Your baby is 10 months old and has figured out how to get around, just not on hands and knees. Maybe they scoot on their bottom, drag themselves on their belly, or go straight to pulling up on the couch. If your baby skips crawling, the short answer is that it is usually okay.
Here is what the research says, why therapists still like crawling, and the signs that matter more than whether your baby ever crawls the classic way.
Is Crawling a Milestone?
Why the CDC Took Crawling Off Its Checklist
In 2022, the CDC updated its developmental milestone checklists, and crawling was removed. That surprised a lot of parents and plenty of therapists too.
The reason was data. The new checklists only include skills that most kids reach by a certain age and that researchers can measure reliably. Crawling did not make the cut because there is not enough solid data on when babies typically crawl or how much the style varies. It was not removed because crawling is unimportant.
When Do Babies Crawl?
A large World Health Organization study followed babies in five countries. On average, babies started crawling on hands and knees around 8 and a half months, but the normal range ran from about 5 months all the way to 13 and a half months.
The same study found that about 4 percent of babies never crawled on hands and knees at all. That is a small group, but it is a normal one.
The Many Ways Babies Get Moving
Army Crawling, Bottom Scooting, and Rolling
Babies are problem solvers. When they want to reach something, they find a way. Common styles include:
Army crawling. Pulling forward on the belly using arms
Bottom scooting. Sitting up and shuffling forward on their bottom
Rolling. Log-rolling across the room to get where they want to go
Bear crawling. Hands and feet on the floor with straight legs
Some babies use one of these for a few weeks before switching to hands and knees. Others stick with their own method until they walk.
Walking Without Crawling
Some babies spend very little time on the floor and go straight to pulling up, cruising along furniture, and walking. If your baby is hitting those standing and walking skills on time, skipping the crawling stage on its own is rarely a concern.
Why Crawling Still Gets Attention
What Crawling Builds
Therapists like crawling because of everything it works at once. Moving on hands and knees builds:
Shoulder and arm strength from bearing weight through the hands
Core and hip stability
Coordination between the left and right sides of the body
Those same muscles show up later in climbing, catching a ball, and even holding a crayon.
How to Get Those Benefits Anyway
If your baby skipped crawling or is moving another way, you can still build those skills through play:
Keep up plenty of floor time and tummy time, even after your baby can sit
Pile couch cushions or pillows on the floor for your baby to climb over
Make a tunnel out of a blanket over two chairs and encourage them to go through it
Place toys just out of reach so they have to push up on their hands to get there
Later on, playful moves like bear walks and wheelbarrow walks give older toddlers the same kind of work. Our post on gross motor milestones by age covers what to expect as your child grows.
Signs of Motor Delay Worth a Call
What Matters More Than Crawling
Instead of focusing on crawling, look at the bigger picture of how your baby moves. Based on the CDC's milestones, it is worth checking in with your pediatrician if your baby:
Is not sitting without support by 9 months
Is not pulling up to stand by 12 months
Is not walking without holding on by 18 months
Uses one side of the body much more than the other
Feels very stiff or very floppy when you pick them up
Loses a skill they used to have
When Scooting Comes With Other Concerns
Most bottom scooters are perfectly healthy babies with their own style. It is worth a closer look if your baby also strongly avoids putting weight through their legs, will not tolerate being on their tummy, or seems to be falling behind in several areas at once. One concern on its own is usually just your baby being your baby.
If Your Baby Skips Crawling, Look at the Bigger Picture
Getting a Second Set of Eyes
Every baby moves on their own timeline, and most who skip crawling go on to walk, run, and climb just like everyone else. If something feels off, though, a pediatric physical therapist can watch how your baby moves and tell you whether there is anything to work on.
Children under 3 may also qualify for services through Illinois Early Intervention. Learn more about how early intervention works, or check out our open gym for a safe place to climb and explore.
If your baby skips crawling and you have questions, call Midwest Children's Therapy at (309) 282-6704 or contact us here.
