My Baby Isn't Crawling
The short answer
Here's something that surprises many parents: crawling is not actually a required developmental milestone. The CDC removed it from their milestone checklist because many healthy babies skip crawling entirely and go straight to pulling up, cruising, or walking. If your baby is finding ways to move and explore, they're doing great.
Parents everywhere have the same worry. You are doing the right thing by looking into it.This is one of the most-searched concerns on our site.
By Age
What to expect by age
6-7 months
Most babies aren't crawling yet at this age, so there's truly nothing to worry about. Your baby might be rocking on hands and knees, pivoting on their tummy, or rolling to get around. These are all building blocks, and every one of them counts as progress.
8-9 months
This is when many babies start crawling, but "crawling" looks different for every baby. Some do a classic hands-and-knees crawl, others army crawl, bum scoot, crab walk, or bear walk. All of these are perfectly valid ways of getting around. What matters is that your baby is motivated to move and explore.
10-11 months
If your baby isn't crawling or using any other method to get around by 10 months, it's worth checking in with your pediatrician - not because crawling itself matters, but because some form of independent mobility by this age is a helpful sign. Many babies at this stage are more interested in pulling up to stand than crawling.
12-14 months
Some babies skip crawling and walk first, and that's genuinely fine. If your baby isn't crawling or walking or using any method to move independently, bring it up with your doctor. But if they're pulling up, cruising furniture, or starting to take steps, they've simply chosen a different path - literally.
15+ months
By this age, the question is less about crawling and more about whether your baby has some form of independent mobility. If they're walking or close to it, crawling is irrelevant. If they're not moving independently at all, an evaluation can help determine whether there's anything to support.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby is under 10 months and uses any method to get around - rolling, scooting, army crawling, or bum shuffling all count.
- Your baby skips crawling entirely and goes straight to pulling up and cruising along furniture.
- Your baby crawls in an unconventional way (backward, sideways, one-legged) - creative movers are still movers.
- Your baby was premature - use adjusted age for milestones.
- Your baby is more interested in standing and bouncing than getting on all fours - they may walk before they crawl, and that's okay.
- Your baby is over 10 months and doesn't use any method at all to move independently (no rolling, scooting, crawling, or pulling up).
- Your baby seems to drag one side of their body or has an asymmetric movement pattern when trying to get around.
- Your baby doesn't seem interested in reaching for toys or moving toward things they want.
- Your baby has stopped moving or lost mobility they previously had - any regression in motor skills warrants prompt evaluation.
- Your baby's legs seem stiff and cross when you hold them upright, or they consistently can't bear weight on their legs by 10-12 months.
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 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 Scoots Instead of Crawling
Some babies skip traditional hands-and-knees crawling entirely and scoot on their bottoms, army crawl on their bellies, or invent other creative ways to get around. As long as your baby is moving independently and exploring their environment by 12 months, the method they choose doesn't matter. Many bottom-scooters go straight to walking and never crawl at all.
My Baby Crawls Backwards
Many babies crawl backwards before they figure out how to go forward - it's actually easier to push with your arms than to pull with them. This is a completely normal phase of learning to crawl. As your baby's arm muscles get stronger and they figure out the coordination, they'll start moving forward. Most babies master forward crawling within a few weeks of going backwards.
Baby Crawling Unevenly or Dragging One Side
While many babies have slightly imperfect crawling patterns, consistently asymmetric crawling - where one side clearly does more work than the other - deserves evaluation. It could indicate a muscle strength difference, hip issue, or neurological concern. Some asymmetry is normal as babies first learn to crawl, but a persistent pattern of dragging one leg or not using one arm should be mentioned to your pediatrician.
My Baby Isn't Rolling Over
Most babies roll between 4 and 6 months, but some perfectly healthy babies don't roll until later - or skip rolling entirely. If your baby is engaging with you, bearing some weight on their arms during tummy time, and meeting other milestones, this is likely just their own timeline.
My Baby Isn't Pulling to Stand
Most babies begin pulling themselves up to stand between 8 and 10 months, but the typical range extends to about 12 months. Pulling to stand requires a combination of upper body strength, core stability, leg strength, and motivation - and some babies simply take a little longer to put all those pieces together.