Why Crawling Still Matters

Crawling may no longer appear on milestone checklists from
organizations such as the CDC and AAP, but that doesn’t mean it lost its importance. In fact, crawling remains one of the most powerful building blocks in early development.

Some babies skip crawling altogether, and many don’t crawl in a “textbook” way. Because
of this variability, it’s no longer considered a required developmental milestone. However,
in pediatric physical therapy, crawling is still recognized as a key contributor to strength,
coordination, and early learning.

Crawling isn’t about how it looks; it’s about what it does for the body and brain.

What is Crawling?
Crawling typically refers to a baby moving on their hands and knees, with their belly lifted
off the floor. It usually begins after a baby can sit independently and starts transitioning in
and out of sitting. This developmental milestone occurs between 7-10 months. This stage
marks a major shift. It’s often a baby’s first form of independent mobility.

Before crawling, babies rely on caregivers to move them through their environment.
Crawling changes that! It allows them to explore, problem-solve, and interact with their
surroundings on their own terms. Developmentally, that independence matters.

Why Crawling Matters
Every movement during crawling is doing something important
behind the scenes. As babies move on their hands and knees, they
are building:
• Shoulder stability and upper body strength
• Core and hip strength
• Joint stability through weight-bearing
• Hand strength and development of the palmar arch
• Coordination between both sides of the body
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These are the exact foundations needed for future skills such as pulling to stand, cruising,
walking, and even fine motor skills such as writing.

The Brain-Body Connection
Crawling is one of the first activities that requires bilateral coordination, using both sides of
the body in a coordinated, alternating pattern. This has a direct impact on brain
development.

As a baby crawls:
• The right and left sides of the brain are communicating
• Neural pathways are being formed and strengthened
• Movement becomes more efficient and automatic over time

Crawling also supports:
• Motor planning (figuring out how to move through space)
• Problem-solving skills (navigating obstacles and reaching goals)
• Body awareness (understanding when the body is in space)

The more opportunities a baby has to crawl, the more practice their brain gets in organizing
movement and that carries over into future learning.

More Than Movement: Sensory & Visual Development
Crawling also plays a major role in how babies process and respond to the world
around them.

It helps develop:
• Vestibular system (balance and head movement)
• Proprioception (body awareness and joint position)
• Visual skills, including depth perception and eye tracking
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As babies shift their gaze up, down, and forward while crawling, they’re learning to
coordinate visual input with body movement. This is an essential skill that supported
reading and sustained attention later on in life.

But What If My Baby Skips Crawling?
This is a common and valid question. Some babies move straight to standing or walking,
while others use alternative forms of movement such as scooting or army crawling.

While this can fall within typical development, skipping crawling may mean:
• Fewer opportunities for weight-bearing through the arms
• Less development of bilateral coordination
• Missed practice with motor planning and spatial awareness

It doesn’t mean that something is wrong. It may mean a child could benefit from extra
opportunities to build those foundational skills in other ways.

Why Crawling Still Deserves Attention
Even though it’s no longer a required milestone, crawling remains one of the most efficient
ways to develop:
• Strength
• Coordination
• Sensory processing
• Early problem-solving skills
• Brain-body integration

In pediatric physical therapy, we don’t focus on forcing milestones. We focus on making
sure the skills behind the milestone are developing. Crawling happens to check a lot of
those boxes.

How To Support Crawling at Home
The good news: supporting crawling doesn’t require special equipment.

The most effective strategies are simple:
• Prioritize floor time every day
• Encourage tummy time early and often
• Place toys just out of reach to promote movement
• Allow babies to explore different positions (side-lying, pivoting, and reaching)
• Limit time in containers like swings, seats, and walkers

The goal is to create opportunities for movement, not perfection in how it looks.

When To Seek Extra Support
Every baby develops at their own pace, but it may be worth checking in with a pediatric
physical therapist if you notice:
• Limited interest in moving or exploring
• Strong preference for one side
• Difficulty weight-bearing through their arms
• Skipping crawling and showing delays in other skills
• Stiffness or low muscle tone

Early guidance can help support development in a way that feels natural and play-based.

How Pediatric Physical Therapy Can Help
A pediatric physical therapist can assess how your baby moves, not just which milestones
they’ve reached.

Physical therapy may focus on:
• Building strength and coordination through play
• Encouraging symmetrical movement
• Supporting transitions (rolling, sitting, and crawling)
• Creating individualized strategies for home
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Most importantly, physical therapy is designed to feel like play because that’s how babies
learn best.

Final Thoughts
Crawling may not be on the checklist anymore, but its impact hasn’t changed. It’s more
than just a way to get from point A to point B. It’s a foundation for how a child moves,
learns, and interacts with the world.