| As the saying goes, "You have to crawl before you | | | | usually cry out of a failure to do something, they |
| can walk." While there have been cases of babies | | | | say, but rather because the activity being asked of |
| bypassing crawling to go straight to walking, most | | | | them is developmentally beyond their reach. |
| babies will become proficient crawlers some time | | | | However, the fact that babies can belly crawl from |
| during the second half of their first year. | | | | birth is well documented - and it is this |
| Not all babies learn to crawl in the traditional fashion | | | | at-first-instinctive crawl that usually leads to the most |
| however. Some do a belly crawl (sliding along on their | | | | advanced type: crawling on all fours in a cross |
| tummy) - and go straight from there to walking. | | | | pattern (where the right arm moves with the left leg |
| Some babies prefer to remain upright and scoot | | | | and vice versa). If you decide to follow Glenn |
| around on their bottom rather than crawl. Others | | | | Doman's advice, and can see out the difficult initial |
| crawl backwards! | | | | period, you should find that your baby stops fussing |
| Whether or not babies need to learn to crawl | | | | in the prone position. Indeed, once she has |
| forwards is a matter for some debate. According to | | | | discovered the joys of mobility, she will probably |
| some pediatricians and pediatric textbooks, crawling is | | | | prefer to be on her tummy than in any other |
| not an important developmental milestone. The | | | | position. |
| method of locomotion is irrelevant, say the experts, | | | | Learning to crawl |
| so long as babies learn to get from A to B. | | | | Crawling - assuming your baby does it - normally |
| However, according to childhood educator Glenn | | | | starts between 6 and 10 months of age. Besides |
| Doman, a pioneer in the field of right-brain training, | | | | giving your baby regular tummy time, preferably on |
| crawling forwards is an essential skill to master. | | | | the floor, there are several things you can do to |
| Doman claims that crawling stimulates the brain to | | | | make it easier for him to get moving. Do not |
| develop convergence of vision - and that as a result, | | | | overdress your baby, as this would hamper the |
| people who skip this phase as babies may find it | | | | movement of his limbs and joints. When possible, |
| extremely difficult to learn to read and write as | | | | leave your baby's feet, knees and elbows bare, as |
| children. In addition, children who missed out on | | | | this will give him better grip. |
| crawling may suffer from speech problems, he says - | | | | To help your baby get moving in the prone position, |
| because the same part of the brain controls both | | | | let her push off against your hands with her feet. |
| functions. | | | | This should help her begin to belly crawl. If your baby |
| In cases where a child skipped crawling or did very | | | | looks about ready to get onto all fours, you can help |
| little crawling as a baby, Doman recommends | | | | by bending her legs gently and lifting up her bottom. |
| practicing crawling every day for six months. To get | | | | Don't force your baby into this position though, and |
| a child who knows how to walk to do this, it will | | | | don't try to rush her into crawling on all fours. |
| probably be necessary for her parents to get down | | | | You can also encourage your baby's mobility by |
| on the floor and crawl around with her! (This should | | | | dangling his favorite toys just out of reach, or once |
| not be tried until two-and-a-half to three years of | | | | he has started to belly crawl, calling for him to come |
| age, as before that, children are too enamored with | | | | to you on the other side of the room. Avoid aids like |
| the newfound freedom of walking.) It may sound a | | | | walkers, which take a lot of the effort out of getting |
| little outlandish, but Glenn Doman mothers have | | | | around - to babies' detriment. |
| attested to their success in improving a child's speech | | | | You might also consider making or buying an infant |
| simply by getting her to practice crawling. | | | | crawling track (details of which can be found in Glenn |
| The prone position | | | | Doman's How To Teach Your Baby To Be Physically |
| If the importance of crawling is a matter for some | | | | Superb). The track has a surface with good traction |
| debate, the placing of babies in the prone position (on | | | | and can be put on an incline (by placing one end on a |
| their tummies) is an even more controversial issue, | | | | step). Using a downward slope makes crawling easier, |
| because it could be a matter of life and death. The | | | | while the upward slope can be used later to make |
| question is: does sleeping in the prone position put | | | | crawling more challenging. |
| babies at greater risk for sudden infant death | | | | Learning to walk |
| syndrome (SIDS), or crib death? | | | | Babies normally start walking between 10 and 18 |
| According to some experts, yes - and the current | | | | months. Some parents get anxious when their baby |
| wisdom is to always put babies to sleep on their | | | | shows no signs of walking at a year of age. If that |
| backs. According to Glenn Doman, it is more natural | | | | describes you, then remember what Glenn Doman |
| for babies to sleep on their tummies. He adds that | | | | says about the importance of crawling in developing |
| nighttime is an important time to make use of the | | | | speech as well as reading and writing skills. If he's |
| prone position, as tiny babies actually belly crawl in | | | | right, then learning to walk late might actually be a |
| their sleep. | | | | good thing! |
| Which advice you choose to follow at bedtime is up | | | | As your baby gets ready to start walking, she will |
| to you. What seems clear though is that maximizing | | | | grab the furniture and pull herself up to a standing |
| tummy time during the day can do no harm - and | | | | position. She will then experiment with "cruising" - |
| can indeed encourage the development of your | | | | moving around on her feet with the furniture for |
| baby's motor skills. Once in the prone position, your | | | | support, and occasionally standing for a few seconds |
| baby will instinctively lift his head (helping to develop | | | | unaided. Let her do so barefoot, as this will make it |
| his neck muscles), push up with his arms (helping to | | | | easier for her to develop her balance and |
| develop his arm and chest muscles) and push off the | | | | coordination. |
| floor with his legs (helping to develop his leg and hip | | | | There's plenty you can do to help strengthen your |
| muscles). | | | | baby's leg muscles besides. Before he begins to stand |
| According to Doman, babies get bored when we | | | | (or even crawl), let him grip your fingers (holding his |
| place them on their backs and leave them to look at | | | | wrists as a precaution) and pull him up to standing, so |
| mobiles. What they really want is to explore the | | | | that he's supporting his own weight. Later, you can |
| world - and putting them on their tummies gives | | | | help him "walk" by supporting him under the arms. |
| them the opportunity to do this. Once in the prone | | | | When he starts to cruise, encourage him to let go of |
| position, a baby can see nearby objects and feels | | | | the furniture by holding out your fingers and letting |
| motivated to get over to them. Doman recommends | | | | him grip you with both hands. Before you know it, |
| that babies spend a minimum of four waking hours in | | | | he'll be holding on to you with one hand only. |
| the prone position - thought that time can be divided | | | | Babies start getting up on their feet before they |
| into short segments. This is in addition to the time | | | | know how to get back down, so don't be surprised if |
| the baby will spend on her tummy while asleep. | | | | your little one cries for help while standing. Rather |
| In reality, many babies hate tummy time - especially | | | | than picking her up, you can help her learn to sit |
| if they have not been in the prone position much | | | | down by gently bending her knees and supporting |
| since birth. Many parents report that their baby | | | | her weight until she reaches the floor. |
| fusses or cries to be rescued - even when the baby | | | | Enjoying the journey |
| was the one to turn onto his tummy in the first | | | | Whether your child is learning to crawl or to walk, |
| place! How you deal with this will come down to the | | | | give him as much opportunity to move around as |
| degree of importance you place in developing mobility | | | | possible, minimizing the use of playpens and other |
| early, as well as your comfort level with your baby | | | | restrictive devices. When he first starts walking, help |
| crying. Doman recommends that you get down on | | | | by directing him to flat, smooth surfaces. As his |
| the floor with your baby. In this position, you can | | | | coordination improves, let him walk on an incline and |
| encourage and reassure him, even while refusing to | | | | on uneven surfaces, both of which will help to |
| pick him up. | | | | develop his balance. |
| Pediatricians generally recommend regular tummy | | | | Most of all, enjoy your little one's first unsteady |
| time - although the importance they place on it varies | | | | steps into the world. Babies grow up fast, and it |
| considerably. Some doctors point out that babies are | | | | won't be long before looking after your child involves |
| not ready to crawl until they have developed the | | | | a lot more running than walking! |
| muscles needed to sit well unsupported. Babies don't | | | | |