As parents, we are here to love, nurture, guide, and teach our children Everything that is LIFE.
Crawling is one of those big stepping stones during their first year that we help them learn so that they can move around on their own.
However, if you are a new mama and are wondering how to go about encouraging your baby to learn to crawl, you are in the right place.
Here I go over how I got my Babygirl to crawl by 7 Months-Old using these 9 genius crawling baby tips.
1. It all Starts with Tummy Time
Beginning tummy time right when your baby is born is a greatstart to strengthening the neck and back muscles they will need to crawl.
You can first do this with lots of cuddles by having your baby lay on your chest tummy down and get some good skin to skin time with you and your partner; this doubles as a nice bonding time for you and baby as well!
You can use a rolled-up baby blanket to prop them up during tummy time or purchase a baby play gym that has a small tummy time pillowlikeTHIS ONE!
If you plan on or are breastfeeding your baby, you may have a Boppy Nursing Pillow, which also doubles as a great tummy time pillow!
If your baby is a newborn, I recommend layinga thicker baby blanket in the middle of the Boppy Pillow when doing tummy time so they won’t slip down from it being too high.
You can purchase the MUST-HAVE Boppy pillowHere.
After going through a pregnancy, you may have purchased yourself a wedge pillow to help with acid reflux at night (I DID), and guess what, now you can use it as a tummy time pillow!
2. Place Your Baby Down
This may sound like a no-brainer, but it can be pretty easy to hold your precious bundle of joy ALL THE TIME; I mean they are only the cutest, sweetest, most beautifulbeing that has ever existed.
However, this will only inhibit them from learning to crawl and move around on their own.
So carve out some time every day and put them down.
3. Create an Optimal Space for Them to Crawl
Make sure to have a wide-open space for your baby to feel comfortable moving around.
If you have a large king sized bed, use it!
Yes, you can use your bed for the beginning stages of crawling when your baby is moving verylittle.
Be sure to ALWAYSwatch your baby to prevent them from accidentally falling.
If you have a carpeted area in your home, use it!
Any extra cushion under your baby’s knees will make it more comfortable for your little one to feel confident to crawl.
If you have hardwood floors or tile, I suggest purchasing a Baby Floor Mat for your little one likeTHIS ONE!
This will provide them with a softer, clean, safe space for them to crawland explore.
4. Place Your Baby in Crawling Position
Once your baby has enough strength to keep their head lifted on their own as well as rollover to each side, they are ready to practice!
Get your baby familiar with the crawling position by placing your baby on their hands and knees and move their limbs the way they would if they were crawling.
This will give your baby a sense of what they are supposed to do to crawl and encourages them to mimic the movements you are practicing.
Make sure to make this part of your daily routine so your baby gets familiar with the motions of crawling.
5. Give Your Baby Something to Push Off of
When babies can be on their hands and knees rocking back and forth on their own, you can help encourage them to make a move by placing your hand behind your baby’s feet.
This will allow your baby to push their feet off your hand and have more momentum to move and crawl.
You can also place your baby close to a wall or some pillows to practice pushing off of them.
Be sure to do these exercises every day with your baby and you be one step closer to getting them to crawl.
6. Place Baby’s Toys Out of Reach
Baby’s love toys and what better way to encourage your baby to crawl than to place their favorite toys a little out of reach.
At first, your baby may just be kicking their legs and stretching their arms as far as they can to get their toys.
However, over time they will build up the strength to do what may look like a bunny hop to propel themselves forward to get to their toys.
Before you know it, your baby will be strong enough to crawl and get their toys on their own.
7. Get a Crawling Toy
Speaking of toys, I highly recommend you purchasing theSkip Hop Explore & More Follow-me Bee 3-stage Developmental Learning Crawl Toyto give your baby more incentive to crawl.
This cute little bumblebee on a cloud moves around in two modes (circles and random) and stops when your baby can crawl to it and take the bumblebee off its cloud.
This toy helped my daughter tremendously to encourage her to move and crawl on her own.
My baby girl also really loves my bracelets and watches, so I would place one of them on the bumblebee wings to give her even more of a drive to get moving and challenge herself to crawland get it.
Don’t be afraid to get creative; you know your baby best and what will get them moving!
I also recommend the VTech Lil’ Critters Roll & Discover Ball.
This interactive ball is both colorful and engaging for your little one.
It is soft, has sensory tags on it, and plays sounds and cheerful phrases when the ball is moved around.
You can have fun rolling the ball around on the floor with your baby and encourage them to crawl after it.
This toy even acts as a learning tool to get to know animals and numbers. It’s a win-win!
8. Get Down on all Fours with Them
Toddlersmimic their parents’ behaviors and so do babies.
What better way to teach your baby to crawl than to be the example?
So get down on the floor on all fours and show them how you crawl.
Your baby will smile, giggle, and love having you interact on the floor with them.
This will only give them more motivation to copy you and crawl on their own.
9. Change up the Environment
What better way to get your baby’s attention than to change up their environment and make crawling a little more interesting.
You can do this by simply purchasing a baby tunnellikeTHIS ONE!
These are great even for small spaces like my own.
These baby tunnels are also easy to fold up and store away the same way you would a car windshield shade.
You can make a game out of it and place a toy at the end of the tunnel or just sit in front of the opposite end of the tunnel and encourage your baby to crawl to you or their favorite toy.
You can even play some good ol’ Hide N’ Seek/PEEK A BOO with your baby to make them giggle and smile along the way while they are practicing crawling.
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