Most babies learn to start crawling between the age of 7 and 10 months. At first, they might ‘dry swim’ in place on their tummy, or they scoot backwards. As you will soon tell, crawling is not easy for babies! However, once your little one gets used to his body weight and learns to move and coordinate his limbs, it won’t be long before they are able to crawl a few steps forward. Here are some tips to help improve their crawling skills.

Practice Tummy Time Regularly

Before I start tummy time with my baby, I always place a soft, clean mat or blanket on the floor before putting him on their belly. That way once he’s tired, he can rest his head on the ground without bumping his head. Always supervise your baby during tummy time to ensure they don’t accidentally suffocate, especially if their neck muscles aren’t strong enough yet.

My baby actually started practicing tummy time when he was a newborn, but never after a feeding. Newborns can only do tummy time for a few minutes. As they grow older and their stomach, hand, and neck muscles get stronger, you can increase the tummy time session. Always let them rest if they are tired from tummy time.

Create a Safe, Comfortable Place

Always make sure that your baby has ample space to move their body around and explore their surroundings. Child-proof your home and remove any potential hazards. (Check out how to baby-proof your home here!)

Switch to Diaper Pants

During the day when my baby is more active and learning to crawl, I switch his tape diaper to PETPET® Day Night Pants. The snug fit allows him more freedom to move around without the typical tightness around the waist of tape diapers, and the double layer leak guards help to curb any side leakages as my baby practices his crawling movements.

Don’t Use Baby Walkers

Many young families may be tempted to use baby walkers since they think it helps their babies to learn to walk faster. On the contrary, baby walkers can hamper muscle development. They are also a falling hazard, especially if they are located on the top floor of a house or near stairs.

Place Toys Out of Reach

Once your baby is able to lift his chest and lean on his elbows with his head upright, you can try to motivate them to move by placing their favourite toys a short distance away from them. A small mirror on the floor can also encourage them to scoot towards their own reflection.

Crawl With Your Baby

What better way to teach crawling to your baby than being a role model yourself? I used to lie on the floor and show my little one how to crawl so that he can imitate my movements. I’ve also tried supporting my baby’s tummy when he is on all fours.