Tips on Encouraging 8-Month Old to Crawl

My son didn't crawl until he was 11 months old. I was a little worried, but everything was fine and he started walking about 2 months after that. I wouldn't push it too much, just give him enough tummy time and put a toy out of reach so he tries to move a little. Good Luck.

Put his favorite toy a few feet away from him..just leave him on his tummy and see if he wants to get it bad enough. My daughter didn't crawl until almost 10 mos and then it was non stop. They kind of do it when they want to. Also put him a foot away from you and lay down and try to get him to come to you. Or a favorite food? Cookie? Put it just where he has to inch is way.
My son started getting mobile at 6 mos but would roll or scoot on his back for a while, hee hee...
He will do it.
My daughter crawled at 10 mos, walked at 13 1/2 mos and now cannot sit still to save her life. Be happy you have a son that is put for a little while as once they start going they don't stop!!!!

My son did not crawl until he was between 9 and 10 months. My doctors have also told me that since they switched babies to sleeping on their backs, a lot of them don't crawl. They just skip it all together. They used to think it was awful if they didn't crawl, but they have found out that it doesn't make any difference in their development. So with that info, you shouldn't be too worried. Maybe he'll just decide to start pulling himself up to standing in a few months and then be walking in a few months after that!

Don't rescue him too soon. Children cry during tummy time because they are frustrated and it's hard work. I'm not saying leave him to cry, but don't pick him up as soon as he cries, either. Try leaving him just 30 seconds or a minute to cry at first and see what he does. Each time, leave him a little longer. I agree with the other posters, giving him toys is a great idea.

My daughter was 10 months old before she started crawling. It drove me nuts when I would see other babies younger than her crawl. I would put her favorite toys to where she would have to crawl to get them and I guess she decided that she didn't want the toys bad enough. Then on the 4th of July, while at my grandparents house, I turned around and she was crawling. My niece who is almost 9 months, isn't crawling yet. I told my sister to put her toys further away but my neice will just roll over until she reaches them instead of crawling. I always heard that they need to crawl before they can walk but I would tell you husband not to stress out too much. Babies have their own ways of doing things and they will do what they want, when they want. My advice would be to try putting toys out of his reach. I have seen them but didn't have any when my daughter was little the baby Mickey and Minnie that crawl. Perhaps those might interest him.

Good luck but don't worry
K.

Hi L.!
Don't even worry about him not crawling. I have 2 kids, 5 & 20 mo. My 5 yr old crawled when she was 9 months and my 20 mo. old didn't crawl til he was almost 10 months. They are both very smart and active kids, so don't be bothered by the fact that your son isn't crawling as early as someone else's baby. I don't know why we all feel like we have to compare our kids to other people's children. I'm guilty of that myself! He will crawl when he is ready, so don't get stressed over it. As long as he is developing normally in other areas, he is fine! Also, my kids didn't walk until 13 & 14 months.
I hope this helps. Good luck and enjoy your baby!
S.

My daughter crawled at about 10 1/2 months and walked at 1. My son never crawled--he scooted around on his back some by lifting up on his neck and shoulders, but then he walked at 10 months. Every kid is different; encourage your husband to read these responses and not worry. Once they're mobile, your life is CRAZY!! Be glad for these more peaceful times and enjoy them. :)

I had a daughter crawl at 5 months and then I had another daughter wait until she was 10 months. The later one hated her tummy from the time she was little. The great thing about her waiting so long to crawl was she would sit and play with her toys forever. It was wonderful because she wasn't going everywhere getting into everything! When or if they crawl doesn't determine how smart they are either. My daughter is now 5, in preschool and reading! As she sat and played with her toys she was working on her small motor skills, not her large ones but her large motor skills weren't delayed either. Be patient and ENJOY this time! When your baby does start to crawl, your job will become even bigger!

Your baby will crawl as soon as he is ready. You can entice him with toys and calling him, but unless he wants to he just won't. Crawling isn't even considered a milestone because a lot of babies skip it all together. My 3 kids all crawled at different ages. My 1st 7 mos, 2nd 8 mos 3rd 9 1/2 mos. So tell your hubby there is really no need to worry. One day you will probably look up and he'll be moving faster than you can believe. Plus, once they crawl your life of leisure is over! Good luck!

A.

My son will be 8 months next week and doesn't crawl yet either.
My first son was crawling at 7 months, but I figure they do it when they are ready. It really depends on their personality. One thing I can suggest that I do with my baby is give him plenty of toys to play with while he is on the floor. Put them just out of arms reach so he will have to work to get at them. Also like another mom suggested don't rush to him when he starts to fuss, it won't hurt him to cry a bit. My baby has figured out that he can roll around the floor to get what he wants and I figure that is just fine, when he is ready or motivated enough he will eventually crawl.

L., I've raised five children, and my youngest was the strangest in the crawling department. First off, don't try to make him adhere to a "schedule", he'll do what he wants to, when he wants to...but my youngest boy, who is now 13, never did learn to crawl properly, instead, he would keep flipping over, until he learned to ROLL. He would roll everywhere, it was interesting, and FASTER then his siblings! After a month or so, he went from rolling to walking, and now he's a big kid in his third year of track. He was a big baby, I always thought that maybe rolling was easier for him then the whole teetering on his hands and knees thing. But if you want to try and encourage the crawling, just wait until he's on his belly, then place a favorite toy in front of his nose, just out of reach. If he really wants it, he'll find some way of getting to it!

My 3 children (all 4 and under) didn't crawl until they were 9 months and didn't walk until after their first birthday, around 16 months. Practicing with them does help, but truly they will crawl when they are ready and want to. Then they never go back to not crawling. They grow so fast!! Cheer him on and encourage him, but when he's ready he'll do it. Have fun! What an exciting time!!

with my daughter we used to let her do her tummy time and when she wanted something we tried to make her move to get her toys and encourage her by trying to set her up on her hands and knees and see if she will stay in that position. But there is no concern most babies don't start to crawl until there between 9 to 12 months old.

Hi Lindsay,
You are right...he'll crawl when he's ready. My son did the same exact thing. He HATED tummy time! I'd get down and try and show him how to crawl. I have a 2 1/2 yr old and she'd also crawl to get him to do it. Nothing worked! He began pulling himself up and cruising at 9 mos but would get upset when he got to a spot that he couldn't hold onto because he wouldn't sit and crawl. It was most frustrating for me b/c I'd have to hold him most of the time. BUT...once he hit about 10 1/2 mos he figured out how to crawl on his own. Now he doesn't want me to hold him at all. I believe it's a confidence thing. Now I need to build his confidence up to get him to walk on his own!
Good luck,
C.

my son never crawled, until he walked at 11 mos...just didn't see it as an efficient mode of transport, I suppose. Tell your husband to give it time - he'll be all over and into everything before you know it!

Our oldest son never crawled until he was about 2 and one of his friends was starting to crawl and he showed her "how to do it right." He now crawls all over with his little brother. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Another thought, does your son spit up a lot? It might hurt to be on his tummy. That was our son's case.

L.,

Back off and let him develop at his own rate!

One of the more ridiculous things I have ever watched was my husband attempting to teach our then eight-month-old son how to crawl. Like you, my husband was concerned that our son was not crawling at the ripe old age of eight months. The attempt was highly unsuccessful, but also highly entertaining. Subsequently our son, totally on his own, when he was ready to do so, began crawling everywhere!

The point here is that he will do it when he is good and ready to and not until, so don't try to force it and don't stress about it.

Linda

You've already gotten the advice of gettinng down with him and putting a toy out of reach, as well as not worrying about it. I believe he'll crawl when he's ready, if he crawls at all. There are arguments in the child developmental psychology community whether skipping crawling all together leads to math problems later. All mine have crawled so far, so I don't really know. The only new recommendation I have is that if he doesn't really like tummy time (which most babies don't right off the bat) then try lying on your back and put him on his tummy on your chest or tummy. Play with him for a while that way to get him more used to being on his tummy for longer periods of time. Then use the toy out of reach, or getting down on your belly with him techniques. The most important thing would be to let him take it at his own pace, though. If it becomes frustrating for him, he'll not want to do it even more than he avoids it now. Don't push him too hard, but that doesn't mean you can't help him figure things out. Good luck, and have fun!

Hi L.,
I have to agree with the don't worry about it sentiment. Our little guy (we're first time parents too) didn't crawl until 15 months. We had a physical therapist check him out and she encouraged getting him on his hands and knees and then gently guiding his hips so he'd get the feel for crawling (this was at 14 months). Our little guy didn't walk until 19 months. Since those large motor skills came a little later than some, he worked on a lot of other areas. His fine motor skills are amazing and he's so cautious that since he started walking, he hasn't been into much that he shouldn't be and really understands how to maneuver situations/handle himself so he doesn't get hurt. We spent so much time reading before he was mobile that he knows his colors, some numbers and letters and communicates well. I say just enjoy what he's interested in now and the rest will come when ready. :-)

I would not worry about the "crawling" yet. When my son was having trouble with "tummy time" a physical therapist recommended putting him on a boppy or a rolled towel (propping up his chest, arms in front to grab toys). This helped him to strengthen his muscles in his neck and arms, prop him up so he could see his toys, and keep him from rolling over. After 2 weeks, he started enjoying "tummy time" and the boppy was not needed anymore. Since I am a first time mom as well, I also try to give my son experiences with other older children, so he can observe crawling and walking.

8 months is still young. He'll definitely do it when he's ready:)

My first son didn't crawl until 10 months. My second son crawled at 6 months. They are both normal. Kids develop differently. You can model crawling for your son. You can help him. But really, he'll do it on his own when he's good and ready. But, you know, some kids don't even crawl the traditional way. And some never crawl. They just start walking. How is he developmentally in other areas? If he's normal in other areas, I wouldn't worry about it. Tell your husband this --- it has been said that athletes develop slower. They want to perfect each skill. So, maybe your son is waiting until he knows he can crawl well. And be careful what you wish for. Once he's mobile --- your life will be a lot more difficult. :)

If your pediatrician has ruled out motor problems for your baby, then I would follow the baby's lead. Encourage movement with tempting toys that are age appropriate off in the distance, say 4 to 6 feet away. You are obviously giving him floor time already. Is the surface slippery, does he have socks on with the little gripper surfaces so he can move when he is ready? Other than those things, I would not worry as long as he is developing normally. Also, I never crawled, nor did my ex spouse. I laid on my back and arched it to move like an inchworm. He drug his legs and scooted across the floor. Funny huh?

Hey L. I wouldn't worry about your sons development either. Children do things in their timing. My one year old daughter didn't really crawl at all. She kinda did this walk on all fours like an animal. She didn't seem to like being on her stomach.

L.--
I would just continue to work with him as you are. I also have a 7 month old and three older kids and my 7 month old isn't even close to crawling, he is BARELY sitting up. It has been my experience that all children develop on their own terms and in the grand scheme of things whether they are crawling at 7 months or 9 months it's not going to make a huge difference. My oldest son ended up crawling on the same day as he started walking. He prefered rolling everywhere instead of crawling. Now he is 7 years old, a major soccer player, reading on a 5th grade level, artistic, well behaved, athletic, just a joy to have and I have never once thought about how I wish he had crawled earlier :)
When your in the middle of it though and you want the very best for your child at all stages it's hard to not feel a twinge of nervousness that your child isn't achieving those mile stones right on target. The targets that the pediatricians give us is a general time frame whereby we can start looking for the signs that they are ready to sit, crawl, walk, use pincher grasp etc. Children have different personalities, interests and abilities and I'm sure your little guy will turn out fantastic. You sound like a very concerned and attentive mother, I'm sure your son will become a great success because of your love and attention. Just keep doing what your doing!
As for part time work. I currently work with JetBlue Airways and I do reservations from home. It has been such a blessing to our family. It allows me to subsidize our income, we receive flight benefits and I am able to have a presence in our home and read to my boys/nurse/laundry on my breaks etc. if this sounds like something you might be interested in let me know and I can give you some information about it.
take care and have a great day.

You could place a toy or object just slightly out of his reach so he has to stretch for it. As he's about the reach the object, move it again just slightly out of his reach. With each movement he makes closer to the toy, reward him with praise and clapping.
Keep in mind though, crawling is not considered a developmental step because not all babies crawl (some pull themselves across the room with their arms and don't use their legs, some roll to where they want to go, and others just go straight to walking without ever crawling at all).

My son didn't walk until late - remember the spectrum of development is just that, a spectrum. Some will crawl, walk, eat, talk, whatever, earlier than the "norm", some will do it at the "norm", and some will do it later than the "norm".

My daughter didn't crawl either. Her Dr said that it really isn't a "mile stone" that they worry about because some kids never crawl. Before you know it he will be running!

When my son was 8 months old I went through the same thing. My husband was also concerned for our son and his development. He has a breathing problem so he also would hate tummy time and would last only seconds.
I found that he rolled over for a long period of time before he became interested in crawling. He did eveything late;sitting up,rolling over, crawling, walking. Don't worry to much about it. Each child is different and will do things when they are ready. Your 8 month old could be like my son was. They have to master one thing at a time and get it to perfection before movig to bigger things.
I did find that I could put a toy just out of reach and my son would catch interest in the toy. He would then start pushig towards the toys with his toes. Once he got closer I would move it back a little bit more. He eventually lunged to it in victory.
Also try gettig down on your belly with him. You may also try to show him how to crawl while you're down to his level. When he's having tummy time for those few minutes you can pull up on his midsection and show him the crawling stance. clap your hands for him and really be over dramatic when he stays in the stance or starts to go forward with his toes or when he just rocks on his tumy.
Hang in there. My son is now a 2 1/2 yr old boy. He's off the charts in height and all the doctors say he's way ahead of his age in mental development. He know all his shapes,letters,numbers,and he can spell his name. Your sonn will be just fine:)
If you are truly concerned make an appointment wih your pediatrician. I'm sure they would say the same thing.
I have taken several classes on Early Childhood Education and I was a lead preschool teacher for many years. Know that your concerns and your sons delayed crawling is VERY normal.He will crawl when he's good and ready. Continue to work with him and encourage him,he'll get there. You can also get some good tips and information at PARENTS.com or Parenting.com
I hope this helps. Good luck.
S. Henry

I really wouldn't worry about it. My youngest didn't start crawling until 10 months and it isn't uncommon for them to start even later than that. I wouldn't recommend any activities specifically to encourage crawling or scooting. I encourage you (and especially your husband) to simply enjoy the stages he is in right now. If you spend too much time focusing on what he isn't doing, you miss the beauty of what he "is" doing. Enjoy his immobility while you have it, once they get mobile--look out!! Good Luck!

Tell your husband to chill out and enjoy the ride. Your son will be up on his feet sooner than you know it and then your lives will be changed FOREVER! And I promise you, if he's anything like my DH, he'll get misty-eyed and sentimental for the sweet old days before walking (and tearing all over the place!).

All children are different and each one navigates the "mile-stones" of growth at their own pace. What is on the charts and in the books is a very basic time line, NOT a recipe.

My son took his first tentative crawling steps on his 8 month birthday. He was up and on his feet, zooming around, before he was a year old. He had many friends who crawled before he did but didn't walk until well after they were a year old. And guess what -- now that he and his friends are 4 yrs and change, not one of the mothers remembers or cares who crawled or walked first or last. They all run around the play ground at exactly the same pace.

You son is right on track, mama. Remind your dh to enjoy every second of this precious time - it's gone before you know it!

Blessings,

M.

Do you know anyone who has a baby crawling that he can be around? Sometimes seeing others doing it and seeing them crawl across the floor to get a toy might make him want to. My mom taught us to put a lay them on the floor on their belly and then support them with a towel around their belly and hold them up with the two end of the towel, while some one helped them manipulate their limbs to get a toy a few steps away. Put a few toys just ouyt of reach when he's on his back so he will roll over to get it and then start putting them a little bit farther away. He needs to have an incentive.

Hi,

My son is just 10 weeks old but I've noticed that he doesn't like tummy time at all which I would suspect would lead to a delay in crawling. I've been on the lookout for some activities that would encourage him to be on his tummy and here is what I found. They all seem to work:

1. Airplane - "fly" him around the house as you're holding him tummy down. My son seems to enjoy looking at things from this point of view.

2. Slide - place your baby on a blanket on top of a piece of cardboard and slide him around the house. It gives them the sensation of moving forward and may encourage them to do it on their own. We really have fun with this one.

3. Put your hands against his feet as he is laying on his tummy. He will push against your hands with his feet and move forward.

4. Put an interesting toy in front of him so he is distracted from any discomfort he may have while on his tummy.

I hope these help.

M.

My daughter didn't crawl until she was 8 1/2 months and she only did that for about 3 weeks and then she was walking. all babies crawl at different times so just let him be. I would also try to put my daughter on her tummy but she would only last a few seconds before crying. So don't press it. He could start to crawl in a few weeks or a few months. So just tell your hubby that he is fine.

my nephews and niece did not crawl until they` were 12 months and didn't walk until they were 14 months. They rolled for several months. It was an amazing thing to watch. They would point their heads in the direction they wanted to go..and then roll!At first I thought there was something wrong with them.. but when they started to walk, they were just like all other toddlers.One of the boys crawled backwards for several months until he got the gist of forward momentum! Today, one is graduating with a degree in marketing and the other is in college studying electrical engineering. The youngest is progressing well. So, I'd say not to worry about the crawling until later... if at all.

Hey L.!
I have a cousin, whose child did not crawl at all. When she went to school she had severe learning disabilities. She went to therapy in Chicago when she was in the 6th grade and had to do many exercises every day for a few years. The exercises were not only crawling but since she was born premature, she had to do many exercises that babies normally do in utero. She has now grown into a beautiful woman, graduated from university with honors and is married to a US soldier. We are very proud of her. But all could have been different if her parents weren't ready, willing, and able to see a problem and get it fixed. According to her physician, crawling is profoundly important in child development. Hope this helps, good luck and I do hope you can stay home very soon and be with your precious son full time! God Bless,
M.

My son did not crawl until he was 10.5 months old, he just turned 1 a few days ago and he took his first three steps. So the crawling stage will be a short one. Not to worry, just make sure you get some tummy time in every day and the time will come.

Don't worry about it. I had one premie who never srawled. She walked at 14 months. She sort of scooted on her bottom but never really crawled. I had one other term baby and he didn't really crawl either. He did the army crawl for a couple of weeks at one year old and then walked officially at 14 months. Once her learned to pull up, he would crawl...onlt cried until I came to take his hands if he wanted to go some place else. Lots of children never crawl. They pretty much just get up and walk at one point. Every child is different.

A great way to get baby on stomach is to get a beech ball,or you can use a boppie- the nursing pillow.
On the beech ball you can hold your baby on their hips and place their tummy on the ball, roll them forward, maybe having a toy or another person for them to play or interact with.
With the boppie, just simple put their tummy on the roll of the bopppie with a toy in their visual range.
S. Beck, www.lovingtouch.com , ____@____.com

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I have a 7 and a half month old and am in the exact same situation. My pediatrician said the average age for crawling is 9 months, but my hubby's anxious for James to get going too. I'll be interested to know if anyone has any tips. Good luck!