Baby Crawling & Walking

Baby Stages of Crawling to Walking

Provide your baby with floor play, especially by placing them on their tummy. You can start to give your baby time on their tummy during their early weeks. Perhaps start by laying your baby on your chest while lying down (remember not to fall asleep). This will help them to develop head control, body strength and assist with their ability to learn to crawl. Most importantly, you must stay with your baby and remain alert when they are on their tummy as they are at risk of SIDS.

Birth

• No or minimal head control.
• When held in a sitting position, their back is curved and head will fall forward.

Around one month

• When lying on their back, keeps head to one side.
• Moves arms and legs in large jerky movements.

Around three months

• Has good head control.
• Hands loosely open.
• Needs shoulders supported when being bathed or dressed.
• Lying on their front, they can lift head and front portion of their chest to a 90 degree angle, taking their weight on the forearms.
• Can start to sit for short periods of time in a well supported sitting position.
• When held in a standing position on a firm surface, sags at the knees.

Around six months 

• Will roll from abdomen to back around 5–6 months.
• Will roll from back to abdomen around 6–7 months.
• Head control well established.
• Will sit with support, head and back are straight. Able to turn head from side to side to look around.
• Has increasing coordination of their hands (from four to six months).

Around nine months

• Pulls self to a sitting position. Can sit alone unsupported. They will begin to explore their surroundings in this position.
• Will adjust body posture when leaning forward to pick up or play with a toy, without losing their balance.
• Can bear all their weight on their legs when held to standing and steps purposefully on alternate feet.
• Will roll, wriggle on abdomen or crawl across the floor, to get what they want.
• Can pull to standing and stand holding furniture.
• When being carried by an adult, supports self in an upright position and turns head to look around.

Around 12 months

• Sits on the floor for long periods.
• Easily goes from lying down to sitting position.
• Crawls on hands and knees, may crawl up stairs.
• Pulls to stand, holding onto furniture and able to sit down again.
• Walks while holding onto furniture, or if two hands are held.
• May walk with one hand held or alone without support.