How to Encourage Your Baby to Crawl (What Actually Works)

Most advice about encouraging crawling is vague. "Give them tummy time." "Put toys out of reach." You've probably already heard all of it.

Here's a more practical breakdown of what actually helps, why it works, and what to skip.

First: Is Your Baby Ready?

Crawling typically happens between 7 and 10 months. If your baby is under 7 months and not crawling, they're not behind — they're just not there yet. The advice below applies to babies who are in the window and showing some readiness signs: pushing up on arms during tummy time, rocking on hands and knees, reaching for things.

What Actually Helps

Make the floor interesting

Babies crawl because they want something they can't reach from where they are. If everything they want is handed to them, there's no motivation to move. Put interesting objects just slightly out of reach — not so far that they give up, just far enough that they have to work for it.

Mirrors on the floor work well. Babies are fascinated by their own reflection.

Get on the floor with them

Babies imitate. If you're on your hands and knees demonstrating the motion — even if it looks ridiculous — they're watching and absorbing it. Other crawling babies are even better motivation. If you know anyone with a baby who's already crawling, floor time together can accelerate things.

Reduce time in seats

Bouncers, swings, jumpers, and carriers all have their place. But a baby in a seat isn't building floor strength. If your baby is spending 6+ hours a day in some kind of seat, that's time not spent developing the muscles they need to crawl. Scale back seat time during awake windows and replace it with floor time.

Use a slightly textured surface

Babies often have an easier time getting traction on a low-pile rug or foam mat than on a slippery hardwood floor. If your floors are slick, try a mat in the main play area. The extra grip makes it easier to push up and move without sliding.

Let them struggle a little

This is the hardest one for parents. When your baby is frustrated trying to reach something, the instinct is to hand it to them. Resist it for a moment. That frustration is the motor — it's what drives them to figure out how to move. A baby who's never frustrated has no reason to try.

What Doesn't Help

• Putting them in a crawling position yourself — they need to get there on their own
• Pushing their feet to "help" them move — can confuse the motor pattern
• Worrying too much about the timeline — stress doesn't help them crawl, and the range is genuinely wide

When to Talk to Your Pediatrician

If your baby shows no interest in any kind of movement by 10 months, or if their movement looks asymmetrical (using one side significantly more than the other), mention it at their next appointment. Most of the time there's nothing wrong, but it's worth a conversation.

Once They Start Moving

The moment your baby figures out crawling, the floor becomes their whole world. They will cover more distance than you expect, faster than you expect. Hard floors — hardwood, tile, laminate — are rough on baby knees and elbows once they're really moving.

Padded crawling clothes take care of this without any extra steps. Our onesies have built-in padding sewn into the knees, elbows, and bottom — protection that stays in place because it's part of the garment, not a separate piece.