When Do Babies Start to Crawl & How Can You Help?

Last Updated on May 26, 2026 by Jordyn Koveleski Gorman

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When do babies start to crawl? Well, it varies. 

Is crawling even a milestone?

In 2022, the CDC released updates to the infant and toddler milestone schedule, and it blew up the internet. Why? Because crawling was removed from the checklist. (1)

For those of us who remember when Pluto got the news it wasn’t a planet anymore, the shockwaves felt similar.

Crawling was removed from the official schedule of milestones for a few reasons, the primary one being that crawling is “highly variable” and its definition “imprecise.” (2) Although this update has since been embraced by some in pediatrics, a notable group of child specialists were left out of the review process for updating milestones: gross motor specialists.

For professionals like pediatric physical therapists, this change remains controversial. Research indicates that more than 90% of pediatric physical therapists find crawling important, and nearly 80% disagreed with its removal from milestone checklists. (3)

Our Eat Play Say pediatric physical therapist joined me for this blog to explain why crawling is important, as well as tips to help your little one get there!

Why crawling matters

Crawling is the first big milestone that opens up the world of exploring for your little one. Once your baby can crawl, they can see the world from a whole different point of view. And while it means that you really have to start baby-proofing, it’s also a very exciting time for your baby! 

Crawling requires a lot of strength, coordination, and balance from your baby, and it helps your child succeed with future milestones. The muscle coordination and skills involved in crawling can help babies with pulling to stand, cruising, walking, and even building shoulder strength and stability that is needed for coloring, cutting, writing, climbing, and more!

When do babies start to crawl?

Most babies crawl on their hands and knees sometime between 6–10 months old. (4)

Some babies start by army crawling (belly flat on the floor and arms doing most of the work), while others go straight to reciprocal crawling on hands and knees. Sometimes babies start by pushing up from their bellies, and other times they transition from sitting to hands and knees to crawl away.

Even though it is no longer listed as an official CDC and AAP milestone, reciprocal crawling is still important. It helps babies develop in certain ways that are not easily accomplished with other tasks.

For instance, reciprocal crawling:

• Develops shoulder strength and stability through weight bearing that babies don’t get through any other activity
• Increases trunk strength (because they have to keep their belly off the floor and back straight)
• Works on using both sides of the body and brain together, which is vital for things like walking, climbing ladders and steps, throwing and kicking a ball

But not all babies will start crawling without a little push in the right direction.

And yes, some babies might have skipped crawling and turned out “just fine.” However, if we can set our babies up for future successes by not skipping this milestone, then why shouldn’t we try? Keep reading for tips on what to do if your baby skipped crawling!

Common crawling positions

If baby hasn’t mastered reciprocal crawling yet but is crawling in their own unique way, there’s probably already a name for what they’re doing! Check out our tips below for helping baby grow beyond each style.

Is Baby Stuck Army Crawling?

Baby may not have the arm and leg strength to hold their belly off the ground.

• Work on weight bearing on straight arms over your legs or a rolled towel on the ground.
• Put some pillows or blankets on the floor as obstacles for your baby to crawl over. This activity will help get baby’s belly off the ground more and encourage then to push up on their arms.
• Place toys a little higher when playing so your baby has to push up to see and get to them.

Is Baby Butt Scooting or Crawling Asymmetrically on One Knee and One Foot?

If so, baby may be tight or weak on one side, have a history of torticollis, or have a preference for turning her head or rolling only to one side.

• If you are noticing a side preference when turning head or rolling, it’s time to work on looking and rolling the other way! The longer the preference lasts, the harder it is to correct. Put interesting toys on the opposite side, hold your baby facing the opposite direction when going for walks around the house or outside.
• Consider reaching out to your pediatrician, a bodywork professional (PT/chiropractor/craniosacral therapist) or Early Intervention to check for unresolved tightness or weakness.
• Crawling in a play tunnel (or create your own with chairs and blankets) can help encourage a more reciprocal crawling because their movement is somewhat restricted in a tunnel.
• If your house is primarily hardwood or tile, try to practice crawling on carpet, rugs, or playmats to make it a little easier on your baby’s knees and palms.

Is Baby “Bunny Hopping” to Get Around?

They may have tight and/or weak hips, have difficulty coordinating both sides of their body, or even have a retained ATNR (asymmetric tonic neck reflex), STNR (symmetric tonic neck reflex) or moro (startle) reflex.

• Practice some extra tummy time to stretch your baby’s hips.
• Do bicycle kicks while your baby is lying on their back to get their legs moving opposite each other.
• Reflex integration exercises may help your child develop the functional movement patterns necessary for reciprocal crawling. These can be practiced under guidance from a trained PT/OT.

When to get extra help with crawling

If baby is 9 months old and not yet showing signs of crawling, it’s time to reach out to your baby’s pediatrician or self-refer to Early Intervention. Evaluations are free in the USA and will help you determine whether your baby needs more help to reach his or her milestones. Sometimes all baby needs is a little push in the right direction!

Developmental milestones are an excellent tool to “check and see” where your baby is at, so you can offer more assistance where they need a hand. Our most popular freebie helps you check in on baby’s progress from 0–36 months. Download your Milestone Checklist now!

Activities to support crawling at home

While waiting for an evaluation with a specialist, you can work toward crawling at home!

Here are some great activities to try with baby:

• Weight shifting in sitting. Sit your baby on the floor and place toys to the side but just out of reach. They will have to shift their weight over their hip and put their hands down on the floor. This activity helps them work towards getting onto their hands and knees for crawling. Make sure to do both sides! You can help your baby shift their weight, get into side sitting, and maintain their balance until they get the hang of it.
• Assisted hands and knees. Place your baby sideways over your legs with their hands on the floor under their shoulders and knees on the other side of your legs. Help your baby rock back and forth and side to side so they get some input through their shoulder and hip joints. Use a mirror or other interesting toys to encourage baby to hold their head up in this position.
• Tummy time temptation. Grab a couple of your baby’s favorite things (toys, empty water bottles, or even the TV remote). Place them just out of reach during tummy time so baby has to move to get them. They can roll, scoot on their belly, pivot in a circle, army crawl—or maybe they’ll surprise you and just crawl right over! All of these other forms of movement still help your baby strengthen the muscles needed for crawling.

And if you’re reading this post and your little one skipped crawling, there’s good news: you can go backwards! Set up tunnels or small forts and encourage your little one to get down on all 4s and crawl. Practicing reciprocal movements during toddlerhood is still beneficial! Babies who can walk will still crawl sometimes, too. Keep milestones in mind and support your little one as they need it! 

More infant resources

With crawling under way, there’s a million new possibilities for your little one ahead! You’re doing an amazing job supporting your baby as they grow.

Check out some of our most popular blogs:

• Our favorite developmental toys for baby
• Best play activities for 9 month olds (we have these for every stage 0–3!)
• Answering the question, “Are sippy cups bad?”

For resources that take a deep dive into all your biggest parenting questions—from starting solids to weaning and even how to play with your child—our Handbooks are for you!

Sources

1. Jennifer M. Zubler, Lisa D. Wiggins, Michelle M. Macias, Toni M. Whitaker, Judith S. Shaw, Jane K. Squires, Julie A. Pajek, Rebecca B. Wolf, Karnesha S. Slaughter, Amber S. Broughton, Krysta L. Gerndt, Bethany J. Mlodoch, Paul H. Lipkin; Evidence-Informed Milestones for Developmental Surveillance Tools. Pediatrics March 2022; 149 (3): e2021052138. 10.1542/peds.2021-052138
2. Kretch KS, Willett SL, Hsu LY, Sargent BA, Harbourne RT, Dusing SC. “Learn the Signs. Act Early.”: Updates and Implications for Physical Therapists. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2022 Oct 1;34(4):440-448. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000937. Epub 2022 Jul 23. PMID: 35876833; PMCID: PMC10544762.
3. Kretch KS, Dusing SC, Harbourne RT, Hsu LY, Sargent BA, Willett SL. Early Mobility and Crawling: Beliefs and Practices of Pediatric Physical Therapists in the United States. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2024 Jan 1;36(1):9-17. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000001063. PMID: 38127897; PMCID: PMC10873088.
4. Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. By: Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP, David L. Hill, MD, FAAP https://doi.org/10.1542/9781610027182