It may seem like a silly question, but current research shows that crawling is on the outs with some babies To complicate the matter, there's conflicting info out there regarding whether or not missing out on crawling is developmentally ok for babies. A recent
Parenting.com article noted that missing out on crawling could affect other development skills, such as holding silverware and other fine motor skills. On the other side,
Dr. Green notes that as long as babies find a way to move across the floor in a horizontal manner, we shouldn't worry.
Even though there is a back and fourth debate regarding crawling as a major developmental skill, what almost all the experts seem to agree on is that your baby should be moving about somehow on the floor. It's also good to note that one baby's crawl style is not necessarily the same as his peers. Babies crawl differently - some on all fours (the classic crawl), some on elbows, some dragging their legs, and some babies even slither on their tummies like snakes. The best way to insure that your baby develops the ability to move across the floor is to provide plenty of tummy time early on. It's really helpful if you provide lots of brigt and fun looking toys, just out of reach. This will entice your little one to move in order to get the toys. In the end, as long as your baby is hitting most of his developmental milestones, it's likely not anything to worry about if he misses out on long bouts of classical crawling. If you have any huge worries that something is amiss, bring it up at your baby's next pediatrician's appointment.
