All babies will start crawling at different ages, but usually they start anytime from 6-10 months.
Learn all the cues your baby is about to start crawling, and a few tips to help if baby is being stubborn.
Cues your baby is about ready to start crawling
- Baby rocks back and forth on knees
- Baby is army crawling but not quite on their hands and knees
If you start noticing these, your baby is just about ready to start crawling. These movements will help build those muscles they will need.
Tips for parents
If your little one is being stubborn to crawl, don't get discouraged. Here are a few tips that can help baby want to crawl (because they have to want to before they will).
- Offer lots of tummy time.
- Set some really fun toys just out of reach.
- Crawl on the floor with baby.
- Try a toy that crawls.
- Have them wear pants, to keep their knees protected as they begin to crawl.
- Offer lots of tummy time.
Making tummy time fun is one of the best things you can do early on. Tummy time helps them build their muscles and prepares them for lots of activities.
Related: tummy time advice for new parents
2. Set some really fun toys just out of reach.
When baby is doing tummy time, having fun toys set out is a great way to keep them interested.
A sneaky trick you can try though is to place some really exciting toys just out of reach, and resist the urge to give them to baby if they start to fuss.
Instead play with the toy and show baby just how fun it is. Your baby will be inching closer and closer to you and that toy in no time!
3. Crawl on the floor with baby
Another tip that worked wonders with my kids was to get on the floor and crawl with baby or beside baby until they start getting the hang of it.
4. Try a toy that crawls.
Babies learn from example, so even offering a fun toy like this musical light up crawling elephant.
5. Have them wear pants.
As your little one starts to army crawl and full on crawl, their knees might get rubbed raw from carpet burns. Try to have baby wear more pants or these soft baby knee pads.
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