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Ages & Stages

Crawling Styles

​Watching your baby learn to crawl and move independently can be a truly memorable time. Take advantage of this brief period; before you know it, your little one will be pulling up, standing, and walking. Not every infant crawls in the traditional manner.

Different crawling styles include:

  • Classic hands-and-knees or cross crawl. This is when babies bear weight on their hands and knees, then moves one arm and the opposite knee forward at the same time.

  • Bear crawl. This looks like the classic crawl, but babies who do this keep their elbows and knees straight, walking on hands and feet like a bear.

  • Belly or commando crawl. Baby's who favor the military-style crawl move their bodies forward while dragging their bellies against the floor.

  • ​Bottom scooter. Babies scoot around on their bottom using their arms to move forward.

  • Crab crawl. Moving backward or sideways like a crab, babies propel themselves with their hands.

  • Rolling crawl. Babies with style of crawl get to their destination by rolling from one place to another.

Exploration and experiences affect a child's earliest learning, which shows why it's important for parents to encourage the development of their child's motor skills.

Tummy time provides a foundation for the skill of crawling. Floor time and crawling play an important role in your child's development!

Additional Information

Last Updated
9/15/2021
Source
Retro Baby (Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Pediatrics)
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
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