Most babies learn to crawl between 6 and 10 months of age. However, if your child is older and hasn't started yet, there's no need to worry. Some babies who weigh a little more learn to crawl later because they have more difficulty supporting the body, while others skip this phase completely and start walking directly. If you want to teach your child to crawl, you need to get him ready and show him how to hold his head, roll over and even sit down. If you want to know how, read on.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Prepare the Baby
Step 1. Leave the baby on his stomach for as long as possible
Young children like to play in a prone position; exploring the terrain and your own body is essential for developing fine motor skills and head control, as well as the muscles of the arms and neck. If you can, start putting it on your stomach as soon as possible, even starting for just a minute or two, as it may be a little uncomfortable in the early days. As soon as he starts to move a little, in fact, he feels discomfort in the prone position because he does not have much control over his body. But leaving it on your stomach for even a few minutes every day from the start can help with its development. Plus, learn to crawl faster.
- When the baby reaches about 4 months, he is able to lift and support his head, to look around and to have more control over his body. This means he is ready to learn to crawl.
- Make moments when he's on his stomach fun. Talk to him in a relaxed way, let him play with his toys, and lean over the floor too so that he feels more comfortable.
- Of course, when you put him to sleep, he must always be on his back, so that he does not injure himself or, in the worst case, that he can suffocate. But when he's in a good mood, the time he spends on his stomach can be very helpful.
- Make sure he associates moments of lying on his back with moments of peace and fun. Place him on his tummy after feeding and when he is well rested and in a good mood. You don't have to leave him in this position when he's a little irritated.
Step 2. Limit the time spent in the stroller, car seat or high chair
While it is important that you sit for a while, you should try to stimulate him as much as possible when he is awake. Contrary to popular belief, walkers do not help the baby walk, because he does not feel the need to do it himself. If you and your baby are playing, put him on his stomach or simply encourage him to move, rather than keeping him in a chair staring at a cell phone or toy for hours.
The more movement you can do without getting tired, the better. You need to encourage him to move as much as possible so that when the time comes he will be ready to crawl
Step 3. Help him develop strength in his back
Before he can sit alone, the baby needs your help. If you see him trying to sit up, be sure to support his back and head with your hand so that his head doesn't hang down and the baby can stay upright. This will help him develop the muscles needed to support his head when he crawls.
- The more time he spends on his stomach, the sooner he will be able to sit down.
- You can also encourage him to look up by waving colorful toys over his head. This will help him strengthen his back, neck and shoulder muscles.
- When he is able to reach forward and has achieved balance on his arms, he is ready to walk on all fours.
Step 4. Make sure your dog is truly crawling
You don't have to force him if he's not ready yet, as he may get hurt or just feel discouraged as not yet able to do it. Instead of comparing him to other children, just focus on letting him develop with his own time. Babies are able to crawl when they can sit comfortably without support and when they can move their head and control their arms and legs without shaking them. To be able to crawl he must also know how to roll. If he shows these signs, then he is not very far from succeeding.
- When he is able to sit up, he feels more comfortable with the idea of moving on all fours, as he can hold his head up, he realizes that he can move or just swing and find it funny.
- If the baby can stand on all fours and gently rock back and forth trying to move forward, it is a sign that he is almost ready!
- If he moves his legs equally on both sides and has good coordination, you don't need to worry if he's reached 10 months of age and still isn't crawling. However, if you have other concerns about its development, you should have it examined by a pediatrician.
- Some babies hint that they are ready to crawl when they start synchronizing opposite lower and upper limbs. This happens when they use one arm and one leg to move forward rather than walking the same side of the body. Each baby starts crawling differently, so you don't have to worry if yours isn't moving just like you expect it should.
Step 5. Take into account the age of the child
If he's 6 months or older, then he may be ready to crawl. Know that the typical period is usually between 6 and 10 months, although many babies start earlier or even much later. If your baby is only three months old, you shouldn't force him, unless he himself shows signs of being ready; for example, supporting the head, tipping over, dragging itself on the floor and so on.
Step 6. Find a comfortable seat
To learn well, he must be in a comfortable and soft place, but not to the point of making movement difficult. It is enough to put a blanket on top of a normal rug or just a comfortable rug. If you have a wooden floor, you need to put on a nice, soft blanket. This makes the area more comfortable and minimizes the chances of injury if the child suddenly falls to the ground.
- Some parents also recommend putting the baby only in a onesie or a diaper, so that he can come into direct contact with the ground. This allows him to have a stronger approach to the ground. Putting too many clothes on him can also make him feel more limited.
- Make sure the room is adequately lit. If the lights are too dim, the baby is more likely to feel drowsy.
Step 7. Carefully place the baby on the floor on his back
Observe him when you put him on the ground, so that he maintains contact. This way he gets comfortable with the ground and feels reassured that you are there with him. Make sure he has already eaten for at least 10-15 minutes so he has had some time to digest the food. He must feel calm and happy when you put him on the floor.
Step 8. Turn him onto his stomach
If he has an easy way to tip over, he can do it himself. You may need to help him a little and move him to the prone position. The important thing is that he is able to support himself with his hands on the ground and to move his head without difficulty when it is raised. He must be able to manage his arms and legs when he gets in this position. If he cries or looks really uncomfortable, you have to wait a little longer - it means he's not ready yet. If, on the other hand, he shows signs that he can learn to crawl, you can follow some of the techniques in the next section to help him.
Part 2 of 2: Get him to crawl
Step 1. Put her favorite toy just out of her reach
You can talk to him and encourage him to take the toy, or you can say something like, "Come, come and get your toy …" to encourage him to move forward. At this point the baby should start rocking back and forth, moving the body towards the toy and starting to approach the object. The important thing is that this does not frustrate the child or make him angry because he does not have his toy.
Step 2. Have him crawl towards you
You can also walk a few steps away from the baby, bend over to his level and say, "Come here! Come to mom / dad!". Again, if you notice that he seems despondent, approach him so he doesn't cry. This can help the baby want to move towards you and realize that crawling isn't all that bad. He may want to imitate you and get closer to you, this is another great way to motivate him to move forward.
When he starts to move (but still doesn't crawl), keep his chest elevated
Step 3. Put a mirror in front of him
Hold it or place it about 25 cm in front of the baby so that he can easily see himself reflected. He will want to see himself better and will try to crawl closer. If you get used to playing with mirrors in general, this method is even more effective.
Step 4. Crawl next to the baby too
Instead of inviting him to walk on all fours towards you, you can crawl next to him. You can move together to a toy, the mirror or the other parent. This will encourage him to do what you are doing too and make him feel less alone. He will have the feeling that this is a game, and he will want to imitate what his parents or brother are doing.
An older sibling crawling next to the baby can also be encouraging
Step 5. Know your child's limitations
When he starts crying or seems to always be frustrated, you don't have to force him to keep trying. Wait at least the next day to try again. If you force him to crawl when he's not ready or just isn't feeling it, you risk delaying the process and making him experience a negative one. The child, on the other hand, must experience walking on all fours as a moment of fun, of recreational activity.
Do not give up. Even if the baby can only stay on the floor a few seconds at a time, try again later or the next day
Step 6. Encourage him when it's time to crawl
When you're done teaching them to crawl for that day, be sure to give them love and comfort. Don't be discouraged if the child can't do much. It is important that you show him a lot of physical love and attention, a bottle of warm milk if he needs it, a toy or treat if he is old enough to eat. He must associate the moments of crawling with positive things and he must feel enthusiastic about returning to do it again for even longer.
- It goes without saying that if the baby is crawling to a toy, you must eventually give it to him, even if he has not been able to reach it himself. He must feel satisfied, not frustrated. This will make him even more eager to try again next time!
- When the baby is able to crawl and explore the house, then you can celebrate! At this point you need to get ready to make the house childproof!
