Babies usually start crawling between 7 and 12 months, according to Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, the Australian Government's parenting information service. It says babies can usually get into a crawling position on their hands and knees between 6 and 9 months, and many are rolling around and commando crawling on their tummies by around 9 months. The NHS and the AAP both put crawling at around 7 to 10 months.
The range is wide. In the World Health Organization's motor development study of healthy babies in five countries, the normal window for hands-and-knees crawling ran from 5.2 to 13.5 months, with half crawling by about 8.3 months. Some babies never crawl at all, and that alone isn't a concern.
When do babies crawl? Ages at a glance
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australia) | Crawling usually 7 to 12 months; hands-and-knees position 6 to 9 months |
| NHS (UK) | Probably around 7 to 10 months; not all babies crawl |
| AAP (US) | Usually mastered between 7 and 10 months; a few never crawl |
| WHO study | Hands-and-knees crawling between 5.2 and 13.5 months; half by about 8.3 months |
If your baby was born more than 3 weeks early, the CDC's online checklist says to use their corrected age, counted from their due date.
What are the different ways babies crawl?
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says your baby will crawl "with their own unique style", and that these are all normal:
| Style | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Hands and knees | The classic crawl, with the tummy off the floor |
| Commando crawl | Tummy on the floor, pulling along with the arms |
| Bottom shuffle | Sitting up and sliding along on the bottom |
| Crawling backwards | Moving backwards instead of forwards |
| Rolling around | Rolling to get where they want to go, often alongside commando crawling |
The AAP describes babies who don't crawl "scooting on their bottoms or slithering on their stomachs" instead. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's 8-month page notes many babies of this age are crawling or shuffling on their bottom.
Do all babies crawl?
No. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, the NHS and the AAP all say some babies never crawl. Some go straight from sitting and shuffling to pulling up and walking. In the WHO study, 4.3% of healthy babies were never seen crawling on hands and knees; the authors note that babies who skip it may bottom shuffle or crawl on their stomach instead.
What matters is that your baby is finding some way to move around and is gaining new skills over time. Our first steps guide covers what comes next.
How does crawling develop, step by step?
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says each new skill builds on the ones before. Before crawling, babies are busy:
- Controlling their head during tummy time.
- Moving and strengthening their arms, pushing up on forearms and then straight arms.
- Sitting up, first with support and then without. See sitting up.
- Rolling from front to back and back to front. See rolling over.
- Holding their weight through their arms and legs, getting up on hands and knees, usually between 6 and 9 months.
- Moving off, whether forwards, backwards, on the tummy or on the bottom.
All of this builds the strength and balance for crawling and later for walking.
How can I encourage my baby to crawl?
- Tummy time every day. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says tummy time strengthens the head, neck, back and leg muscles needed for crawling, and suggests starting from birth and building from about 10 seconds to 10 minutes as your baby's age and ability grow. Always supervise. See tummy time.
- Put toys just out of reach. Both the CDC's 9-month tips and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggest placing a favourite toy, or yourself, a little out of reach to encourage crawling, scooting or rolling. Celebrate when they get there.
- Encourage reaching across the body. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says reaching across the midline, from one side of the body to the other, is particularly good for motor development.
- Play on the floor together. Move toys side to side in front of your baby's face and turn the pages of a picture book.
- Give space. Move furniture so your baby has a clear area, and let them try to pull up on safe furniture.
- Skip the baby walker. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says walkers do not help crawling, can delay it and cause thousands of injuries every year in Australia.
Praise and an excited face go a long way, even before your baby understands the words.
How do I babyproof my home for a crawling baby?
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's 4-month page suggests thinking about preparing your home before your baby starts moving, and its crawling guide says to make your home safe before they crawl. The NHS says to let your crawling baby explore the floor, but make sure it's safe first. Getting down to your baby's level is the quickest way to spot hazards.
Floors and small objects
- Keep anything smaller than a 20-cent coin out of reach; Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's choking guide says these can choke a child under 3 years.
- Watch for coins, jewellery, pen lids, magnets, stickers, pebbles and broken toy parts.
- Store button batteries and magnets securely; if swallowed, they need to be removed immediately.
Cords, heat and furniture
- Move electrical cords and any cords that could wrap around your baby's neck out of reach, and keep hot drinks out of reach.
- Secure heavy furniture such as TVs, bookcases and dressers, and cover sharp table corners.
- Fit safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs and keep them closed (AAP), and across doorways to the kitchen and bathroom.
These points come from Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's crawling and falls prevention guides and the AAP.
Medicines and chemicals
- Lock away medicines, cleaning products, chemicals, essential oils, alcohol and vaping products. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's poisons safety guide lists these as common poisoning risks, and the CDC also says to lock them away.
- Ask visitors to keep handbags with medicines out of reach.
Water
- Empty the bath as soon as you take your baby out, and never leave your baby alone in or near water.
- Keep toilet lids closed or bathroom doors shut, and watch out for buckets, pet water bowls, sinks and plant saucers.
- In Australia, pools and spas must by law be fenced. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's water safety guide says babies can drown in as little as 5 centimetres of water, and a crawling baby can cover a big area quickly.
Changing and sleeping
- Never leave your baby alone on a change table, bed or sofa. The AAP warns that nappy changes on a change table become risky once your baby can flip over, and suggests changing them lower down, such as on the floor.
- Keep cot sides up and keep the cot clear of anything your baby could climb on.
When should I talk to someone about crawling?
Call your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) now if your baby
- is choking and can't cough, cry or breathe properly
- has difficulty breathing, has blue, grey or pale skin or lips, is very drowsy or hard to wake, or has a seizure (the NHS urgent help guide)
- has swallowed a poison and is drowsy, unconscious or having trouble breathing
See a doctor promptly if your baby
- stops doing something they could do before, such as sitting or crawling
- seems unusually stiff or floppy, or uses one side of their body much more than the other
Talk to your GP or child-health nurse if
- your baby is 12 months or older and isn't crawling or showing any signs of moving around (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby; the NHS also suggests asking if there are no signs of moving by 12 months)
- your baby struggles to roll, sit or hold their head steady, which the AAP lists as signs to raise
- you're worried about any part of your baby's development
What's worth writing down?
Note the date your baby first got moving and how they did it, such as commando crawl, bottom shuffle or hands and knees. If your baby is approaching 12 months without moving around, a short video of floor play and a list of what they can do (sit, roll, pull up) helps your GP or child-health nurse.
