Importance of Tummy Time for Crawling

3 days ago

2 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Before babies start crawling forward, they usually turn in circles on their belly, slide backward, or lift their arms and legs off the floor. Here is what those movements mean and how to support them.

Before babies start moving forward on all fours, they go through a phase where they explore different ways of moving while lying on their stomach. These movements build the trunk and hip strength required for actual crawling.

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Common Movements You Will See:

Rotating on their belly using their arms and legs to spin around in circles.
Pushing with their arms and unintentionally sliding backward across the floor.
Raising their chest, arms, and legs off the floor at the same time to strengthen back muscles.
Pressing through their palms until their elbows are straight to raise their chest high.

How to Support This Stage at Home:

Put toys slightly out of reach to the left or right to encourage turning and reaching.
Let your baby play barefoot on a mat or floor so their toes can grip the ground.
Spend less time in bouncers, swings, or seats so your baby has uninterrupted time to move freely on the floor.