Babies are like little explorers! Between 6 and 12 months, they’ll go from barely moving to zooming around the house. Get ready for an exciting adventure!
Crawling: The First Big Move (6-8 Months)
Types of Crawler Styles
- Army Crawl: Belly-sliding across the floor
- Classic Crawl: Hands and knees moving
- Bottom Scoot: Sliding on bottom
- Crab Crawl: Moving sideways
What Babies Learn While Crawling
- How to use both sides of body
- Explore the world
- Build arm and leg muscles
- Understand space and distance
- Problem-solving skills
Signs Your Baby is Ready to Crawl
- Can hold head up strongly
- Pushes up on hands and knees
- Rocks back and forth
- Tries to move forward
- Looks excited to explore
Cruising: Walking Helper (8-10 Months)
What is Cruising?
- Walking while holding onto furniture
- Moves sideways
- Keeps hands on chairs, tables, walls
- Building balance and confidence
Cruising Skills
- Standing while holding something
- Moving between furniture
- Getting stronger leg muscles
- Learning balance
- Preparing for independent walking
First Steps: Walking Begins (10-12 Months)
Early Walking Stages
- Takes 1-2 steps alone
- Walks while holding hands
- Looks wobbly and excited
- Falls a lot (totally normal!)
- Gets back up and tries again
What Helps Babies Learn to Walk
- Lots of practice
- Bare feet on safe surfaces
- Encouragement
- Safe places to explore
- Comfortable clothing
Safety First!
Baby-Proofing Checklist
- Cover sharp edges
- Remove breakable items
- Close stairs with gates
- Put away small objects
- Pad hard floors
- Watch baby always
How to Support Your Moving Baby
Encourage Movement
- Give lots of floor time
- Create safe play areas
- Use push toys
- Cheer them on
- Be patient
- Never force movement
When to Talk to Doctor
Check with pediatrician if baby:
- Doesn’t try to move by 8 months
- Can’t support weight
- Seems very stiff or floppy
- Doesn’t use both sides of body
- Misses multiple movement milestones
Fun Milestone Facts
- Babies don’t all move the same way
- Some skip crawling completely
- Every baby is unique
- Movement takes practice
- Celebrate small victories!
Development Reminder
- Each baby moves differently
- Some are faster, some slower
- All are perfect in their own way
- Enjoy the journey!
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Infant Motor Development. HealthyChildren.org.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Developmental Milestones. cdc.gov.
- Zero to Three. (2022). Physical Development in Infants. zerotothree.org.
- National Institutes of Health. (2021). Infant Movement and Growth. nih.gov.
- World Health Organization. (2022). Child Development Guidelines. who.int.
- Child Development Institute. (2021). Stages of Physical Development. childdevelopment.org.
