Parents around the world understand the importance of infant education. Your infant’s early learning program must focus on developing their cognitive, social, and motor skills. Crawling is a gross motor skill that is essential for your child’s development.
Research suggests that approximately 50% of infants crawl by the time they are 8 months old. But each child’s learning journey is unique and there are things you can do to support your child’s developmental milestones.
Below we provide a useful guide to help your little one reach their crawling milestone.
Do All Babies Crawl?
Although most infants crawl when they are between 6 and 11 months old, some don’t crawl at all. As your baby grows and engages with their environment, they will experiment with different methods of movement. Your child will choose the most rewarding method, which might not even be crawling.
Some children prefer bottom-shuffling, rolling, or a combination of movement methods to get around. Your child could bypass crawling altogether and skip straight to walking too. The most important thing is that your baby is moving their body and making steady progress.
Can You Teach Your Infant to Crawl?
Crawling is a milestone that your child will reach when they are ready to do so. Even though you won’t have to teach your child to crawl, there are many things you can do to support them on their infant education journey. Here are 3 things you can do to help your baby learn to crawl.
Make Time For Tummy Time
Tummy time develops muscles that are essential for crawling. Every time your baby spends time on their tummy, they develop important muscles in their arms, legs, back, and neck.
Tummy time usually works best in your baby’s nursery or in a space that they feel most comfortable in. If your baby is still too little to spend tummy time on the floor, you could place them on your lap or chest. Newborns can have tummy time up to five times a day for three to five-minute intervals. By the time your baby reaches 6 months old, they should be spending up to 30 minutes on their tummies.
Tummy time should always be supervised by an adult and should only be done when babies are awake. Experts recommend that babies sleep on their backs during nap times and at bedtime.
Play In Front of A Mirror
Your baby’s curiosity grows right along with them. Mirrors are a great way to pique your baby’s curiosity. When you place your baby in front of a mirror, they’ll prop themselves up and reach toward the mirror as they try to investigate their own reflection.
The spot you choose to place the mirror must be hazard-free and should be spacious enough to allow your baby to move around. You could also place the mirror out of reach to encourage your baby to reach toward their reflection. These movements develop their gross motor skills and will encourage them to start crawling too.
Reduce Time Spent In Supportive Devices
Your baby’s stroller, highchair, and walker are essential in their daily lives and yours. But spending too much time on these devices can hinder your baby’s development. Supportive devices, such as car seats, can provide too much support for your baby, which can delay their development. When babies spend too much time in supportive devices, they don’t rely on their own muscles to support their little bodies. As a result, their muscular development can be limited.
High-Quality Infant Education at Parkland Children’s Academy
At Parkland Children’s Academy, your child’s education is a priority. The infant daycare program at our early learning facility in Parklands focuses on supporting your baby’s development. Contact us today at (954) 688-5877 and one of our friendly staff will answer any of your questions.