HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN TO CRAWL

Parents are generally concerned with their child’s development. Is your child doing what other children his age are doing? It is comforting to know that all children progress at their own pace. Some children never crawl at all. In fact, they may go straight from sitting, to pulling up, to standing and then to walking. Often a baby’s temperament is playing a role, since placid infants are often content to stay in one place.

There are reasons why it is important to encourage your child to crawl. Crawling helps build hand-eye coordination. It also helps your brain in learning to do things on both sides of your body.

Here are some ways to encourage infants to crawl:

• Make sure you schedule into your day plenty of ‘tummy time’ starting at age three months. Give the infant supervised time in a safe area.

• Try placing infants on the floor on their stomachs for five to ten minutes while you watch. Never leave the infant unattended.

• You can place the infant on your chest while you lie on the floor

• Get down on the floor and place toys just out of the infants reach. This will provide incentive to try to push, pull or drag themselves forward.

• If by around 8 month old your child is scooting but not crawling you can place a pillow or rolled up blanket under their tummy to help them get into the crawling position.

• When the infant is in the right position, encourage them to reach for a toy with one hand while supporting themselves with the other hand.

As you baby get mobile it is important that you keep your environment safe.

According to the International Association for Child Safety – most accidents happen to young children when they are within six feet of adults. Here are some safety tips to make sure your environment is safe for infants:

• Make sure that older children in your family have not left any small toys like Legos within the infant’s reach.

• Make sure gates are at the top and bottom stairs

• Move electrical cords the infant could pull on.

For example: lamp cords

• Keep household plants out of reach. Some can poisonous.

If your child, by a year old, isn’t mobile at all, you should discuss your concerns with your pediatrician.