Learn more about the distinctions between a baby creeping vs crawling or if they are the same thing by reading the facts in the below article!
Baby Creeping Vs Crawling
Crawling
One of the first limb movements that infants learn is crawling. Crawling is a prone progression that enables them to get from point A to point B. It’s an important developmental milestone that lays the foundation for psychological mechanisms and neurological pathways. This allows them to adapt and acquire key skills throughout their life. While children may start crawling at any point between 5-13 months of age, infants who are heavier or prematurely born may take longer. A small fraction of children prefer to bottom-shuffle as a way to crawl. In the bottom-shuffle, a child sits down and pushes forward with their legs in order to move forward. Each child is unique, therefore, it can be safe to say that crawling doesn’t happen overnight or follow a fixed pattern for every child.
Eager to see their baby’s first steps, parents may be tempted to rush their infant into early walking. However, this can prove detrimental in the long run. Before they are ready to walk, babies need sufficient leg strength and balance control. Crawling prepares a child’s body and mind to achieve this strength and balance.
Creeping
Crawling and creeping are often used synonymously yet there exists some ambiguity between the two forms of locomotion. Creeping is considered a form of early crawling or “commando crawling,” wherein infants pull themselves along using bent arms with their legs out behind them while their tummies maintain contact with the floor. This tummy crawl improves the baby’s coordination, visual acuity, self-awareness, strengthens their limbs and core, and aids in developing the arches of the feet. Once the infant is confident, they transition to true crawling: on all fours with their tummies lifted off the ground. However, some kids may skip this step and attempt walking directly. The classic crawl involves the alternating baby hands with the opposite knee as they move forward. Creeping is a crawling style or early crawling.
Common Crawling Styles
1. Bear Crawl
Baby moves on all fours. The legs and arms are unbent in a bear crawl movement. This improves the childs’ core abilities and strengthens the arms, chest, and shoulders.
2. Crab Crawl
The propulsion comes from the arms, while the knees remain bent. This move may inadvertently send the baby backward, frustrating them. You may want to make your kid stop crab crawling and tell them an easier option.
3. Leapfrog Crawl
In a leapfrog crawl, the baby will get on their hands and knees and push forward to be able to move ahead. With their arms and legs, the baby develops a thrust that will help them in moving forward.
4. Rolling
Instead of making an effort with the hands or legs, some babies can simply roll from one position to another. This might be easy for them yet it’s not good if they keep it doing for long. This will give them the assumption that it’s okay to be moving like this and they don’t need to walk. Give them positive motivation to start walking.
Crawling Give Following Outcomes
- A greater visual field, which provides different input for their developing brain to process.
- Crawling helps in strengthening the hand and legs muscles, which facilitates learning fine motor skills.
- Early movement can develop body rhythm, timing, and coordination.
- Babies can learn the concepts that are crucial to spatial awareness such as: near/far, up/down, in/out.
- The ability to move around gives babies the ability to surpass boredom and enjoy meaningful social interactions with family, and pets.
Even after their first steps, babies may resort to crawling till they master the art of walking. To encourage your child to start crawling, ensure that they spend adequate waking hours lying down on their belly, also known as tummy time. This allows free limb movement and strengthens trunk and back muscles as they practice raising their head. Get down on the floor beside them and motivate them to get their favorite toy from an out-of-reach point. Engage them in such activities and reduce the amount of time they spend in walkers or bouncers.
When a curious infant starts crawling, it will be keen and able to explore its environment. Therefore, baby-proof your home to create a safe space for your child to navigate. Such baby proofing measures will rule out the possibility of accidents or mishaps that might happen otherwise.
Tips for Baby Proofing
- Place gates at the top and bottom of stairs inside the house, if any.
- Cover electrical outlets that are within the reach of the child.
- Secure furniture and other heavy objects that could topple.
- Always lock the cabinets and drawers so that the baby can’t pull them out.
- Watch out for sharp corners or edges in furniture and invest in rubber covers to dull the impact.
- Look out for any potential choking hazards and dangling cords/fabric that could wrap around and cause suffocation.
If the baby’s movements seem strained or overtly asymmetrical. Or if your infant does not attempt to creep/crawl/scoot/walk, there may be an underlying neurological or developmental issue. You must consult a physician immediately in such cases. Now that you know the difference between a baby creeping vs crawling , you’re knowledgeable enough to study your child’s walking pattern. Share your experience as a mother with your child crawling, so that other mothers can get some help!