Crawling Myths That Cause Unnecessary Panic

Watching your baby start to move around can be thrilling… and a little nerve-wracking! Crawling is one milestone that causes a lot of unnecessary panic. It seems simple, right? Baby moves on all fours, explores, and the world opens up. But crawling actually involves a lot of coordination, strength, and timing - and that’s why so many myths exist that can unnecessarily stress parents.

We hear it all the time: “My baby isn’t crawling yet - should I be worried?” or “They crawl differently than other babies - is that normal?” The reassuring news is that there’s a huge range of typical crawling behaviours whilst babies are working on this emerging skill, and we’re here to help you understand what’s really worth paying attention to. So let’s bust some myths!

When Do Babies Usually Crawl?

Most babies start crawling somewhere between 6 and 10 months, but this doesn’t mean every baby follows that exact timeline. And remember, crawling doesn’t always look like the classic “hands and knees” style to begin with.

You might notice:

Around 5 - 6 months: Babies often experiment with commando crawling on their tummy. This is an important step in building the strength and coordination they’ll need for hands-and-knees crawling later.

Around 6 - 8 months: Some babies begin hands-and-knees crawling (4 point crawling), though it may look a bit wobbly or uneven at first. They may bear more weight on one side or use different crawling patterns, such as "janky" crawling (leveraging through one foot and their opposite knee), bunny hopping and bear crawling, and this is perfectly normal as this skills starts to emerge - remember practice makes perfect!

Around 8 - 10 months: Most babies have mastered 4 point crawling or a variation. Typically however, if your baby prefers to bottom shuffle, janky crawl, bear crawl or bunny hop by this stage... there's usually a sneaky underlying reason for it, which could include joint or fascial tension, muscle weakness, altered tone and so on.

I'd always advise that if you have concerns about your baby's crawling style, simply reach out to a Paediatric Physio for an assessment.

Crawling Myths (and the Truths!)

Myth 1: All babies must crawl on hands and knees first.

Truth: Many babies learn to crawl on hands and knees, but not all follow this exact pattern before moving on to pulling up, cruising, or walking. Some may bottom shuffle, commando crawl, or roll to get around. Hands and knees is a physio's preferred crawling style because it makes later transitions easier - such as moving from four point into high kneeling and then pulling up into standing. It also helps babies practise coordinating opposite arm and leg movements while close to the floor. Bottom shuffling and "janky" crawling can sometimes lead to hamstring muscle tightness because they often rely heavily on their hamstrings to pull themselves along in these positions.

Myth 2: Crawling late means your baby will walk late.

Truth: Crawling and walking do not always follow a strict timeline. Some babies may walk before they spend much time crawling, although this can sometimes lead to reduced balance and coordination.

Practising hands-and-knees crawling helps babies develop reciprocal arm and leg movements. This supports the neural pathways in the brain that contribute to a smooth, coordinated walking pattern - which is why we like babies to have plenty of crawling practice.

When babies have time to explore this movement pattern before walking, their movement can look more organised and controlled. That said, every baby develops in their own way, and skipping this stage does not mean they will not go on to walk within a typical time frame.

Myth 3: Symmetrical crawling is required.

Truth: Perfectly symmetrical crawling is not essential when babies first start learning. Many babies experiment with different movement patterns while they figure things out - they need a little time to develop their proprioceptive system in their brain, which allows them to understand where their body is in space. Whilst they build this awareness, things can look a little bit funky! However, once a baby has settled into crawling and becomes proficient at the skill, persistent differences between sides should be assessed to ensure both sides of the body are working as expected and there aren't any underlying issues that need addressing.

Myth 4: Babies must crawl for exercise.

Truth: Crawling is one way babies build strength and coordination, but it is not the only way they can exercise. Babies strengthen their bodies through many different types of movement. For example:

• Propping on hands during tummy time builds shoulder strength.

• Rolling helps develop core strength.

• Reaching, pivoting, scooting, and pulling up into high kneeling all help babies practise balance and body control.

  
  

All movement helps train your baby’s muscles and brain as they develop new skills.

What’s Completely Normal

When babies are learning to crawl, the following are often seen and are perfectly okay:

• Wobbling or leaning heavily on one side

• Scooting on their bottom or tummy

• Crawling in short bursts or only in one direction (sometimes backwards)

• Preferring to roll or pivot to move rather than crawling

  
  

The key thing is progress - your baby should be exploring their world in some way, even if it doesn’t look like a textbook crawl initially. Your baby having the motivation to move is half of the battle, so providing them with lots of movement incentives is the key to getting them moving - I always say to parents in clinic, you gotta do what you gotta do to get them shifting, no matter what that looks like! Ipad? Fine. Snacks? Absolutely. Brightly coloured, flashing toys? I'm all for it!

When Crawling May Need Extra Support

While variation is normal, you might want to check in with a paediatric physiotherapist if:

• Your baby isn’t attempting to move independently by around 10 months

• They seem very stiff or floppy when trying to crawl

• They show very limited use of one side of their body

• They can’t bear weight through their arms or legs at all

  
  

Crawling requires coordination of the trunk, arms, and legs, as well as balance and core strength. Sometimes delays are simply due to a baby skipping certain pre-crawling movements like tummy time, rolling, or weight shifting, and early input can make a big difference. If you've tried these positions/movements and you still feel stuck, reach out to a Paediatric Physio for a little help - very often than not, it's just a small tweak here and there that unlocks your baby's positional repertoire.

How to Support Crawling Through Play

You don’t need fancy equipment - simple floor play works best:

• Plenty of tummy time to strengthen shoulders, arms, and core

• Placing toys just out of reach to encourage reaching and moving - building that incentive to move is truly half of the battle!

• Crawling over cushions on the floor, across your bed (climbing over or under the covers), navigating soft play equipment or through tunnels for fun and challenge

• Encouraging movement in all directions - forward, sideways, and even backwards!

  
  

Trust the Process

Crawling is just one step in your baby’s movement journey. Some babies crawl earlier, some later, and some in unusual ways. What really matters is that they’re moving, exploring, and developing coordination and strength. Focus on progress and play, rather than comparing your baby to others.

Need Support with Your Baby’s Crawling or Development?

We offer a Baby MOT service, which is a comprehensive assessment and follow-up programme of either 3 or 6 sessions, to check your baby’s gross motor skills at key developmental stages. Perfect for any parent wanting reassurance and tips for purposeful play that encourages development.

Or if you have questions or want to chat with our paediatric physiotherapy team about your concerns, you can contact us here.

Get out there and have fun exploring together! <3