When Do Babies Crawl? Age, Stages, Types, and What to Do If They Skip It

Published: April 2025 | Last Updated: March 2026 | By Adel Galal, ParntHub.com

When do babies crawl? Most start somewhere between 7 and 10 months. But there is a lot more to this milestone than a simple age range, and one fact that surprises almost every parent.

In 2021, the AAP and CDC quietly removed crawling from the official developmental milestone checklist. Not because crawling does not matter, it absolutely does, but because the age range is so wide and the styles so varied that it cannot reliably indicate whether development is on track. 

As Dr. Latimer from Lurie Children's Hospital explains, a developmental milestone is a skill that 75% of babies achieve by a specific age. Since not all babies crawl, crawling simply does not meet that definition.

What that means for you: your baby not crawling on a set schedule is not automatically a concern. What matters is that they are moving in whatever way works for them and building the strength that underpins all movement.

Quick answer - Most babies crawl between 7 and 10 months. The average age is 8.3 months. Some start as early as 6 months; others closer to 12. Around 4 to 15% of babies skip crawling entirely and go straight to walking, and they develop just fine. If your baby shows no independent movement of any kind by 12 months, speak to your pediatrician.

When Do Babies Crawl? A Full Timeline

Before crawling happens, a chain of developmental steps prepares the body. Each stage builds the strength and coordination that the next one requires.

Sources: Pampers - When Do Babies Crawl | Huckleberry Care | Psychology Today - Does It Matter If Your Child Skips Crawling?

The key thing to understand: these ages overlap heavily. A 6-month-old who crawls and a 12-month-old who crawls are both entirely normal. Your baby's pace is not competitive.
Why Crawling Matters - Even Though It Is Not an Official Milestone

The removal of crawling from the CDC checklist confused a lot of parents and frustrated many pediatric therapists. The reason for removal was statistical, not developmental. Crawling is still enormously important.

As a licensed pediatric occupational therapist at Mary Washington Healthcare explains, crawling on hands and knees is a key milestone in a baby's development. Crawling is considered the first type of independent locomotion. 

It develops the vestibular system, builds bilateral coordination, strengthens the arms, core, and legs, and teaches babies to judge the safety of surfaces, a skill called risk perception that walking experience does not provide.

Research cited by Psychology Today found that a baby's crawling experience specifically helps them judge whether a surface is safe or not, for example, the drop-off at the edge of a step. Walking experience alone does not build this same perceptual skill.

Crawling also does something no other movement does: it forces both sides of the body to work in coordinated alternation - right arm with left leg, left arm with right leg. This cross-body pattern lays neurological groundwork that benefits motor coordination well beyond babyhood.

So yes - crawling still matters. It just does not matter that every baby crawls on the same schedule, or even that every baby crawls at all.

The Different Types of Crawling - All of Them Normal

One of the most helpful things to know is that when do babies crawl is a much less important question than whether they are moving. The style of movement varies enormously between babies, and every one of these is developmentally acceptable.

According to the AAP and quoted pediatrician Dr. Michael McKenna of Riley Hospital for Children, if there is a way people can move, there is probably a baby who has done it.

Classic Crawl

The most recognized style. Baby moves on hands and knees, with the right arm moving forward alongside the left leg, then the left arm with the right leg. Also called cross-crawling, this is the most neurologically complex style and the one pediatric OTs most recommend encouraging.

Belly Crawl (Army Crawl / Commando Crawl)

Baby lies flat on their stomach and pulls themselves forward with their forearms. This often appears first, around 6 to 7 months, before the baby has developed enough core and hip strength to lift their belly off the ground.

Bear Crawl

A variation of the classic crawl where the baby keeps their elbows and knees straight, walking on all fours rather than on bent limbs. It looks a little like a small bear cub.

Bottom Shuffling

Baby sits upright and propels themselves forward by pushing with their hands and feet. Research from Psychology Today notes that bottom shufflers tend to walk about a month later than babies who crawl, but with no differences in other developmental outcomes.

Rolling

Some babies simply roll to get from one place to another. Creative, efficient, and completely fine.

Skipping Crawling Entirely

Around 4 to 15% of babies skip crawling altogether and move directly to pulling up, cruising, and walking. Research finds no association between skipping crawling and later IQ or language development.

 Children who skip crawling to go straight to walking may even start walking at slightly earlier ages than average.

Clue That Your Baby Is Nearing the Crawling Stage

Watch these pre-crawling signals; they tell you the foundations are being built, and movement is coming soon.

During tummy time

• Lifts their chest off the floor with straight arms
• Pushes up onto hands and knees and rocks back and forth
• Pivots in circles on their belly
• Kicks their legs while on their tummy

Sitting and general movement

• Sit independently without support
• Reaches forward confidently without tipping over
• Lunges toward a toy outside their reach
• Pushes backward - many babies move backward before they crack forward propulsion

That backward movement is worth mentioning. If your baby is trying to move forward but keeps going backward, place your hands gently behind their feet. Parenting Science notes this gives them something to push against and often triggers that first forward lurch.

How to Help Your Baby Crawl - What Evidence Supports

You cannot rush your baby's developmental timeline. But you can absolutely create the right conditions for crawling to happen sooner and more confidently.

Start Tummy Time from Birth

This is the single most evidence-backed thing you can do. The AAP recommends at least 30 minutes of tummy per day, spread across multiple short sessions, starting from the day your baby comes home from the hospital.

Research is consistent: parents who provide more than 30 minutes of tummy time daily from 2 months through 6 months had babies who began crawling up to one month earlier, according to a Canadian study cited by Parenting Science.

Start with 2 to 3 minutes at a time. Make it engage, get on the floor with your baby, use a mirror, and place a favourite toy just out of reach. A bored baby on their tummy learns nothing. An interesting baby builds everything.

Give More Floor Time

Your baby develops through unrestricted movement on the floor. Time in bouncers, car seats, strollers, and baby seats is time not spent building rawling muscles. This does not mean those items are harmful; it means floor time as the default when your baby is awake and supervised makes a real difference.

Research specifically flags baby walkers as harmful to crawling development. Psychology Today notes that baby walkers delay the onset of crawling and other motor milestones. The AAP has formally called for a ban on sit-in baby walkers.

Place Toys Just Out of Reach

A toy exactly where your baby can grab it comfortably teaches nothing about moving. A toy slightly beyond their reach, just enough to make them try, is the motivation that drives all early movement. Move the toy as they get closer. Keep them working for it.

Less Restrictive Clothing

These surprise parents. Research cited by Parenting Science found that babies learn to crawl earlier in summer, likely because they wear less restrictive clothing. Heavy leggings, sleep sacks, and thick rompers can make crawling harder.

When your baby is practicing on the floor, light clothing or nappy-only gives them maximum freedom of movement.

Crawl With Them

Get on the floor and demonstrate. Babies naturally copy the actions of those they’re closest to. Seeing you crawl is one of the most direct signals that crawling is something worth doing.

It also tends to make them laugh, which makes the whole thing more likely to happen again.

What If My Baby Skips Crawling?

This is one of the most-asked questions parents search for, and the most reassuring answer in this article.

Skipping crawling is normal. Research finds no evidence that skipping crawling leads to developmental issues. Children who skip crawling still achieve all subsequent milestones. There is no proven link between skipping crawling and later IQ or language development.

One small study suggested a link between skipping crawling and an inefficient pencil grasp in later childhood, but as Psychology Today notes, the study used a non-standardized measure and an unclear definition of skipping crawling, making the conclusion unreliable.

What matters is not the specific movement pattern but whether your baby is moving, developing strength and coordination, and progressing toward independent mobility over time.

Delayed Crawling - When to Speak to Your Pediatrician

Most variation in crawling timing is completely normal. But contact your pediatrician if:

Both Parenting Science and Huckleberry Care offer the same clear guidance: if your baby is not making progress with any kind of locomotion by 12 months, or if there is asymmetry in how they use their limbs, speak to your pediatrician.

Early Intervention services in most countries offer free in-home assessments by pediatric physiotherapists or OTs, no doctor referral needed in most areas.

Babyproofing for Crawling Babies

The moment your baby starts moving independently, your home becomes a completely different environment. Crawling babies find things that standing adults never notice. Here is what to do before they get going:

• Secure heavy furniture - bookcases, TVs, and chests of drawers to the wall. A crawling baby pulling up can bring these down
• Cover electrical outlets - with safety plugs or outlet covers
• Remove small objects from the floor - anything that fits through a toilet paper roll is a choking hazard
• Install stair gates at the top and bottom of all staircases before your baby starts moving - not after
• Check floor level -  get on your hands and knees and look at your rooms from your baby's perspective. You will find things you missed completely

One addition most parents overlook: hot drinks. A crawling baby can pull a cup of tea or coffee off a low surface in seconds. Keep hot drinks out of reach and off low tables entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions 

When do babies start crawling?

Most babies crawl between 7 and 10 months. The average age is 8.3 months. Some start as early as 6 months; others closer to 12 months. All of these are normal.

Is crawling a developmental milestone?

In 2021, CDC and AAP removed crawling from their official milestone checklist. The reason is that the age range is too wide and the styles too varied to reliably indicate development at a set age. Most pediatric therapists agree that crawling remains an important developmental skill, even though it isn’t tied to a strict timeline.

What if my baby is not crawling at 9 months?

 Not crawling at 9 months is completely normal. Most babies crawl between 7 and 10 months, and some start later. If your baby is developing other movements, rolling, sitting, reaching, and pivoting, their trajectory is likely fine. Speak to your pediatrician at the 9-month check if you have concerns.

Is it normal for babies to skip crawling?

Yes. Around 4 to 15% of babies skip crawling entirely. Research finds no evidence of negative developmental outcomes linked to skipping crawling. If your baby is developing some form of independent locomotion and progressing over time, skipping crawling alone is not a concern.

Does tummy time really help with crawling?

Yes — it is the most evidence-backed way to prepare your baby for crawling. Research shows babies who receive 30 or more minutes of tummy time per day begin crawling up to a month earlier. The AAP recommends tummy time from birth, spread across short daily sessions.

What are the types of baby crawling?

The main types are classic hands-and-knees crawl, belly crawl (army crawl), bear crawl, bottom shuffling, and rolling. All are normal. Some babies use a combination of styles before settling on one.

Can baby walkers delay crawling?

Yes. Research confirms that baby walkers delay the onset of crawling and other motor milestones. They restrict independent movement and reduce floor time. The AAP has formally called for a ban on sit-in baby walkers.

When should I worry about a delay?

Speak to your pediatrician if your baby shows no independent movement of any kind by 12 months, if you notice asymmetry in how they use their limbs, or if they lose movement skills they previously had.

Conclusion

When do babies crawl? Most start between 7 and 10 months, with an average of 8.3 months. Some start earlier, some later, and a small percentage skip it entirely  all of which are normal.

What matters far more than the specific age or style is whether your baby is building strength, exploring their environment, and making progress over time. Tummy time from birth, plenty of floor time, and toys placed just out of reach give your baby the best foundation for crawling and for everything that comes after it.

If your baby is not showing any independent movement by 12 months, trust your instincts and speak to your pediatrician. Early support, when it is needed, always produces better outcomes.

Sources

1.    Pampers - When Do Babies Crawl? (reviewed by Dr. Christopher Peltier, MD): pampers.com

2.    The Bump - When Do Babies Start Crawling? (Dr. Michael McKenna, MD, Riley Hospital for Children; Dr. Denise Scott, MD): thebump.com

3.    Huckleberry Care - When Your Baby Starts Crawling (citing CDC 2022 milestone update, AAP tummy time guidance): huckleberrycare.com

4.    Psychology Today -Does It Matter If Your Child Skips Crawling? (Dr. Cara Goodwin, PhD): psychologytoday.com

5.    Lurie Children's Hospital - When Do Babies Start Crawling? (Dr. Latimer): luriechildrens.org

6.    Parenting Science - When Do Babies Crawl? (evidence-based research review): parentingscience.com

7.    Mary Washington Healthcare - Why Crawling Is a Key Milestone in Development (licensed pediatric OT): marywashingtonhealthcare.com

8.    CDC - Developmental Milestones: cdc.gov

For a complete picture of your baby's first year, read our Baby Milestones Month by Month guide. For the next stage after crawling, see our Best Way to Teach Baby to Walk guide. For everything in one place, visit our Baby Care Guide.