Babies typically start crawling between 7 and 10 months of age, though some may begin as early as 6 months or as late as 12 months. Crawling styles vary widely and can include classic hands-and-knees crawling, commando crawling (on the tummy), bottom shuffling, bear crawling, and even crawling backward-each of these is considered normal
. Before crawling, babies develop important skills such as head and arm control, sitting up without support, rolling over, and holding their weight on their arms and legs. Crawling is an important developmental milestone that helps babies explore their environment and build strength for walking
. It is also normal for some babies to skip crawling altogether and move directly to walking without any negative impact on their development
. In summary:
- Typical crawling age: 7 to 10 months (range 6 to 12 months)
- Various crawling styles are normal
- Crawling follows development of motor skills like sitting and rolling
- Some babies may skip crawling and go straight to walking without issues
