When Do Most Babies Start to Crawl?

Babies learn and grow so fast. Crawling is one noteworthy milestone that signals a new stage for your baby: independent mobility. You may be wondering if your baby should be crawling by now, or not. As with other milestones, there is a wide age range for when crawling starts. 

Most babies start to crawl between 7 and 10 months old. But keep in mind that each baby is different and will begin to crawl on their own developmental timeline. Let’s take a closer look at what signs to look for that your baby might start crawling soon — and what to do if you think their crawling is delayed. 

What are the developmental milestones for a baby learning to crawl?

When a baby starts to crawl, it’s actually not as simple as it looks. It requires the development of muscle strength and tone. Your baby will also need to develop specific skills to coordinate the complex movement of crawling. 

Your baby will usually develop the following skills before crawling:

• Sitting up without support 

• Supporting their weight on their hands and knees 

• Rocking on their hands and knees while moving backward

Is it normal for babies not to crawl or to skip crawling?

Some babies will not crawl and will instead develop different ways to move around. You might find your baby scooting on their bottom or slithering on their tummies. Others may skip this milestone altogether and may go straight to cruising or walking instead. This can still be a form of normal development, with these babies moving on to stand and walk with no issue. It’s also reassuring if they have met other milestones like rolling over and sitting unsupported. 

As long as your baby is using their arms and legs equally and has good muscle tone, you can expect them to have normal development without crawling. That being said, there may be developmental benefits for babies who crawl before they walk. That’s why it’s great to support and encourage crawling even if they are not showing signs of achieving this milestone.

How can you help your baby learn to crawl?

The good news is, you don’t need any fancy toys or gadgets to help your baby crawl. In fact, just giving your baby a safe space to explore their body movements is the best way to encourage their development. 

Floortime, including tummy time, is a great way to lay the foundation for crawling. Some additional techniques to facilitate crawling include:

• Helping your baby get their knees under them

• Coaxing your baby to come toward you while on the floor with them

• Setting a desired object just out of their reach to get them to move toward it

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Should you worry if your baby isn’t starting to crawl?

If your baby is not crawling, there is no reason to panic. Crawling can vary widely, or sometimes it won’t happen at all. If they’ve reached other movement milestones, there is likely nothing to be concerned about. 

But if you have questions about your child’s overall development, the best place to start is with their healthcare provider. They can take a closer look at their growth and the new skills they are developing. Their provider can also use a variety of screening tools to evaluate your baby’s development more thoroughly. 

What developmental issues can delay when a baby starts to crawl?

In most cases, “late” crawling does not indicate an underlying developmental problem. But if there are delays in other movement skills, your baby may need further evaluation.

Some developmental factors that can affect when a baby crawls include:

• Premature birth: When a baby is born before 37 weeks, this impacts how and when their developmental milestones are expected. 

• Developmental disorders: Conditions like cerebral palsy and autism can affect how and when children can develop and learn new skills like crawling.

• Neuromuscular disorders: Illnesses like muscular dystrophy can affect how the brain and nerves communicate with the body and can lead to muscle weakness.

• Genetic syndromes: A wide range of genetic conditions can result in physical differences, developmental delays, and other health issues.

• Neurological disorders: Any disorder that affects any part of the nervous system, brain, spinal cord, or nerves can cause a delay in crawling.

 Delays in most movement milestones are referred to as gross motor delays. But if crawling alone is delayed, this does not mean there is a gross motor delay. Your baby’s healthcare provider will try to see if there is a cause for your baby crawling later than others.

What are the next milestones after crawling?

Crawling is often the first step in independent mobility. Some babies get really good at it and prefer to use crawling as their main way to get around for a while. Others move on quickly to walking. 

In the meantime, your little one will practice pulling up to stand and taking steps while holding on (cruising). Eventually, as their balance improves, they’ll start standing independently without holding on at all. By 12 months old, most babies are then taking their first steps. 

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Written by:

Louisa Salisbury, MD

Louisa Salisbury, MD, is a licensed, board-certified general pediatrician. She received a bachelor’s degree in human development from the University of California, San Diego, and obtained her medical degree from the University of Vermont Robert Larner College of Medicine.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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