Is it ok if my child skips crawling?
Gross motor milestones are developmental skills that most children achieve and are associated with a time frame which children typically achieve them. For example, children are expected to achieve tummy to back rolling at 3-4 months of age, hands-and-knees crawling from 8-10 months and walking from 9-14 months. But what happens if a child skips crawling? Is this a big deal? Is this something that we should continue to encourage even when they begin to walk?
Unfortunately, the answer is not straight forward.
Children typically start crawling around 8-10 months to allow them to explore their environment and to access toys that were previously outside their reach. To achieve crawling, children need good head control, integrated reflexes, adequate arm and leg strength and coordination.
There are many benefits to crawling including:
Increasing strength through arms and legs
Increasing coordination of left and right side of body
Increasing coordination of upper and lower limb movement
Abdominal and neck strengthening
Allowing children to explore their environment
Develop arches of the hands
If children get stuck on their tummies and are unable to push up into 4-point kneeling encouraging activities that increase arm strength can be very helpful. Additionally, helping children transition from sitting to a 4-point kneeling position is encouraged. Sometimes children can get into 4 point kneeling, however when they look up and attempt to crawl, they flatten back onto their tummy. This can occur if reflexes aren’t fully integrated.
Sometimes children skip crawling completely. In some ways, it is easier to walk than it is to crawl – especially if the child can lock their knees to perform the movement. Additionally, walking allows children to have both hands free to play with toys and interact with their environment. For this reason, if children skip crawling, they often don’t want to go back to it. If this occurs, it can be great to retrospectively create opportunities for crawling. An example of this is to encourage crawling through tunnels or under obstacles.
If you are concerned about your child’s crawling or gross motor development, it may be worth checking in with a paediatric physiotherapist. The therapist will assess your child and provide specific exercises depending on what they find on assessment. These exercises may include lower or upper limb strengthening activities or abdominal strengthening activities. Additionally, it may include strategies to integrate reflexes or increase coordination.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!
