Skip to main content

6 useful tips to get your baby crawling faster

Your baby has been rocking and rolling on hands and knees for months. And by the determined look on his or her little face, you can tell that the crawling stage will soon arrive. So, we bring you some tips to get your baby crawling faster along with some valuable info on what to expect when children graduate from rolling to crawling.

At what age do babies crawl?

Between the age of 6 and 10 months, you can look forward to this adorable, exciting milestone. Up until now, your baby has relied on rolling over to move from one destination to the next. From here, you can watch for signs that your baby is ready to start crawling. However, don’t be too alarmed if you don’t see your baby crawling right away. Children move (literally) at their own pace, so patience is key.

mom encouraging baby to crawl
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What are the steps toward baby crawling?

In the meantime, you can watch for the telltale signs that your baby is getting ready to crawl. What might seem like a repetitive action or simple play is actually your child building up strength and acquiring new skills. These signs include:

  • Sitting up without help
  • Rolling over multiple times
  • Pushing him or herself up onto all fours
  • Rocking on all fours
  • Scooting on his or her tummy.

You might remember that your baby may perform a few or all these actions. Or some babies skip the rocking and go straight to crawling, while others decide that crawling backward gets them to where they want to be.

baby girl on tummy under blanket
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A little help from you

While your little one is starting off with these actions, you can also give some encouragement along the way. Here are a few tips that will get your baby crawling faster.

Lots of tummy time

From Day One, you can give your baby a lot of time on his or her tummy. This helps your child to build muscle strength in the upper back, shoulders, and trunk. The “training” proves to be quite necessary for sitting up and eventually crawling.

Toys to reach for

You can also give your baby an extra incentive to reach for. By placing a favorite toy in front of your little one, you’re offering encouragement to scoot forward and reach for the prize. One thing to remember is to keep the toy close by.

A little extra support

Another trick to getting your baby crawling is to place the palms of your hands on his or her little feet. When the baby is on all fours, he or she can push off from your hands. However, you’ll need to be careful not to push, as this can cause a face-plant into the carpet.

Drop and give 50

Yes, we are referring to push-ups, but not that many. The whole idea is to model the movement your baby will need to make if he or she is still learning to elevate the upper body.

When your baby sees you pushing up, then he or she will eventually imitate the same movement.

Remove all obstacles

Yet another factor to keep in mind is to ensure a clear, safe area for your baby to crawl and explore. This might involve some slight rearranging, like getting the coffee table out of the way.

Plus, you’ll need to start babyproofing the house since your child will soon gain mobility. These safety measures include:

  • Securing cabinet doors with child safety locks
  • Getting house plants, cleaning products, electric cords, and any other hazard out of reach
  • Padding the corners of tables and other furniture
  • Placing baby gates on stairways and other points of entry that poses a danger
  • Keeping bathroom doors closed

By securing all areas of your home as much as possible, you’ll provide a more worry-free environment for your baby to explore.

Avoiding the common mishaps

Finally, when your baby gets closer to 5 months old, you’ll need to provide as many opportunities for movement and strengthening as possible. This includes:

  • Not keeping your child in the highchair or carrier for long periods of time
  • Avoiding walkers, which can hinder muscle development
  • Rushing your child into crawling when he or she may not be ready

Moreover, you shouldn’t be too concerned if your baby is not crawling at 6 months or if he or she moves in a different manner like scooting on his or her bottom or crawls with one knee and the other leg extended. Likewise, if your baby was born prematurely, then some milestones might arrive a bit later. As always, if you have any concerns or questions, your pediatrician will direct you to the answers you need.

As babies get curious, they also gain more motivation to move and discover what their surroundings have in store for them. So, the best thing to do is enjoy this special time of exploration and have your camera ready to go. After all, those cute expressions and giggles of joy make the wait worthwhile.

Editors' Recommendations

Leslie Anderson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Leslie Anderson is a freelance writer/writing coach from Roswell, N.M. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and helping students…
6 fantastic baby shower themes for a memorable party
Baby shower themes no one will forget
Baby shower party favors on a table

Whenever you throw a party, an extraordinary theme is a must, and a baby shower isn't any different. Whether you are planning a baby shower for yourself or in charge of putting one together for the mom-to-be, finding that special theme sets the tone for the party. Since this essentially is baby's first party, you want it to be one to remember. So, finding a perfect theme can be a tall order.

Do you want to go with a traditional baby shower or do something off the beaten path? Will it be just for the ladies or a couples shower? Regardless of where your tastes lie, we've got a fun and fabulous list of baby shower themes to help make your planning a breeze.

Read more
When babies get their first haircut: Everything you need to know to get through this milestone without tears
Here's when babies should get their new look
Baby getting a haircut.

The first year of your child's life is filled with exciting milestone moments, like their first smile, learning how to crawl, and taking their first step. For most parents, that first snip of hair is another milestone that is just as celebratory and emotional. The notion of cutting your baby's hair for the first time could bring parents and baby to tears.

Whether you choose to trim your baby's hair yourself or take them to a trusted professional, you may wonder when baby gets their first haircut. If you think your little one is ready for their first styling, we have tricks and tips to help make the experience enjoyable for everyone — with limited tears involved.

Read more
When can babies have water? You might be surprised
Here's why you need to wait to introduce water to your infant
Mom holding a cup while baby drinks from it

Water is a crucial part of almost every living being's diet, with proper hydration being one of the keys to good health and wellness. However, you may be surprised to learn that there is an age limit when babies can have water.

Although it may be tempting on those hot summer days to give your infant a bit of water, or you may want to supplement your regular feeding schedule with water if you think your baby is thirsty, experts warn against giving water to infants under a certain age. So, when can babies have water? Keep reading to find out.

Read more