on the floor can make a big difference.
What if my child army (belly) crawls?
Army crawling will sometimes (but not always) proceed 4pt crawling. You may notice your child push into 4pt crawling briefly before continuing with army crawling, especially as your toddler develops the strength and endurance in their arms, core and glutes. If your child doesn’t progress from army crawling, consult with a pediatric physical therapist to see if they could benefit from additional support.
What if my child uses some other scooting motion to move?
Sometimes a kid will bring both legs forwards together (“bunny hop”), crawl with one leg hitched up (“hitch crawl”) or scoot forwards on their butt. These patterns aren’t uncommon, but they can sometimes signal muscle imbalances or coordination challenges. If your baby consistently uses any of these crawling patterns, consult with a pediatric physical therapist to see if they could benefit from additional support.
When should I be concerned if my child isn’t crawling?
Every child develops at their own pace, but here are some general guidelines:
Most babies begin 4pt crawling between 8 and 10 months. If your child isn’t consistently 4pt crawling by 11–12 months, uses one of the crawling patterns previously mentioned or prefers to stay seated, it’s worth checking in with your pediatrician or a pediatric physical therapist.
Early intervention makes a big difference. Many children who receive support early on, graduate PT and go on to meet subsequent milestones along with their peers!
How can a pediatric physical therapist help?
At Hummingbird Pediatric Therapies, our pediatric specialized physical therapists help children improve coordination, strength, balance, endurance, posture, gait, and gross motor skills through play-based, evidence-backed interventions. Beginning with a thorough evaluation and assessments, we create individualized plans to support your child’s development and teach parents activities to do at home for ongoing practice.
Additional Resources
Learn more about Hummingbird’s pediatric physical therapy offerings.
Check out Gross Motor Milestones.
If your child is between 1-6 years old, try our free developmental screener to check where your child is on meeting their milestones.
Meet the author: Ms. Alex, PT, DPT