“You Gotta Crawl Before You Walk”
To achieve a quadruped position (on hands and knees):
- While your child supports weight with forearms or hands, lift the pelvis and wait for him to participate by pulling knees under hips (if your child does not actively move, simply prop his knees under the hips and fade the presence of your hands).
- Use pillows, or a wedge/bolster under your child to facilitate and maintain the quadruped position.
- Frequent “floor time” is necessary to allow your child ample opportunity to practice.
To Crawl:
- Once a quadruped position (hands and knees) is consistently maintained, rocking back and forth indicates readiness to crawl.
- Keep your child on soft surfaces (carpet, mats) because forward falling “face plants” are almost inevitable.
- Place toys just beyond your child’s reach and/or have another person verbally encourage movement from short distances away.
- Be ready to quickly lift your child by the abdomen when his stomach touches the floor.
