It’s Never too Late to Crawl

When days are full dawn to dusk and energy is taxed, it can be downright difficult to keep up with all the latest research, essentials, tips, tricks and “must do’s” of parenting. No, it’s impossible.  We inevitably come across information we wish we’d known about sooner. 

But take heart moms and dads. With regard to the importance of crawling, it is never too late to allow your child to gain the benefits.  Let me illustrate:

If you child is or has crawled in a traditional forward manner: Yeah! 
Crawling is a healthy, often instinctive movement that helps baby develop in more ways that you think. Consider this amazing interplay; As the child begins to lift up her head, then push up on her forearms bearing some of her weight, her hands, arms, shoulders, neck, back and trunk are strengthened—all important for crawling, sitting, standing, walking and eventually writing. 

As she crawls forward, her hands, and legs begin to work together cross laterally, meaning the left arm and right leg move simultaneously and vice versa.  Cross lateral movements strengthen the connection between the right and left hemispheres of the brain, because one side of her body is motor-controlled by one hemisphere, and one by the other.  So, both sides of the brain must coordinate for her to move forward in this way. 

The strengthening of the connection between the two hemispheres of the brain is part of the ongoing development which will eventually mature into more complex thinking processes requiring the integrating of specialized functions of both sides of the brain. Therefore, forward crawling seems to be more beneficial for brain development than some of the other styles of crawling. Some research even shows a relationship between lack of crawling and later difficulties with reading, speech and other higher cognitive functions.

As baby continues to crawl, he discovers spatial relationships such as near, far, up, and down. His binocular vision develops as he looks far off and then back at his hands. Space perception, called proprioception, and depth perception follow. The inner ear, part of the vestibular system, is stimulated as the child’s head moves in different directions.  The proper integration of these senses allows for balance. They work together to give baby a sense of his place in the world and much more. (See the post:  I Have a Vestibular System? by Miss Analiisa) Eventually he pulls up, begins to walk and all systems move toward maturing and integration.

If your child hasn’t crawled yet:  Encourage him! 
Most babies begin to crawl between two and twelve months, which means if your baby is within this age range, or a bit over and is not crawling yet, there is no need for concern.   For those who haven’t crawled, or who have crawled in one of the other styles, “commando,” or “bum” for example, some researchers suggests that they can gain the above mentioned benefits of forward crawling at any age by practicing.

For reluctant crawlers, try putting your baby’s arms on a rolled up towel to get them used to raising up (pre-crawling) and gently lift their bottom, putting them in a crawling position.  Being on the floor with baby, encouraging his movement by dangling an interesting toy just out of reach may help him initiate the movement. Crawling through tunnels or up the stairs is fun for older toddlers.
 
If your child (or you) never crawled in a traditional manner: It’s never too late!
“Cross crawling” exercises are designed to enhance communication between hemispheres of the brain.  These can benefit reading, coordination, visual perception and attention focusing skills.  Walking vigorously with the arms swinging opposite of the legs, marching in place while touching your opposite elbow to your knee, laying on your back raising opposite arms and legs are a few of the exercises you and you older child can do together. A game of chase on hands and knees works too.  One specialist in the field of integrated brain training, Dr. Glen Doman, suggests practicing crawling every day for six months where a child has skipped crawling altogether.

Crawling reveals the incredible and miraculous interrelatedness of our baby’s development and how an active baby has the best opportunity to maximize all of her capabilities. Understandably, orphans who lay in cribs unattended not only end up underdeveloped physically, but also display deficits in emotional and cognitive function.  In our modern era, babies who spend too much sedentary time, in car seats or swings for example, miss valuable opportunity for integrated development. Pick the baby up often.  Put her on the floor on her tummy to wiggle and crawl.  Pass her from grandma to grandpa to friend to hold. The up, down and around stimulates her system. “Use it or lose it” is probably true even at an early age.

Crawling isn’t a tip, trick or “must do” that is complicated or requires special equipment. It can be easily incorporated into a baby’s play time at any stage of development–ideally early on–but it’s never too late. You don’t need a licensed therapist, it’s free and you can benefit from it too.  So here’s my tip for the day:   Turn off the computer, get your baby or toddler and have a good crawl! You’ll all feel better.

-posted by Donna Detweiler, who is going to crawl off to bed now!