Why Crawling Matters: 5 Critical Development Benefits the CDC Overlooked
Rachel Heidling, OTR/L — December 9th, 2024
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) removed crawling as a milestone in 2022, but we think this was a mistake…
The change made by the CDC is due to the fact that not all infants crawl in the traditional sense, and some may skip crawling altogether. However, they fail to explain why some babies skip crawling or what potential downstream impacts this has on development.
Why is Crawling Important?
Crawling is a major milestone. It significantly impacts the following 5 areas of development:
Grip strength and development of the arches of the hand: this impact on fine motor skill leads to improved strength and dexterity, which is required for writing, cutting, buttoning, and zipping as your little grows.
Visual tracking skill: a foundational skill for reading and writing. Similarly, as babies reach and grasp while crawling around, they are integrating and bettering their visual-motor systems, or what is more commonly called “hand-eye coordination”.
Body Body awarenessawareness, spatial awareness, and balance: all of which increase success navigating a playground, confidence moving their body, and continued gross motor maturation.
Bilateral coordination AKA the connection of the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Strengthening one’s bilateral coordination improves ease and efficiency with learning to play catch, ride a bike, and swim, all skills that required skilled use of both sides of the body.
Trunk and shoulder girdle strength: directly correlated to posture, handwriting, and balance.
Thus you can see how the benefits of typical hands and knees crawling go far beyond just checking off the movement milestone at a doctor’s office. However, many babies babies crawl in an atypical pattern due to tightness or weakness in the arms, trunk, or hips. A baby then misses out on crucial opportunities for sensory integration, to strength building, coordination, and visual-motor skill development.
4 Baby Crawling Patterns: What They Tell Us About Development
Hands and knees symmetrical crawl: This is the gold standard crawling pattern we hope to see in all babies. Typically developing between 7-10 months, this four-point crawling position supports optimal development of strength, coordination, and sensory processing.
“Hitched” or “janky” crawl: When babies crawl with one knee consistently up and the other on the ground, it often indicates both tightness and weakness along the "hitched" side. While common during the first month of crawling experimentation, persistence beyond 4 weeks suggests an underlying asymmetry that may affect long-term posture, strength, and coordination development.
Army crawling: a suboptimal crawling patterns and yet an extremely common movement pattern as baby is figuring out how to get up on all fours. However, if your baby is becoming or has become an expert army crawler and is not attempting to get up on all hours, going into downward dog, or planking, then this may signal a physical limitation. Prolonged army crawling often stems from trunk/hip tightness, weak hips, weak core muscles, or insufficient upper body strength.
Butt scooting: When babies sit and use their arms to propel themselves forward, they miss crucial developmental opportunities for strengthening their upper body, developing hand arches, promoting bilateral coordination, and integrating visual-motor systems. This compensatory movement typically occurs when babies have core or arm weakness that makes maintaining hands-and-knees position challenging. Less commonly, butt scooting may indicate difficulties with bilateral coordination.
When to Take Action
Is your baby showing any of these signs at 10 months?
Not yet crawling
Consistent "hitched" crawling for more than 4 weeks
Stuck in army crawl position without progression
Primarily using butt scooting to get around
Don't wait to address these important developmental patterns. Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Consultation with Rachel, our pediatric OT specializing in infant development. In just a few virtual sessions, we'll help your baby develop the optimal crawling pattern that supports lifelong strength, coordination, and sensory development.
For concerns about muscle hypotonia, if muscles appear floppy, there’s generalized one-sided movement, or your little has crawling delays accompanied by speech issues, please consult with an in-person physical therapist.
