At what age do babies start crawling, and is it a problem if mine skips or delays it?

Babies commonly crawl around 8-10 months, but the community repeatedly notes that many babies skip crawling entirely and go straight to standing or walking, and pediatricians often no longer treat crawling as a strict milestone.

Community Answers from Moms(6)

Here's what moms in our community shared based on their own experience.

1. 1

   Babies often start crawling around 8 months; some skip it and go directly to walking.

2. 2

   One baby started sitting on his own around 10 months and walking around 1 year and 2 weeks; another crawled at 9 months and walked at 12 months.

3. 3

   Many babies skip the crawling stage; it's not a concern from a pediatrician's perspective. Encouraging walking first can make them skip crawling.

4. 4

   Tummy time helps strengthen the back for sitting; to crawl, babies need to hold their weight on hands and legs. Give chances to practice and they slowly learn.

5. 5

   Some babies scoot on hands and knees or on their bottom; one learned by imitation when an adult got on all fours to demonstrate.

6. 6

   A 7-8 month old who rolls a lot and tries to sit but hasn't crawled is within the normal range; floor time on a playmat (rather than a soft bed) helps gross motor development.