Why Is My Baby Crawling Backwards? What It Means and How to Help

Crawling backwards, or reverse crawling, is common and usually nothing to worry about. Babies' arms get strong before their legs and coordination catch up, so pushing back with the arms often comes first. With practice they figure out forward, and if your baby isn't regularly crawling with alternating arms and legs by 12 months, check with your pediatrician.

It's a funny thing to watch. Your little explorer spots a toy across the rug, pushes up with total determination and ends up farther away. Zero to Three says babies in this phase may even cry in frustration as they scoot away from the toy or person they're trying to reach, so a fussy reverse crawler is in good company.

Why is my baby crawling backwards?

Because, for now, their arms are stronger than their legs. Babies spend their early months in tummy time building arm and shoulder strength, and when they start trying to move, Pathways.org says pushing back with the upper body can feel like the next step.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says the same thing: since a baby's arm muscles are stronger than their legs, they may push themselves backward, and with time and practice they discover they can go forward.

Why backwards first? Pathways.org gives three reasons some babies find reverse easier to start with:

• Their legs aren't as strong as their arms yet.
• Their other crawling muscles, like the shoulders, hips and core, are still catching up.
• They need more practice coordinating all the moving parts.

Is it normal for a baby to crawl backwards?

Yes. Pathways.org calls it "a common behavior for many first-time crawlers" and says backward crawling may look funny, but it's nothing to be worried about. Zero to Three agrees that babies "sometimes go backward first, and then learn how to crawl forward."

What matters more than direction is progress. Zero to Three says the goal is a baby who keeps getting better at using their body to get around, whatever kind of crawling they use, and the AAP's yardstick for babies who get around in their own way is coordinating both sides of the body and using each arm and leg equally.

Should I stop my baby from crawling backwards?

No need. Pathways.org says pushing back on the arms is good practice, because it's a foundational movement for sitting up on their own and moving in and out of different positions later. Its advice is to let the backward scoot happen and give your baby time and encouragement to explore both directions.

Going backward comes in handy later, too. When you play on the stairs together, the AAP suggests encouraging your baby to work their way down backward, a skill it says babies are likely to pick up quickly. Keep the stairs gated, even once your baby has it down.

How long do babies crawl backwards?

There's no set timeline. None of the pediatric sources we checked gives a number of weeks for the backward phase. The AAP says babies figure out forward with time and practice, and Pathways.org says that with some muscle-building and coordination practice, your baby "should be able to shift gears in no time."

The sources do give ages for crawling itself, and they don't all line up:

• Zero to Three: crawling starts anywhere from 5 to 13 months, half of all babies start at about 8 months, and about 7% skip crawling altogether.
• AAP: crawling is usually mastered between 7 and 10 months.
• Pathways.org: babies should be moving with alternating arms and legs by 9 months, and if that isn't happening regularly by 12 months, check in with your baby's healthcare provider.
• CDC: its 9-month milestone checklist, which lists what most babies (75% or more) can do by then, doesn't include crawling.

If your baby is still going in reverse, keep up the floor time and watch for progress. Here's how crawling usually develops.

How to help your baby crawl forward

Plenty of floor time and a reason to move. These ideas come from Pathways.org unless noted:

• Daily tummy time. Aim for up to an hour total over the day by the time your baby starts trying to crawl, which can be as early as 6 months. Here's how tummy time leads to crawling.
• Steady their lower legs. While your baby is on their tummy, hold their lower legs to give them support as they learn to use their legs.
• Toys as bait. Put a favorite toy just out of reach, or roll a ball or toy car for them to go after. The AAP and Zero to Three suggest toys just out of reach, too.
• Crawl backward yourself. Get down on their level and back away so your baby comes after you.
• Hands-and-knees rocking. Hold your baby up by the waist and gently rock them forward so they get used to the motion. Once they can hold themselves up, let go and lure them forward with a toy.
• Carpet or grass for practice. Slippery wood and tile floors are hard to push off from, so Pathways suggests practicing on carpet or even grass.
• Bare knees and feet. Taking off socks and pants for practice helps cut down on sliding and supports balance, coordination and body awareness, says Pathways. Zero to Three also suggests letting babies go barefoot.
• Skip the walker. The AAP strongly urges parents not to use baby walkers.

Then give it time. Pathways says not to feel discouraged if your baby doesn't get the hang of it right away, because lots of repetition is how babies master big motor milestones like this. More ideas: how to encourage your baby to crawl.

When to talk to your pediatrician

Backward crawling by itself is nothing to worry about. Bring it up at a checkup, or call sooner, if you notice any of these:

• By 12 months, your baby isn't regularly crawling with alternating arms and legs.
• Your baby uses only one side of the body to crawl, pushing off with only one arm or dragging one side. (Here's more on babies who crawl on one leg.)
• Your baby isn't making progress in getting around.
• Your baby shows little interest in reaching, rolling or shifting their body to explore.
• Your baby isn't sitting on their own by 9 months.
• Your baby has lost skills they used to have.

Trust your gut, too. The AAP says that if you feel your child isn't moving normally, you should discuss it with your pediatrician, and the CDC's advice when you have a concern is not to wait. A short phone video helps, since babies don't always crawl on cue at the doctor's office.

Common questions

Is crawling backwards a sign of autism?

Backward crawling on its own is a common early phase, and Pathways.org and the AAP both describe it as part of learning to crawl. The CDC's list of autism signs includes social ones with ages attached, such as not responding to their name by 9 months or using few or no gestures, like waving goodbye, by 12 months, and it also lists delayed movement skills. If something about your baby's development worries you, ask: the AAP recommends autism screening at 18 and 24 months, or whenever a parent or provider has a concern.

Is back crawling the same as crawling backwards?

It can mean crawling in reverse, which is what this post covers, or a baby lying on their back and pushing along with their feet. We couldn't find pediatric guidance on back-scooting in the sources we checked, so if it's your baby's main way of getting around, mention it at the next checkup.

Does a baby crawling backwards mean anything?

If you've heard a superstition about babies who crawl backwards, there's no evidence it means anything. What it does tell you, according to Pathways.org and the AAP, is that your baby's arms are ahead of their legs for now.

Do all babies crawl backwards first?

Not all of them. Zero to Three says babies sometimes go backward before they learn to crawl forward, and Pathways.org notes that some babies scoot, pivot or army crawl as they first learn to get around. Zero to Three also says about 7% of babies skip crawling altogether.

One honest note from a family that's been there: for forward-crawling practice, go with Pathways' bare knees on carpet or grass, and save our onesie for everyday crawling on hardwood and tile. Marina started ComfyCrawlers in 2006 after her son kept getting red marks and bruises crawling on tile, and the onesie has diamond-quilted padding sewn into the knees, elbows and bottom, all 100% organic Peruvian Pima cotton, padding included. It won't help your baby go forward, but it gives those hardworking knees a softer layer (see all five colourways).