My Baby Bunny Hops When Crawling
The short answer
Bunny hopping, where a baby moves both legs together rather than alternating them while crawling, can be a normal variation but should be monitored. While some babies bunny hop briefly before developing a reciprocal crawling pattern, persistent bunny hopping may indicate tight hip muscles or neurological differences that benefit from evaluation.
This is one of the most common questions parents ask. Searching for answers means you care.
By Age
What to expect by age
When babies first start crawling, some experimentation with movement patterns is normal, including bunny hopping. If your baby has just started moving and bunny hops sometimes but also alternates legs at other times, this may simply be part of learning. Watch over the next few weeks to see if an alternating pattern develops.
If your baby exclusively bunny hops and never alternates their legs while crawling, mention it to your pediatrician. Persistent bunny hopping can sometimes indicate increased muscle tone in the legs or hips. However, some babies who bunny hop develop perfectly normally and transition to walking without issues.
If your baby is still bunny hopping and is also starting to pull up and cruise, the bunny hopping alone may not be concerning. However, if you notice stiffness in the legs, toe walking when standing, or difficulty separating the legs, an evaluation is recommended.
If your child has transitioned to walking and seems coordinated, the bunny hopping phase was likely just a variation. If walking also shows unusual patterns like stiff legs or toe walking, discuss with your pediatrician.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby just started crawling and sometimes bunny hops, sometimes alternates legs.
- Your baby bunny hops but can also separate their legs and sit with legs apart.
- Your baby is developing other motor skills on track.
- The bunny hopping resolves within a few weeks as crawling matures.
- Your baby exclusively bunny hops and never alternates legs while crawling.
- Your baby seems to have stiff legs or difficulty separating them.
- Bunny hopping has persisted for more than 4-6 weeks with no change.
- Your baby also has toe walking, leg scissoring, or other unusual movement patterns.
- Your baby has increasing stiffness in their legs or seems to be losing motor skills.
- Your baby cannot move their legs independently at all.
Sources
Related Resources
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
Worrying about your baby means you care. That is a good thing.
Related Physical Concerns
My Baby Crawls Unevenly
While some variation in crawling patterns is normal, consistently favoring one side or dragging one limb while crawling warrants attention. Babies should use both arms and both legs relatively equally when crawling. Persistent asymmetry could indicate muscle tone differences, hip issues, or neurological concerns that benefit from early evaluation.
My Baby Seems Too Stiff (Hypertonia)
Hypertonia means your baby's muscles feel unusually tight or stiff, making it hard to bend or move their limbs. While some stiffness can be normal during certain movements (like when a baby is startled or upset), persistent stiffness at rest warrants evaluation. Early identification and physical therapy can make a significant difference.
My Baby Isn't Crawling Yet
The age range for crawling is huge - some babies crawl as early as 6 months, others not until 10-11 months, and some skip crawling entirely and go straight to walking. What matters most is that your baby has some form of independent mobility (scooting, rolling, army crawling) by around 12 months and is exploring their environment.
My Baby Seems to Use One Side More Than the Other
Babies should use both sides of their body fairly equally during the first 18 months of life. While slight preferences can be normal, a consistent pattern of favoring one side - using one arm much more than the other, crawling with one leg dragging, or turning the head predominantly one way - should always be discussed with your pediatrician. Early identification of asymmetry leads to the best outcomes.
My Baby Only Army Crawls
Army crawling (also called commando crawling) is a completely valid and normal way for babies to move. Many babies army crawl for weeks or even months before transitioning to hands-and-knees crawling, and some skip hands-and-knees crawling entirely. What matters is that your baby is independently mobile and exploring their environment.
One Side of My Baby's Body Moves Differently
Babies should generally use both sides of their body equally. If one side consistently moves differently, is weaker, stiffer, or less coordinated, this warrants evaluation. Asymmetric movement can indicate hemiplegia (cerebral palsy affecting one side), brachial plexus injury, or other neurological conditions that benefit from early therapy.