After months of being your baby’s only mode of transportation, you’re probably keen for him to get moving by himself. One of the most amazing things about having a baby is being able to watch and share in his excitement as he masters new skills. Crawling is a milestone that will allow your baby to better explore his world. It is his first step towards independence and a reminder of how quickly time passes. Crawling will help him to develop the skills necessary for walking. It will also help him on his quest for mischief, but don’t worry too much about that.

Most babies learn to crawl between the ages of seven and 10 months old. Some babies learn sooner, however, and for others it can take a little longer. Some babies skip the crawling stage altogether, opting instead for a maverick move like the bum shuffle to help them get around at baby group.Here are five ways to encourage crawling:

1. Tummy time

To be able to crawl, your baby needs muscle control and strength. He needs to be able to raise himself up, move his legs and use his tummy muscles. Tummy time is important for helping him to develop the necessary muscle strength for crawling. Make supervised tummy time a part of your daily routine to make sure he has lots of opportunities to build up these muscles and learn how to use them.

2. Opportunity

To perfect his crawling skills, your baby needs plenty of opportunities to practice moving around. This means he needs freedom to move, explore and play as much as possible. Spending time in strollers, bouncy chairs and highchairs limit the time babies have to learn valuable skills such as crawling. Of course, some time spent in these things is unavoidable, but do make an effort to provide your baby with plenty of opportunities for floor play throughout the day.

3. Play

Children and babies learn best through play. You can encourage your baby to crawl by making it a game. Placing exciting looking toys slightly out of reach might tempt your baby to try and reach for them. Babies love to explore so leave the toys in sight but leave your baby to discover it for himself if he can. To begin with, place the toys just out of reach, but as your baby gets better at reaching them, move them further away.

4. Safety

Babies are easily spooked, so you need to make sure his crawling practice arena (aka your living room) is a safe environment for him. Avoid banged heads, trapped fingers and falling objects by baby-proofing the room long before he learns to crawl. Get down on your hands and knees and crawl around the room to identify potential dangers for crawling infants.

5. Relax

Your baby will master crawling in his own time. The above suggestions will provide him with ample opportunity to practice the skills needed for crawling, but it’ll still be up to him when he finally does it. Help your baby build his confidence by remaining cool, calm and collected while he’s trying to crawl. If you feel stressed, he could pick up on that. You don’t need a strict, regimented schedule of crawling lessons, just plenty of time and space to explore.

Has your baby started crawling?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

You want to do everything you can to help your baby thrive. One way you can encourage the development of certain motor skills is by creating plenty of opportunities for tummy time.

Why the Need for Tummy Time?

Over a decade ago, experts recommended putting babies to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS. As a result, the incidence of SIDS dropped by about 50 percent. Although that’s great news, if your baby spends all that time on his back, it can cause the back of his head to become flat.

Giving your baby opportunities to spend supervised time on his tummy can help prevent the flat spots from developing. But that’s not all. When your baby spends time on his tummy, it helps him strengthen his shoulder, neck and back muscles, which helps with the development or certain motor skills. In fact, research has indicated, that babies who spend time on their tummies may roll over, crawl and sit up without support earlier than babies who don’t practice tummy time.

Experts differ on exactly when to start tummy time. But placing your newborn belly down on your chest is one way to get her used to tummy time. Starting supervised tummy time early may help your baby get used to the position. Once your baby has a bit more head control, you may want to start formal tummy time.

Make Time for Tummy Time Every Day

Consider making tummy time part of your everyday routine. When your baby is awake, place her tummy down on a blanket or baby mat for comfort. Be sure always to supervise your little one during tummy time.

Keep in mind, your baby is probably used to spending time in other positions, such as on her back. So she may protest when you put her down on her belly, especially at first. Start slowly with a few minutes of tummy time a couple of times a day, and consider increasing a little at a time. Avoid putting your baby down on her tummy when her belly is full, which may be a little uncomfortable.

Placing your baby on a baby mat, which has different colors and textures is a great way to keep him distracted. Putting a mirror in front of your baby will also keep him interested when he is practicing tummy time.

Tummy time toys are also a good idea to capture your little one’s attention when he is belly-down. When your baby is a bit older, consider putting toys just out of his reach, so he tries to move towards them.

Of course one of the best things you can do during tummy time, is get down on the floor with your baby and hang out with her. Sing, play peekaboo and just enjoy this time together.

Written by Maryann DePietro @writerlady34

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.