Crawling: When Do Babies Begin to Crawl?
November 2nd 2007 by Dr.MOZ in Development, GoodFather Fridays 
Dear Dr.MOZ,
Our daughter seems to be behind our other friends’ children when it comes to crawling. She likes to stand with our help, but she doesn’t seem particularly interested in crawling yet.
What is the normal time for a baby to begin to crawl, and at what point should we be worried? Any feedback from you or the GoodFather on the subject would be very helpful.
Thanks,
Jerry
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Hi Jerry,
Although you’ll find baby books will tell you that children begin crawling between 6 and 10 months, there’s really no “normal” month. Some babies crawl when they are ready, and others skip crawling altogether and go straight to walking. Instead of worrying about the time line, I recommend that you take this opportunity to prepare for a mobile baby. Here are a few safety points to consider, along with an idea to help inspire your baby to take the next step towards movement.
Baby Proofing Your House: We have a comprehensive and printable baby proofing check list in your home in the GoodFather gift CD-ROM, but here is a summary of things
to look for:
- Shelves which were once too high to access might be fair game now that she has the size and strength to investigate new territory
- Remove quilts and pillows that may cause suffocation around your home
- Many plants are poisonous, so keep them out-of-reach
- Pet food and water could be a serious risk, so these must be put off the ground as well
- Older children’s toys may be dangerous for babies, so be sure to put them away
- Electrical cords and outlets need to be attended to to prevent electrical shock
- Make sure your cabinets have safety locks and your stairs and doorways are blocked with gates
- for the complete baby-proofing list, please see the GoodFather gift CD-ROM
Crawling Inspiration: Coordination and strength will all come in good time, but sometimes all your baby will need is a goal. Next time she props herself up (as if to crawl), put her favorite toy just out of reach to encourage movement. You might be surprised at how quickly she learns to crawl when her teddy is just a few movements away.
Clothing: You may also want to consider your baby’s clothing when she begins to master crawling. She’ll put quite a few miles on those little knees, and some new parents like to use padded pants and knee pads for babies crawling on wood floors or tile flooring. Visit our GoodFather Friday post on Clever Parents for on fun clothing and accessories for your new crawling critter.
Thanks for the question and don’t be stranger here at Dear Dr.MOZ as your baby grows. She’ll be running around the house before you know it, and you’ll be thinking back about the “good old days” when you could actually keep-up with her. Welcome to the GoodFather family Jerry!
Your favorite family man,
The GoodFather
