Just as are were getting ready to tick “crawling” off your baby’s development chart, you notice that your baby is not crawling forward as is deemed “normal”! but crawling backward. Time to panic? Not really. A baby crawling backward is not uncommon. In fact, a baby who does not crawl at all is also not a worrisome concern.
As long as the baby tries to move on the floor, making use of all his arms and legs, you should not be concerned. Read on to understand why babies crawl backward and how you can encourage them to crawl forward.
In This Article
- Why Does My Baby Crawl Backwards?
- Is It Alright For My Baby To Crawl Backwards?
- How Long Do Babies Go Backwards Before Crawling?
- How Can I Encourage My Baby To Crawl Forward?
- When Should My Baby Start Crawling?
- What Are The Stages Of Crawling?
- FAQ’s
Why Does My Baby Crawl Backwards?
Your baby is very efficient. Whatever task they need to accomplish, they will find the easiest and most energy-efficient way to do it. Did you know that to crawl forwards, your baby’s legs need to be very strong, and to crawl backward, your baby’s arms need to be stronger?
According to pediatricians, babies have stronger arms than legs and their upper bodies are more developed. Because they lie so long (approximately 9 months) in the womb, they do not have a lot of strength in their legs.
With that logic in mind, if you observe your baby, you will see them push on the floor with their arms and as a result move in reverse rather than forwards. In fact, you can read more about types of crawling in babies and get to know all about the techniques.
Is It Alright For My Baby To Crawl Backwards?
Yes, it is. We explained the logic of your baby crawling backward in the last section. It is very common for babies to start by crawling backward.
You need not worry or panic as long as the baby is able to reach where they wants to reach. And in due time, when the feeling is stronger, they will start crawling without any special attention or encouragement from your side.
However, as parents, you might feel a bit impatient and want to entice your baby to crawl forward. If you do, go through the tips in the next section which will give you some ideas on how to help and encourage your baby to crawl forwards.
How Long Do Babies Go Backwards Before Crawling?
The first step forward a baby takes might actually be a step backward. As babies learn how to move their arms, legs, and arms again, they sometimes crawl backward before they learn how to move forward. Anyway, they will soon learn to crawl forward.
How Can I Encourage My Baby To Crawl Forward?
Here are some tips to encourage your baby to crawl forward:
- Make it Interesting: Keep some interesting toys a few feet away from your baby so that they will have to move forward to get them.
- Baby Sees And Baby Does: Try to get on the floor and show them how to crawl. Another idea is to get similarly aged babies who can crawl forward for a play date. Your baby will watch, your baby will learn, and your baby will start to crawl forwards!
- Push And Propel: When your baby is crawling backward, kneel down and softly touch their bottom and gently push him forward.
- Tempt The Baby: Entice your baby by keeping their favorite food treat in front of them. Do not give in to their cries and let him have the treat. When hey reach the treat, try moving it a bit further away. It might sound a bit heartless, but it will give the push your baby needs to move forward.
- Tummy Time: Encourage your baby to spend more time playing on tummy.
- Let Them Practice: While your baby is on their back, move their arms and legs forward so that they get used to moving them in that direction.
- Make it Playful: Babies love to play, and by chasing your baby on all fours so that they are driven to crawl faster, you are making it all the more fun!
Please be prepared for some crankiness as you try these tips. Your child is bound to get frustrated as he tries to crawl forward but is unable to do so. Do not give in to the cries and let him take the toy. If you are patient enough, he will figure it out and be successful in crawling forward.
When Should My Baby Start Crawling?
Your baby will start crawling anytime between 7 months and 10 months. While some babes do it sooner, some do it later. On the other hand, some even skip the whole crawling routine and start walking directly. Some babies pick up alternatives to crawling – like slithering (whole body on the floor and moving like a snake), rolling, dragging themselves in a sitting position, and so on.
Many pediatricians believe that infants follow a developmental pattern similar to parents. So go ask your parents if you crawled and when. That should give you an idea about if and when your baby will crawl.
Always remember that every baby is unique. So even if your baby slightly deviates from what is considered “normal”, it is alright. In most cases, your baby will catch up sooner or later. However, if you are really worried, talk to your child’s pediatrician and find out if your child is developmentally progressing.
What Are The Stages Of Crawling?
We’ve divided crawling into seven phases, but keep in mind that no two babies are alike, so it’s quite natural for them to have their own path that looks a little, or a lot, different from what we’ve indicated here.
As they learn to explore the world, some newborns may skip or mix up some of these processes.
- The “shuffle”: Anything from a stomach wriggle to “swimming” indicates that they have begun their crawling trip.
- The “commando crawl”: When your baby begins to move their body around with their arms, they have begun to commando crawl. Babies often begin here since their upper body strength develops quicker than their lower halves.
- The crawling position: If your munchkin is getting up on their hands and knees, even if they aren’t moving, they are well on their way to learning how to move in this posture.
- The reverse crawl: They’ve gotten to all fours crawling but are moving backward. They’re almost there! Any movement is beneficial.
- The “scoot”: If they’re getting about by shuffling around on their bottoms, they’re beginning to learn the concept of movement and may soon replace it with a quicker crawl.
- The “crab” crawl: Some babies find it simpler to begin by crawling on one side of their body. They’re well on their way to a complete crawl if they’re moving forward with one straight and one bent leg.
- The “traditional” crawl: If they’re on all fours and moving opposing arms and legs at the same time, they’ve mastered the classic crawl.
Some babies will never complete the “traditional” crawl, which is just OK.
Did your baby crawl backward? What tactics did you use to entice them to crawl forward? Do leave your comments below.
FAQ’s
1. Does Asymmetrical Crawling Mean Autism?
Autism is not diagnosed only based on asymmetrical crawling. However, autistic babies may crawl asymmetrically at times. If you are worried that your infant may have autism, it is strongly advised that you seek indicators other than non-typical motor abilities.
2. What Is The Average Age For Crawling?
The answer varies for each baby, but the average age at which they begin to crawl is between six and ten months.
