Crawls or moves around somehow
What it is
Any way of getting across the room counts: crawling, commando crawl, bottom-shuffling. Skipping crawling is fine if walking follows.
Start preparing
- From 6 months, put toys just out of reach on the floor and let frustration do its work.
- Hands-and-knees rocking: support the hips gently and rock forward-back.
- A low tunnel or a cushion to climb over adds motivation.
When to check with a professional
Not moving around in any way by 12 months, or a strong hand preference before 12 months, is worth mentioning to the pediatrician. Development varies widely; this is a prompt to ask, not a diagnosis.
Sources
- Learn the Signs. Act Early. — milestone checklists (2022 revision) — CDC / American Academy of Pediatrics
- WHO motor development milestone windows (MGRS, 2006) — World Health Organization
Compiled with AI assistance from the public sources listed above. Not yet reviewed by a clinician — check anything important against the source, with Tipat Halav or with your doctor.