The child does not crawl: reasons and advice. How to teach a child to crawl: tips for parents Komarovsky does not crawl

*Watching him grow*

318. It repeats the entire history of human development.

There is nothing more exciting than watching a child grow and develop. At first you only notice that it is increasing in size. Then he begins to comprehend various human wisdom. But in reality, its development is a much more complex process than you think. Each child, in the process of his development, repeats step by step the entire history of mankind, its physiological and spiritual development. First, in the womb of the mother, a cell is born that will later become a person, just as the first living cell once appeared in the ocean. A few weeks later, the embryo, located in the amniotic fluid, develops gills like a fish. And when a one-year-old child rises from all fours to two legs, he thereby pays tribute to our distant ancestors, who once began to walk on two legs. It is at this time that the child learns to use his hands and acquires dexterity. Our distant ancestors stood up on two limbs because they discovered that their hands could be put to a more useful use than walking. After 6 years, the child is partially freed from his dependence on his parents. The main task of this period of his life is adaptation to the outside world. He seriously studies the “rules of the game.” Perhaps he is living through that period in human history when our wild ancestors found it much better to unite in large groups than to wander through the forest in separate families. Having united, people were forced to learn to cooperate with each other, restrain themselves, establish laws and rules of relationships, and not rely on the elders in all matters of the family.

319. Slowly developing children.

You follow your child's development with great interest. If he grows quickly, you are proud of him, and of yourself too, for bringing him into the world. When a child rejoices at his achievements, when he discovers the world around him with rapturous amazement, you relive the most wonderful days of your childhood. But you immediately become concerned if your child begins to lag behind in some respects the children of your friends. You're not just nervous, you're feeling a little guilty. That’s how all good parents are: just a little something goes wrong and they wonder whether they are taking care of their child correctly, whether they have passed on healthy heredity to the child.
Slow development is extremely rarely related to poor child care or hereditary defects.
The development of each child is highly individual and is a very complex phenomenon (see section 53). A child inherits various traits from his parents and ancestors: the age at which he begins to walk, talk, the appearance of teeth, height, earlier or later puberty. But family members possess these qualities to varying degrees, since heredity is a mixture of very different qualities.
Stages in a child's development such as the ability to hold his head upright, sit, crawl, stand, and walk are called motor development. There are average age standards for each of these stages of development, but almost completely healthy, normal children vary greatly in their development.
There are very rare diseases that interfere with a child's motor development. But only a doctor can make a diagnosis.
The vast majority of cases of normal development (more than nine out of ten) are simply normal developmental variations.

320. Mental development.

The mental development of a child, unlike motor development, depends much more on the environment than on heredity. Children born to mothers with low intelligence, but taken up by people with high mental development, become in this respect similar to their adoptive parents.

321. Social and emotional development.

It partly depends on the temperament with which the child is born, i.e. Is he calm or active? But to an even greater extent, a child’s social and emotional development depends on his living conditions. There is no reason to believe that qualities such as alcoholism, deceit, cruelty and crime are inherited.
Of course, a slowly developing child should be under the supervision of a doctor, who can detect a disease or defect that needs correction. This is especially necessary if the child is lagging behind not only in motor, but also in neuropsychic development.

322. In the first 2-3 weeks, the child is internally focused.

During this period he has almost no contact with the outside world. Most of the time, the child seems to listen to what is happening in his body. When his body tells him that everything is fine, the child sleeps peacefully. When the body gives signals of hunger, stomach upset or fatigue, the child gives himself over to these unpleasant sensations with his whole being, because nothing else can distract him yet. During this period, some children suffer from pain from gas retention, others cry regularly, and others always scream before falling asleep.
After 3 weeks, the child begins to notice the world around him. He turns his head in all directions and looks very pleased with what he sees.

323. First he raises his head.

The child learns to control his body gradually: first with his head, then with his arms, torso and legs. A newly born baby can only suck. When a pacifier, finger or any object touches his cheek, he tries to reach it with his mouth. If you hold his head, he will struggle angrily. Perhaps this instinct is provided by nature so that the child does not strangle himself.
Mothers often ask: “When does a child begin to see?” This is a gradual process, just like all other stages of child development. Immediately after birth, he can distinguish light from dark. Too bright light bothers him and makes him close his eyes. In the first weeks, the newborn begins to fix his gaze on objects close to him. By one or two months, he recognizes the faces of loved ones and reacts to their appearance. By three months, the child is already looking at everything around him. In the first months, it is still difficult for the child to coordinate both eyes and he often squints. The surface of his eyes is not yet very sensitive and a speck of dust entering his eye usually does not bother him.
A newly born baby hears almost nothing for the first two days due to fluid in the inner ear. But soon he will develop excellent hearing and will flinch at loud sounds. In some newborns, deafness continues for the first few days because fluid in the ear is absorbed more slowly.

324. He starts smiling early, as he is a sociable creature.

One day your child will suddenly smile at you. This usually happens between the first and second month at one point when you talk to him tenderly. His first smile will make you happy. Just think about what the first smile means in a child’s development. At this age, he still doesn’t know or know how to do anything, he still can’t use his hands, he can’t even turn his head, but he already knows that he is a social being, he is pleased to be among loving people and he wants to answer them in kind. If a child grows up in an atmosphere of love and tenderness, then although at times you will show reasonable firmness, he will retain his friendly attitude towards people because this is inherent in his nature.

325. Movements.

Newly born babies can very rarely put their finger in their mouth. Most newborns cannot even reach their hand to their mouth in the first 2-3 months. In addition, their fists are still clenched tightly, so it will not be long before they are able to separate their thumb and put it in their mouth.
But the main function of the hands is to grab and hold objects. The newborn seems to know in advance what he will have to learn in the near future. Long before he can grasp an object with his hand, he tries to do so and clearly wants it. If you put a rattle in his hand, he will hold it and wave it around. In the middle of the first year, he learns to reach and grasp objects that are at arm's length. Gradually he learns to use his hands more and more effectively. At the end of the first year, he likes to gently pick up dust particles, crumbs or small objects with his fingers.

326. Right or left hand?

Opinions are divided on the point. In the first year of life, children have equal use of both hands, and then gradually become either left-handed or right-handed. Some children use primarily one hand for several months and then move on to the other.
Until now, scientists working on this issue believed that this is an innate quality that sooner or later manifests itself in every person. Children's speech and reading experts believed that trying to force left-handed people to use their right hand led to stuttering and difficulty reading. They felt it was best to leave the child alone for fear of injuring the supposed left-hander. Recently Dr. Abram Blau published a book, "The Dominant Hand", in which he argues that preference for the right or left hand is not an innate property, but an acquired habit. He suggests that parents tactfully help their child give preference to the right hand from birth. He believes that a child who still uses his left hand, despite all the mother’s attempts, does so on purpose out of a spirit of contradiction (a quality called negativism). Of these two opposing theories, I think it is safest for parents to choose a compromise solution. If the child does not have a preference for either hand (which is most likely in the middle of the first year when he begins to use his hands) or if he is clearly right-handed, then treat him as right-handed and place objects (a toy, food, and later a spoon) in his right hand. hand. But if, from the very beginning or later, the child begins to give a clear preference to the left hand, I would not argue with him or insist. It's better to leave him alone. Even if he only uses his left hand out of stubbornness, then you will achieve nothing by fighting him, but you will contribute to even greater stubbornness and even hostility. So, you should tactfully guide the child, but not fight with him.

327. How does a child treat strangers?

Observing how your child reacts to strangers can give you some insight into his development. This is how he behaves at a doctor's appointment. A two-month-old child pays almost no attention to the doctor. Lying on the table, he looks over his shoulder at his mother. Examining a three-month-old baby is a pleasure. When the doctor smiles and talks to him, he also smiles and moves his legs and arms with joy. A five-month-old baby behaves differently. When he sees an unfamiliar face, he freezes and tenses his whole body, looks inquisitively and suspiciously at the stranger for several seconds, then begins to breathe quickly, his chin trembles and a desperate cry is heard. He may become so emotional that he will continue to cry long after you leave the doctor's office. During this period, the child is easily afraid of everything unfamiliar. He may even be afraid of his father. Perhaps at this age he is already smart enough to distinguish his own from strangers. If your child is afraid of strangers and unfamiliar places, it is better to protect him from unnecessary worries. Ask strangers to keep their distance until your child gets comfortable with them, especially outside the home. And he will soon get used to his father.
Some children are quite indifferent to strangers until the end of the first year. They are more occupied with various subjects and mastering new activities than with unfamiliar faces. But at the age of one, everything changes. It seems to me that the most “suspicious” age is 13 months. When a doctor tries to examine a 13-month-old baby, he jumps up and tries to crawl off the table and onto his mother's lap. He sobs and hides his face on his mother’s chest, like a little ostrich. He casts angry glances at the doctor from under his brows. But he immediately calms down as soon as the examination is over. After a few minutes, he can look at the doctor's office with interest and even make friends with the "villain doctor" himself (see also section 380).

328. When does a child begin to roll over and sit up?

Different children at different ages begin to roll over, sit, crawl, stand and walk. Much depends on the child's temperament and weight. A flexible, energetic child is in a hurry to gain freedom of movement. A well-fed, calm child is in no hurry to move from one stage of development to another.
When the child begins to make his first attempts to roll over, he can no longer be left unattended on the table, even for a second. And when he really learns to roll over, it is not safe to leave him even in the middle of a large bed; It's amazing how quickly a child finds himself on the edge.
Most babies sit well (with a little help) between 7 and 9 months. But some children, who develop normally both physically and mentally, begin to sit only at one year of age. First, the child tries to sit up. If you grab him by the arms, he will try to pull himself up and sit up. Seeing such a desire, mothers ask how early they can put their baby on the pillow. Doctors believe that this should not be done until the child is able to sit independently for several minutes. But this does not mean that you cannot play with the child, pulling him up to a sitting position, or putting him on your lap, or in a stroller, placing a pillow under his back so that the child sits in an inclined position. But make sure that the child's back and neck are straight. It is harmful for a child to remain in a hunched position for a long time.

329. High chair.

It is very convenient if the child eats at a common table. But children often fall off them. If your child eats separately from the rest of the family, it is better to buy him a small table and chair. If you want to use a high chair, then choose one that has a wide base (so that it does not tip over easily) and straps to tie the child to the chair. Do not leave your child for a long time in either a high or low chair when he can already stand or crawl. He needs freedom.

330. Keep your baby occupied while you change him.

Not a single child understands that he needs to lie still while his mother changes him. This is completely contrary to his nature. Ever since the child learned to roll over, he screams and kicks indignantly, refusing to lie down and wait for him to be changed, as if this is an unheard-of insult for him.
But the child can be distracted by something. The mother may try to capture his attention with conversations and all sorts of funny sounds. You can have a special toy just for this occasion, for example, a music box, which you will give to him only during changing clothes.

331. When a child begins to crawl.

Babies begin to crawl between the 5th and 6th month and are crawling well by 7 months. Some children do not crawl, but immediately move from a sitting position to a standing position. There are many different ways to crawl. The child can move from one method to another as he improves. Some children crawl backwards, others crawl sideways. Some crawl on straightened legs and arms, others on all fours. And there are children who crawl on one knee and one outstretched leg. If a child can crawl quickly, he usually begins to walk later. And the one who crawls clumsily or cannot crawl at all will try to learn to walk earlier.

332. When the child begins to stand.

The baby usually begins to stand with support between the 7th and 9th month. The child will be able to stand independently between the 9th and 12th month. Some children do not know how to stand even later, although they are absolutely healthy and mentally competent. Usually these are well-fed, calm children or those whose legs take a long time to gain strength. Do not worry about such a child if the doctor thinks he is healthy.
Many children, having learned to stand up, do not know how to sit down again. The poor baby can stand for several hours until he collapses from exhaustion. When the mother sits such a child down, tearing him away from the railing of the bed or playpen, he instantly forgets about fatigue and pulls himself up and stands up again. But this time he starts crying within a few minutes. The only thing the mother can do is give him some interesting object to play with in order to keep him in a sitting position longer. Roll him in the stroller for a longer time and take comfort in the hope that in a week he may learn to sit up. At one point, the child will try to lower himself very carefully for the first time. After a few weeks, he will learn to move along the playpen railing, first holding it with both hands, and then with one. Eventually the child will casually let go of the railing for a few seconds, not realizing what a bold step he has taken. So he gets ready to walk. Parents often ask whether their child needs a “walker,” i.e., such devices that help him move until he can walk. Their goal is to give the child an interesting activity and ensure his safety. Sometimes doctors do not advise using a walker if a child has crooked legs, because using a walker can cause them to crook them even more. Discuss this issue with your doctor. But in any case, I would advise you not to keep your child in a walker all the time. He needs to be given every opportunity to crawl and explore the world around him.

333. When a child begins to walk.

Many factors determine the age at which a child begins to walk independently. If a child begins to walk and at this time falls ill for two weeks, then perhaps only after two months he will try to walk on his own again. Or, if he falls and hurts himself after the first attempts to walk, he may be afraid to tear his arms away from the support for many weeks.
Most children begin to walk independently between 12 and 15 months, and some as early as 9 months. Quite a lot of children, quite intelligent, not suffering from rickets and not having any physical disabilities, begin to walk only at 18 months or even later.
When a child begins to walk, many problems arise: shoes, discipline, etc., which are discussed in subsequent sections.
There is no need to teach your child to walk. Once he is ready for this, he can no longer be stopped. I remember when one mother walked her child, who was not yet able to walk, holding both hands. The child was delighted. He liked walking in a “suspended state” so much that he demanded it all day long. The poor mother was in a very difficult situation; her back hurt unbearably.
Mothers often ask whether it is harmful to a child's legs if he starts walking too early. It is known that a child’s physique can withstand any load, provided that he independently moves from one stage of development to another. Children who are just starting to walk sometimes have crooked legs, but this does not depend on the age of the child.

334. Legs.

In the first two years, a child's feet look as if they have flat feet. This is due to the fact that his foot has not yet fully formed and the child’s legs are very plump. As your child learns to stand and walk, she exercises the muscles that help form the arch of her foot (see next section).
The shape of the legs depends on several factors, including heredity and the presence of rickets (softening of the bones from a lack of vitamin D). Some children have bowed legs even in the absence of rickets. Well-nourished and active, strong children are especially susceptible to this. But, if a child has a tendency to crook his legs and at the same time he gets rickets, then the curvature of the legs develops especially quickly and to a strong degree. Another factor that influences the shape of the legs is the position in which they are usually found. For example, sometimes the legs from the ankles bend inward because the child always sits with them tucked under him. Sometimes the feet curve inward because the child always turned his legs inward when lying on his stomach. Some children begin to clubfoot after they use the outer edges of their feet to move around in walkers.
All children put their toes apart when they learn to walk. And then, as they improve, they put them straighter and straighter. Some children point their feet in opposite directions, like Charlie Chaplin. A child who begins to walk with his feet almost parallel may have club feet in the future. Often a child with crooked legs has a club foot.
The doctor closely monitors the development of the child's legs from the time the child begins to stand. This is why it is so important to visit your doctor regularly in the second year of life. For various defects in a child’s feet, the doctor may prescribe orthopedic shoes.

335. Shoes - when and what.

Usually a child only needs shoes when he is walking outside. It's completely normal if his hands and feet are cold - it doesn't bother him at all. In other words, there is no need for knitted shoes or soft boots in the first year of life, unless the floors in the house are very cold.
When a child learns to stand and walk, it is all the more valuable to leave him barefoot, if conditions permit. The arch of a child's foot is initially relatively flat. The arch becomes convex and the ankles become stronger when the child stands and walks vigorously. (I think this is why the skin on the ball of the foot is ticklish. It is nature's way of reminding us to lift that part of the foot off the ground.) Walking on uneven or rough surfaces also helps develop and strengthen the leg muscles. If your child always walks on smooth floors and his feet are always shod (especially if the soles are hard), then the muscles in his feet relax and flat feet develop.
Of course, your child needs to wear boots when walking in cold weather or when walking on asphalt or other “dangerous” surfaces. But at home it is better for a child to walk barefoot until he is 2-3 years old. In warm weather, it is useful for a child to walk barefoot on the beach, in kindergarten and in other safe places.
Usually, doctors recommend buying the first shoes with semi-rigid soles so that the leg muscles have the opportunity to work. It is very important that the shoes and socks are large enough so that the toes do not curl (but not so large that the child falls).
Small children outgrow their shoes very quickly. Sometimes you have to buy them shoes every 2 months. The mother should check every few weeks to see if the baby has grown out of the shoes. Shoes should be slightly larger than the child's feet because the toes move forward when walking. When the child is standing, the toe of the shoe should remain approximately 2 cm free. When the child is sitting, his foot does not fill the entire shoe, so you need to check the shoes while the child is standing. Shoes should be wide enough.
If a doctor prescribes orthopedic shoes with wedges to correct weak ankles, club feet, or bow legs, he will probably recommend tough, durable boots. Orthopedic boots help better if they are stiff and high.
If your child has strong feet, you can buy him semi-rigid boots, even the cheapest ones, as long as they fit well and are large enough.

336. When a child begins to talk.

Most children begin to pronounce sounds that have some meaning around the age of one. But there are completely normal children who are in no hurry to speak. It seems that this depends mainly on the temperament and nature of the child. A friendly, cheerful child tends to speak earlier. A calm child, prone to contemplation, watches what is happening around him for a long time before he has the desire to express his opinion.
The atmosphere in which a child grows up and the attitude of others towards him also play an important role. If, due to nervous tension caused by something, the mother is always silent in the company of the child, then he, not feeling on her part the desire to communicate, also withdraws into himself. Adults sometimes go to the other extreme: they constantly talk to the child and command him, depriving him of any initiative. Such a child will feel awkward around people and withdraw into himself. He has not yet reached the age when he can argue with an adult or simply leave. All people - both old and young - feel the need to talk, to speak out, when they are among sociable, sympathetic friends. A child is no exception, but first he must want to learn to talk.
It is believed that those children who are served by the whole family begin to speak late, not allowing them to move their hand independently, preventing their every desire. Such a child will indeed replenish his vocabulary more slowly, but he is unlikely to remain silent at all. But if, in addition to this, parents restrain the child’s desire to be sociable and constantly pull him back, then he will really remain silent.
It happens that the mother speaks to the child in such long sentences that he does not have time to highlight and remember a single word. But this is rare, since we instinctively speak to children in short phrases with the emphasis on the most important word.
If a child does not begin to speak for a long time, the first thing that comes to mind for parents is whether their child is lagging behind in mental development. Indeed, some mentally retarded children begin to speak late. But many of them pronounce their first words at the same age as normal children. Of course, if a child is very much behind in physical development (for example, at 2 years old he has only just learned to sit), then he will start speaking late. Facts prove that the vast majority of children who hardly speak before the age of 3 are characterized by normal mental development or even turn out to be unusually intelligent.
I think it’s not difficult to guess what to do if a child does not start talking for a long time. Don't be angry with him for this and don't rush to the conclusion that he is stupid. Be gentle with him and try not to curb his initiative too much. Give him the opportunity to be around other children, where he will feel more natural. Talk to him in a friendly tone, using simple words. Encourage him to name things when he needs them. But do not demand that he speak, and do not express your dissatisfaction.
Most children initially pronounce all the words incorrectly, but gradually speak better and clearer. Some children are unable to make certain sounds. Sometimes the reason for this is clumsiness of the tongue or other organ of speech. In the end, some adults also have a lisp, although they try with all their might to get rid of this defect. Sometimes a child pronounces a word incorrectly, although he pronounces the same sounds in other words correctly. Minor delays in speech development mean nothing if in other respects the child develops normally, if he is cheerful and everything is fine in his life. It is helpful to correct your child from time to time in a friendly tone. But it would be a mistake to take your child's pronunciation too seriously and constantly find fault with him.
What to do with a child who, at 3, 4 or 5 years old, speaks so slurredly that other children cannot understand him and laugh at him? The first thing you need to do is have his hearing checked. You can contact a speech therapist. But this must be a specialist who knows how to deal with small children and make lessons interesting. Whether you find a speech therapist or not, the child should be around children as much as possible, preferably his own age. It's even better to send it to a good kindergarten. A sensitive teacher will tactfully protect a child with a speech impediment from the ridicule of his friends. Usually the teacher is more likely to help the child correct a speech defect than the parents, because she is less worried about it.

337. Deliberate lisp.

It occurs in children who are jealous of a younger brother or sister if they feel that their parents show more love and attention to their little brothers and sisters (see section 464). But sometimes a child deliberately lisps even without “rivals” in the family. For example, I remember a little girl with curled hair and a smart dress - the only child in a family that adores her. All family members amuse themselves with the baby, forgetting that she has to grow up. They continue to coddle with the little girl even when she has long since passed the age for which this is natural. They show by their behavior that they like a girl more when she behaves like a “charming baby”. It is not surprising that the girl willingly plays this role. But it will be very difficult for her when she is among children her own age, because they will not consider her a “cute baby”, they will laugh at her.

*Tooth development*

338. The time of appearance of the first teeth does not mean anything.

Different children develop teeth differently. Some children chew everything, become capricious and whine 3-4 months before each tooth appears and ruin the lives of all family members. But for other children, teeth erupt painlessly, and the mother discovers them by chance one day, without even suspecting that the child has grown teeth. In a relatively healthy child, the age at which teeth appear is determined by heredity. In one family, almost all children have teeth earlier, and in another - later. Don't think your child is better than another if they start teething early. And don’t assume that your child is mentally and physically retarded because his teeth appeared late.

339. How a child’s teeth grow.

As a rule, the first teeth appear around 7 months, but from 3-4 months the child whines, bites everything and cries periodically. In the first 2.5 years, a child should grow 20 teeth, so it is not surprising that almost any ailment during this period is so easily explained by teething.
In the past, teething was considered the cause of colds, diarrhea, and fever. Of course, the cause of these diseases is not teething. However, in some children, teething reduces the body's overall resistance and they become sick more easily at this time. Therefore, if a child gets sick during teething or the temperature exceeds 38°, it is necessary to call a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Typically, the lower central two teeth appear first (the 8 front teeth are called incisors). After a few months, the four upper incisors emerge. Typically, by the age of one year, a child has 8 teeth (4 at the bottom and 4 at the top). Then there is usually a break of several months, after which 6 more teeth erupt almost one after the other: the 2 remaining lower incisors and 4 molars, which are located on the sides of the jaw. Between the molars and the incisors there is space for the canines (pointed at the ends), which appear a few months after the molars. As a rule, they erupt in the second half of the second year. The last to grow are 4 more molars, usually in the first half of the third year of life.

340. When teething, the child often wakes up at night.

The first four molars are particularly painful to erupt. The child may be fussy and lose appetite for several days. He may wake up several times during the night. If he doesn't fall asleep quickly again, this could be a problem. The easiest way to calm your baby is to give him milk from a cup or pacifier. Isn't this risky? In most cases, the child stops waking up as soon as the teeth erupt. But sometimes children develop the habit of waking up at night, especially if they are picked up and handled. Therefore, I think it is better not to feed the child at night and not to pick him up if he falls asleep on his own after a few minutes. If you have to feed him at night, do it in his crib, but as soon as his teeth erupt, stop this practice immediately.
When a child's first teeth grow in the middle of the first year of life, he also often wakes up at night.

341. Give your child the opportunity to chew.

Some mothers feel it is their responsibility not to allow their baby to put anything in their mouth. But most babies simply need it from at least 6 to 15 months. The constant struggle exhausts both mother and child. It is wiser to provide your child with chewing objects that do not have sharp corners or edges so that the child does not hurt himself if he falls. Rubber rings are very convenient for this purpose, but any piece of rubber that is comfortable for a child to hold in his hand will do. Be careful with thin celluloid toys. Sometimes children break off small pieces of celluloid, swallow them and may choke. Make sure that your child does not chew paint from furniture and other objects. Some children prefer to chew a piece of cloth. Allow your child to chew whatever he wants, except items that are dangerous to him. Don't be afraid of bacteria living on things he chews. These are his own bacteria, to which he has long been accustomed. Of course, you should wash the ring with soap and water if it falls on the floor or if a dog grabs it. Boil the rag your child is chewing from time to time. Some children like to have their gums massaged firmly.

342. How to strengthen teeth.

First of all, it is necessary to remember that the crowns of the teeth (i.e., that part of the teeth that protrudes on the surface of the gums) are formed in the gums long before the birth of the child from the substances that the mother receives through nutrition during pregnancy. Studies have shown that the following substances are especially useful for strengthening teeth: calcium and phosphorus (milk and cheese), vitamins D (in the form of concentrate and sun rays), vitamin C (in the form of concentrate, oranges and other citrus fruits, fresh tomatoes, cabbage). Vitamin A and some B vitamins appear to be as essential as other substances.
A child's permanent teeth, which do not appear until age 6, begin to form several months after birth. at this age, the child receives large amounts of phosphorus and calcium from milk. From the age of one month, the child should receive vitamins C and D (usually they are given to newborns in the form of concentrates).

343. Fluoride contained in water strengthens teeth.

Fluoride is a very valuable substance for building good teeth. It should be part of the diet of both a pregnant woman and a small child during the period of formation of permanent teeth. In those countries where fluoride is contained in water, teeth decay much less. In many countries, fluoride is added to water. If there is no fluoride in the water, the dentist can partially compensate for this deficiency by applying a thin layer of fluoride to the child's teeth. To this day, some people rebel against adding fluoride to water, considering it harmful, despite careful research by scientists and their conclusion about the benefits of such a measure. But at one time, many objected to both universal vaccination and water chlorination, although now this has become commonplace.

344. Sugar and foods containing starch contribute to tooth decay.

Scientists have not yet found a comprehensive answer to the question of why teeth decay (a phenomenon called caries). The nutrition of a woman during pregnancy and the nutrition of the child is certainly very important for the prevention of caries. Heredity also plays some role.
Even seemingly strong teeth can begin to decay. Dentists believe that decay is caused primarily by lactic acid, which is produced by bacteria that live in the sugar and starch stuck in the teeth. The longer this food remains on the teeth, the more bacteria multiply and the more lactic acid is produced, which eats away the holes in the teeth. This is why chewing sweets (candy, cookies, dry fruits, sugary drinks, cakes) between feedings especially contributes to tooth decay.
Of course, fruits and even vegetables also contain sugar. But in them it is in a dissolved state and therefore is more likely to be washed off. The coarse fiber in fruits and vegetables acts on your teeth like a toothbrush. We all eat starchy foods, but usually only at certain times. In addition, bread, whole grains and potatoes do not stick to the teeth for a long time. Teeth suffer from frequent “snacking” outside of the schedule (especially if it is food that gets stuck in the teeth for a long time, like sweets and starch).

345. Dental care.

Some doctors advise starting to brush your child's teeth when the first 4 molars appear, that is, approximately in the first half of the second year of life. I think it's better to wait until 2 years. At this age, the child enthusiastically copies everything that adults do. If his mother and father brush their teeth, he wants to try it too. Buy him a toothbrush as soon as he shows interest in it and let him try it. Of course, at first he won’t succeed, but you will tactfully help him. You will say that I speak in too much detail on this topic. I just want to show with this example that there is no need to force a child to do something, as many adults are sure, since in due time he will, with great pleasure, do what adults may consider an unpleasant duty. But just give him the opportunity to learn on his own.
The main purpose of brushing teeth is to remove food debris from their surface. You should brush your teeth after every meal, 3 times a day. It is especially important to brush your teeth after dinner to ensure they remain clean throughout the night, when very little saliva is produced.

346. Take your child to the dentist 2 times a year from the age of 3.

Teeth usually begin to decay at age 3. They need to be filled while the holes are still small. This, firstly, will save the tooth, and secondly, it will cause less pain to the child. Even if a three-year-old child’s teeth are intact, it still makes sense to take him to the dentist for two reasons: to make sure that the teeth are healthy, and so that later the child goes to the dentist without fear. If he wasn't hurt the first time, he won't be afraid to get a filling the first time it's needed.
Parents often think that it is useless to care for baby teeth, since they will fall out anyway. It is not right. A decaying baby tooth can also hurt and through it the infection can spread to the entire jaw. If the diseased tooth has to be removed, then due to the resulting empty space, the neighboring teeth grow incorrectly and subsequently will interfere with the growth of the molar. Remember that the last baby teeth fall out only at age 12. Therefore, they require the same careful care as permanent teeth.

347. Permanent teeth.

They begin to appear around 6 years of age. The permanent molars grow in after the baby molars. The lower central incisors fall out first. As permanent teeth grow, they destroy the roots of baby teeth, loosening them until they fall out completely. Baby teeth fall out in the same order in which they appear: incisors, molars, canines. The process of replacing baby teeth with permanent ones ends only at 12-14 years of age. Following the molars that grow at 6 years of age, the second molars appear at about 12 years of age. Wisdom teeth grow much later, at about 18 years of age (and sometimes do not grow at all).
Sometimes permanent teeth grow crooked or misaligned, but over time they become somewhat straightened. True, it is difficult to say in advance how much they will improve. A dentist who checks your child's teeth every 6 months can prescribe treatment.

All children different and develop differently. Someone at 5 months begins to crawl on their belly, and then quickly begins to get up on all fours and after a week pleases their parents with fast crawling, while others, even at 8 months, do not want to follow the example of mom and dad, who are already tired of crawling in front of the baby’s eyes on his knees, trying to show him an example and teach him “dog” skills.

If Baby does not crawl at 8 months, this only indicates that the time has not yet come for him to crawl. After all, each child has his own characteristics in mental and physical development, and therefore how and in what time frame he masters motor skills directly depends on how developed his muscles, bones, intellect and psyche are.

If on routine examinations At 1 and 3 months, the neurologist and orthopedist did not find any developmental abnormalities, so there is no need to worry about the fact that an 8-month-old child does not crawl. Usually, chubby babies with a calm character are in no hurry to crawl, and most likely, your baby is one of those people.

Crawl- a necessary stage in development. It not only gives the baby the opportunity to move independently, but also contributes to the development of his intelligence, perseverance and self-confidence. However, in recent years, the number of children who do not want to crawl and begin to walk a little later than expected has increased sharply.

Rare, but do occur children who begin to crawl in a specific way: on their bellies, on their butts, pushing off with one leg, dragging one arm or leg. Such attempts to crawl indicate that the child’s body is not yet strong and is not ready to crawl in the usual way. To crawl on all fours, you need to have good abs, strong muscles in your back, legs and arms. While crawling, the baby has to move his legs and arms at the same time, keep track of the target and avoid obstacles.

The crawling cooks muscles and the child's brain to upright posture. If a child begins to crawl not at 8 months, but only at 10-11 months, it means that he will also begin to walk later. Parents should be concerned if at 8 months the child got up and walked, skipping the crawling stage. This can negatively affect his posture, spine and back as a whole, because his bones and muscles are not yet ready for such a load.

Premature standing and walking before the start of crawling can have a negative impact on the formation of the musculoskeletal frame, so those parents who begin to lead a child who is not yet crawling by both arms or put him on a walker are doing the wrong thing. Not only the baby’s spine, but also his feet should not be subjected to a large premature load. Children who already use walkers begin to crawl much later or even skip this important developmental stage altogether.

Parents are obliged to do everything realistically in their power to ensure that their child develops and grows harmoniously. The more actively the parents took care of the child from the first days of birth, did massage and gymnastics, hardened him, the better his muscles develop, the less extra pounds he has and the sooner he will begin to sit, crawl, stand up and walk. Diseases that prevent an 8-month-old baby from crawling are rare in practice. The reason for a child’s reluctance to crawl is most often the lack of the necessary conditions and motives for the development of this skill.

To teach a child crawl, parents need to spend more time with him. Regularly, starting from 2-3 months of age, it is necessary to place the baby on his stomach on a hard surface. It is best to place it on a floor where there is a rug. This surface is good because it makes it easier for the child to lift his head and push off with his legs. It will not fall off the floor, which reduces the risk of injury.

IN 4-5 months start placing a bright toy or thing that he likes to play with at arm's length from the child, and invite him to reach it. Rejoice with your baby if he manages to crawl on his stomach to the “bait” and after a couple of weeks increase the distance to it. With regular exercises on the floor, already at 6-7 months, the baby will try to lift his stomach off the floor and begin to rock himself, while parents can only help the baby learn how to move his legs in order to crawl forward.

If your to kid It’s already 8 months and he’s not crawling yet, there’s no need to scold him, force him to get on all fours and be nervous. Be patient, sign up your baby for a massage course and regularly do exercises with him to help strengthen the muscles of the back, abdomen, legs and arms.

Not worth it torment the baby, if he doesn’t want to get down on his knees. He should strive to crawl reflexively, and parents only need to encourage his movements. It is very important to create conditions for movement without limiting the space with a playpen or bed.

Each child achievement- an event for the family. To encourage him to crawl, it is best to set an example and crawl on all fours yourself in front of the child.

At six months, most children begin to crawl or are already moving very actively, while others do not want to please their parents. What is the reason for the “reluctance” and how to teach a child to crawl, we will tell you in our article.

At what age does a child begin to crawl?

It is impossible to say exactly and unambiguously at how many months a child begins to crawl. The time frame is wide.

Normally, a baby learns to crawl between the 6th and 9th months. The next stage is walking.

The formation of motor activity depends on many factors:

• Baby's health status. Children with neurological and orthopedic disabilities begin to get up on all fours around the age of one year, and to walk around one and a half years.
• Weight. Walking and crawling are more difficult for overweight babies. The body weight turns out to be too much for the spine and body muscles.
• Gender of the child. Girls develop faster than boys. This is true. Girls get on all fours at 5 or 6 months, and boys after six months, closer to 8–9 months.
• Psychological situation. Praise and attentive attention to needs contribute to mastering the skill of movement best. Forgotten in their cribs, unloved children lag behind in mental and physiological development.
• Parents' efforts. Stimulation of activities from birth and daily gymnastics have a positive effect on crawling. If you spend at least 30 minutes a day on physical activity, your baby will crawl earlier.
• Child's temperament. Five-month-old sanguine and choleric patients begin to crawl with great pleasure.

Important! Don’t worry if your baby decides to skip the crawling stage and immediately stands on his feet. Such children will learn to walk before a year and will not experience fear from their first steps.

Should I teach my baby to crawl?

According to pediatricians, neurologists, as well as Dr. Komarovsky, it is possible to do without crawling, but it is better if the child does not miss this stage of physical development. The benefits of moving on all fours are explained by the following:

• Crawling prepares the muscles and spine for walking.
• Coordination of movement, the ability to hold steady and not fall are developed.
• The little one gets to know the world faster and gets acquainted with the first dangers on the floor: pets, wires.
• Hand motor skills develop. The child feels the surfaces, picks up toys from the floor, and gets used to dragging them towards him.
• The baby learns to make decisions independently. He chooses the path to the goal, evaluates the distance, his capabilities, and learns to protect himself from dangers.
• The simultaneous work of the legs and arms trains the interaction of both hemispheres of the brain.

The listed factors confirm the benefits of crawling. Therefore, you need to teach a child to move on all fours using available methods: gymnastics, massage, training, and your own example.

Refusal to crawl

Reluctance to crawl or move independently on the tummy, on the belly, by 8–9 months may indicate health problems, lack of space and attention from parents. This fact cannot be tolerated.

You can learn more about why a child does not crawl in this video:

If a child refuses to crawl and does not even try to learn it, it is worth analyzing the situation and finding the reason for this behavior. The following factors are most often the culprits:

• Overweight, obesity. It is an obstacle to getting on all fours. Lying on their stomachs, sitting, overweight children will try to move from their place in order to get a toy and get closer to their mother. If no attempts are observed by 8 months, consult a doctor.
• The newborn lies on his stomach a little. He almost never learns to roll over, lean on his arms, hold his head confidently, or push off with his legs. Without training in these skills, a child will not be able to crawl.
• Pathological conditions. Neurological abnormalities, problems with muscles, spine, cervical spine, muscle tone prevent the baby from developing in a normal rhythm.
• Prematurity. Infants born before the 38th–40th week of pregnancy are weak and develop delayed. They skip the crawling stage or begin to master movements one to two months later than full-term babies.
• Injuries. The baby fell, broke a leg, an arm, and suffered a sprain. Crawling training can begin after complete tissue restoration. The fear of falling and being left without support can persist for a couple of months if the injury was serious.
• Character. A calm, uninitiative child is most often lazy to crawl, while a nimble and independent child makes his first attempts to run away from his mother on his belly at 4–5 months. The desire to crawl and run early is typical for hyperactive children.
• Tightness of space. If the baby is constantly in a crib, playpen, or in his mother’s arms, then he simply has nowhere to crawl. Expand the territory for exploring the world, and the baby will want to reach out to an unfamiliar object, independently crawl to a window, or a toy.
• Early training to use a walker. The baby likes to walk, all the space is at your fingertips, why does it have to crawl? But without this skill, mastering upright walking is much more difficult. Put your baby in a walker after 8 months, when he learns to move on his belly. This way you will save the baby’s spine and give you the opportunity to explore the apartment first from below and then from above.
• Overprotection. Mom is nearby 24 hours a day, bringing a toy, pacifier, or bottle upon request. The baby does not need to be able to get to objects on his own - he will shout and they will bring everything.

If the culprit of your baby’s laziness is factors that depend on adults (attention, confined space), eliminate them immediately. If the source of the problem is poor health or pathological conditions, you will have to seek advice from a doctor, undergo treatment, do massage and exercises to prepare the baby for crawling faster.

Important! You can speed up the acquisition of the crawling skill in 3–4 weeks, if you are patient and do not deviate from your goal, train daily, following the doctor’s recommendations.

Different ways to crawl

Babies often surprise their parents. It is especially interesting to observe which crawling method they choose. The pose, speed, and pattern of rearrangement of limbs are suggested to them by the body and nature. That is why there are so many methods of movement in infancy. Let's look at some of them.

In Plastun style

The baby crawls on its tummy. It looks funny. He pushes off the floor like a wounded soldier, bracing himself with his knee and hands. In this case, the legs bend alternately, and the arms simultaneously.

Reversing

The baby does not move forward, but... This usually happens while sitting on all fours. Children hang their heads low and turn them in the direction of movement, keeping what is happening behind them under constant control.

Jumping crawl

The child gets on all fours, sways back and forth, gradually increasing the amplitude. Then he makes a small jump, lifting his legs and arms off the floor. Sometimes this method turns out to be dangerous. The child jumps unsuccessfully and hits his forehead on the carpet or nearby objects. You need to carefully monitor such a frog and wear a helmet for greater safety.

Rolling

The baby does not stand on all fours, but reaches the goal by rolling like a bun. At the same time, he knows exactly which side he needs to turn over in order to be near his mother or grab his favorite toy. Makes coups very skillfully.

On knees

The most convenient and safest method from the point of view of pediatricians and neurologists. The child leans on his limbs, first raises his right hand forward, takes a step with his left foot, and then changes limbs. Children come to this method gradually, improving movements by 7-8 months.

Important! It is wrong to consider one method to be correct and the rest to be defective. More often, crawling on the belly, sideways, on all fours, and rolling around the apartment are training for moving on all fours. Don’t forbid your kids to try any method; let them learn and train their muscles, back, and limbs until the body suggests a simpler and more accurate method of moving independently.

Stages of training

Children under one year old crawl quickly on all fours only if they have been able to master the skills of other styles of moving on the floor. They can be considered preparatory classes and stages of learning to crawl in perfect form. Parents should take care of this. If you imagine the process step by step, it will look like this:

I. Lying on the stomach from birth

By the age of 3-4 months, the baby holds his head well in this position, puts his arms up, rests his legs on the crib, and his mother’s palm. Trying to push off from the support, the hand reaches forward to get the toy ball.

II. Stomach crawling

By 5-7 months, the baby can move forward in a lying position by several centimeters. To do this, you have to push off with your hands, turn your body to the side, actively push with your legs, and bend them. At the same time, the foot is constantly looking for support for the push, the eyes and head turn in the direction of body movement.

III. Crawling by moving hands without standing on 4 supports

This method is mastered by 6-8 months. A small child rakes with knives, hands, jumps, persistently climbs forward. Sometimes the movement is only backwards, the baby can drag his leg, tuck it under himself, but this is also considered the norm.

If the baby can crawl around a couple of meters in the apartment, expect that he will soon get on all fours. Lay a rug in the nursery, a carpet in the living room, kitchen, so that the baby can study comfortably and does not rest his elbow or knee on a wooden surface, slippery laminate, linoleum.

IV. Crawling with support on arms and legs

When the child begins to crawl on all fours, parents can relax a little. At first the movements are clumsy, the baby will move strangely, each time considering which leg and arm should be moved. After mastering the crossover of the limbs, the crawling speed will increase so much that it is simply impossible to keep up with the nimble little one.

Thus, we can explain the emergence of different methods of movement in infants. Many of them simply stopped at stage 2 or 3, without achieving the main goal - to move on all fours, or went their own way: they began to roll, jump, etc.

Massage

What to do if the child does not want to crawl? Massage. Do some techniques for relaxation and muscle training yourself:

• Cross your arms over your chest.
• Extend your knee joints.
• Lightly pinch the butt and back.
• Stroke your belly, paying attention to the navel area.
• Have a seat.
• Learn to jump while holding your hands tightly above the elbows.
• Raise your legs without bending them.
• Pull your arms so your baby can sit.

Massage is pleasant and beneficial for all infants from birth. Do a warm-up every day, even if your baby is trying to crawl.

Important! If there are developmental pathologies, a more professional massage is necessary. Invite a specialist home, consult with your doctor before prescribing a course of treatment.

Exercises

General strengthening exercises are aimed at teaching a child to crawl and walk by training the muscles of the back, arms and legs. Pay attention to the following set of tasks; do them every day, immediately after sleep or 2-3 hours before a night's rest.

Watch a video with interesting exercises for baby and mother:

And here is the result the baby got after these exercises after 2 weeks:

Strengthening arm muscles

The child’s task: lean on one hand, lifting the other up. Hang a bright picture or toy above the baby’s head. Place the baby on his stomach. Let him become interested in the rattle and reach for it with his leading hand, leaving his supporting hand below.

Learning to lean on both hands

Place the child on his stomach, show the toy, gradually lifting it up. To throw his head high, the baby will lean on his arms, stretching them out.

We train the vestibular apparatus

Place the baby on the floor or bed; there should be a cushion of a towel or thin blanket under the tummy. You need to place toys in front of your hands, let him reach for them, look at them and touch them. The legs will be free.

Show me how to roll over

It will be required if the baby does not roll over well at 6 months. Pull the child by the arm to one side from a supine position, carefully lay him on his side, then on his stomach. Repeat the exercise on the other side.

Stimulating crawling

Place your baby on a rolled-up mattress so that your arms are free and your knees are on the floor. Carefully move the mattress towards you. The child will move his legs together with the support so as not to fall.

Learning to rearrange handles

You need to grab the baby's legs while lying on his stomach and help him rise into his arms. Place a toy slightly to the side in front of the child’s eyes to interest him. The baby will want to stretch and move his hands. Support your child's body to prevent him from falling face down.

Doing the “Frog” exercise

The baby lies on his stomach. Mom stands behind, takes the children's legs in her hands, bends them at the knees like a frog swims. The child will learn to push off from support and crawl a couple of centimeters on his belly.

Training the knee stand

Hold the baby, place it on bent knees and hold it in this position. Before performing the exercise, you need to lay a soft blanket on the floor.

Learning to stand on all fours

You will need a small fitball. The baby lies on the ball with his stomach, legs and arms resting on the floor. The mother should help the baby maintain balance and teach him to push off the floor with his feet.

Learning to crawl on all fours

It's the right thing to do together. One parent moves the legs, the other moves the arms. You can support the baby by the tummy so that the baby does not lose balance.

What exercise equipment can you use?

To master the skill of crawling, special simulators are used:

What not to do

Some parental actions do not promote infant crawling and can be dangerous for the baby. Remember that it is highly undesirable to do the following:

• Carry the baby in your arms all the time. Take him down to the floor, into the playpen, so that he learns to kneel and lean on his hands.
• Forced to crawl, forcefully put on all fours. Do not demand the impossible from five- or six-month-old children. Wait until later and let the baby grow up. If by 8–9 months it does not want to surprise you, then consult a doctor.
• Raise him by the palms to sit down. Hold your child by the elbows or shoulders.
• Use walkers, jumpers, and sitting chairs in the early stages. The baby will begin to sit down, jump, and crawl when his musculoskeletal system is formed.
• Leaving the baby in a playpen or crib for a long time. The lack of free space negatively affects physical and mental development.
• Forgetting to protect the baby and prepare the room for study. Place sockets, wires, glass vases, and light chairs upstairs.
• Scold if the child crawls strangely. The method and method of movement for the baby is suggested by intuition and muscles. He jumps on his butt and rolls over on the floor not because he is harmful, but because he cannot get on all fours yet.
• Lay hard carpets and rugs in the room. You can get calluses on your knees and elbows. The consequence is a refusal to crawl. In such situations, use knee pads.

The best way to teach a baby to crawl is by example. Surely the baby will look at his mother with surprised eyes. But if you play catch-up with your baby on all fours, have a fun and friendly time, then he will wait for the next time with great interest, crawling up to you on his own to start some fun. And so quickly and easily he will learn to crawl on his own.

IMPORTANT! *when copying article materials, be sure to indicate an active link to the original

When does a baby start crawling? When his body is ready for it. This means that the muscles of the back, neck, legs and arms have become stronger, the child holds his head and back well in an upright position, and can roll over from his back to his stomach and back. Often children begin to crawl first on their bellies, and then on all fours. Sometimes a child first learns to sit on his own and then crawl, sometimes vice versa. Some children begin to learn to crawl at 4 months, some at 8-9 months, but most begin to move independently at 6-7 months.

Why is it so important for a child to learn to crawl?

Crawling is a necessary stage in a child's development. The development of a baby in the first year of life is called psychomotor, that is, the development of motor skills is inseparable from the development of intelligence, psyche, and speech skills. The child develops sequentially, having mastered one stage, moves on to the next. By overstepping or skipping any of the stages, we leave a gap in the child’s development that cannot be filled with other skills.

Crawling prepares the baby's hands for manipulating small objects, and the back muscles for the stress of walking upright. During crawling, the connection between the right and left hemispheres of the brain is strengthened - this influences the development of intelligence and speech. Crawling is a universal exercise that strengthens all the muscles of the body. In addition, free crawling gives the baby the first experience of independent movement in space, strengthens his self-confidence, feeding his curiosity and perseverance in achieving goals.

Often as a result of crawling minor violations go away or are compensated tone, asymmetry, torticollis and other similar problems. Sometimes, as crawling begins, hidden features of brain development(insufficient connection between certain parts of the brain) - when a child persistently, for more than 2-3 weeks, crawls in a certain specific way: he drags or bends one arm or leg, crawls only backwards. If at this moment help the child learncrawl correctly, then this will have a beneficial effect on brain development, possibly compensating for developmental features.

The most important thing is to provide the child with the opportunity to learn to crawl. To do this, he needs space, time and your caring participation. Ensuring this is simple - put the baby on the floor! Yes, yes, on the floor. Learning to crawl on a large bed or sofa will not work, it’s too soft, but it’s easy for an agile baby to fall from there, just quickly push off with your feet a couple of times. There's nowhere to fall on the floor, but a new, unknown and alluring world opens up around.

You can put the baby on the floor now starting from 2-3 months when the baby learns to roll over well. Make it a rule - when removing the baby from your arms or taking it out of the sling, put it on the floor, and not a crib, changing pad or chaise lounge. First, put him on for a short time, at the same time combining this with “no diaper” time.

Modern lungs. Elastic and pleasant to the touch crawling mats are suitable for children from the first months of life. Crawling rugs, consisting of several parts fastened together like a puzzle, can be easily assembled into one large carpet or long runner, depending on the size and shape of the room. It is more convenient when the tiles of such a puzzle mat are large (for example, 33cm x 33cm) and without small parts inside. The larger the parts of the rug, the fewer joints the rug has and the more uniform the surface, which means it is easier to maintain cleanliness. However, large tiles for a rug are more difficult to buy, are inconvenient to transport and take up more space.

Choose a moment when your baby is full, happy and active. Place him on his stomach, next to him, at arm's length - a new a bright toy(or a thing that he has noticed for a long time and was reaching for, for example, a bright large salad spoon, an unnecessary magazine or something similar). Rejoice with your baby at his catch when he can reach it. After a couple of days, the distance to the new “bait” can be increased.

Crawling on your stomach, on all fours or...

All children are different and develop at their own pace. Someone begins to crawl on their belly, and then quickly learns to get up on all fours and soon becomes master of cross crawl. Some people, having mastered crawling on their bellies, continue to crawl. We will describe the general sequence of skills development, and the terms of training depend on the individual child and his family. ( More details read a book about the stages of child development Beverly Stokes Amazing Babies. Necessary movement of a child in the first year of life")

A newborn baby lying on his stomach learns to lift and hold his head. Then, over a couple of months, he learns to raise his upper body higher, leaning on his hands. When a baby, from a position lying on his stomach with emphasis on his hands, is able to rise almost to his stomach, he discovers that can move backwards by pushing with hands. At this point, it is important that the small fists begin to open without pinching the thumb inside.

Crawling backwards on your stomach An attractive activity compared to simply lying still. A child can crawl like this for a week or two. After some time, he will begin to push off with his feet, gradually getting up on all fours. During this period, the child can quite stand for a long time, swaying in one place and trying to coordinate the efforts of the arms pushing back with the legs moving the body forward. Often such attempts end with a rapid “forehead hitting the floor” and loud crying. Keep calm, it's safe to get some bumps, baby will quickly learn to be more careful and better calculate your strength. Encourage your baby, he is already halfway to full cross-crawling on all fours.

Stage “I’m an airplane” or how to lift your stomach off the floor

Before learning to get on all fours, children go through the “airplane” stage. The child lies on his stomach and simultaneously lifts both his arms and legs off the floor, slightly rocking himself. It’s impossible to move in this way, so baby screams loudly and requires attention to your experiences.

You can help your young tester by placing a bolster, a soft cloth ball of the appropriate size, or a folded blanket under his stomach. At first the roller may be small, place it under the baby's chest. Then try a larger roller, you can slightly rock the child back and forth, showing him that this way he can move on all fours. Instead of a bolster, your leg will do if you sit on the floor with your child.

It will also be useful at this time professional massage, which will help consolidate new skills and give impetus to the comprehension of new motor capabilities. You can do some exercises with your child yourself.

(Read more about exercises and baby massage).

Do you want to crawl? Ask me how!

If, despite your best efforts, your baby shows no interest in crawling, try setting a good example. The most effective - invite a well-crawling baby to visit about the same age. Have fun crawling with the whole family; this exercise will not only surprise and entertain the baby, but will also help tired mom and dad relax their “backs.”

Use crawling track, a low children's slide or just a wide board (cabinet door). Make a slight tilt so that every movement of the baby helps move forward. Cheer and celebrate every success. Let the baby first overcome ten centimeters, the main thing is that he understands that he can. Remember the “baits”, show and praise an inaccessible target, but do not give it to the child, even if he screams and is indignant. But what a joy it is to reach out and finally get the desired toy!

Baby on the floor? Right there...

Cold? If you do not live in a hut with a dirt floor, or do not walk on bare concrete at home, then the child will be warm enough on the floor. The first time when the baby learns to move, use. It is important that the crawling mat does not slip, is sufficiently elastic and easy to wash. A wool blanket is warm and natural, but as a crawling mat, it quickly becomes disorganized under the pressure of an energetic novice crawler. You can also use tourist foam, but such a crawling mat is too narrow, so one foam is not enough; it is better to use two or three. Experienced parents advise using rugs no smaller than a square meter in size, and preferably one and a half or two, if it fits in the room.

Soon the baby will learn to crawl out of a warm place. If it seems to you that the floor is still cold, for greater comfort for the child and your peace of mind, put on a woolen bodysuit for him (thermal underwear) or merino wool pants. The wool of Merino sheep is warm, soft and not itchy, making it suitable for babies. Woolen pants and a bodysuit are the best equipment for a baby starting to crawl. Such clothes are warm enough to prevent your baby from getting too cold, and thin and soft enough not to interfere with his movement. The less clothing a child wears, the easier it is to learn to crawl. Knit woolen pants from merino yarn yourself if you know how, or buy ready-made ones from natural swaddling systems, etc.

Dirty? Make cleaning easier by temporarily removing expensive carpeting. (Remember that potty training time will soon come). You can quickly wipe down a wooden or laminate floor. In the hallway and other quickly dirty places, rugs that can be washed in a washing machine will help out. If you don’t have enough time for daily cleaning, buy a robot vacuum cleaner that can also handle carpet.

If, starting from 2-3 months of the child’s life, parents “ will go live on the floor" together with the child, this will help to gradually, even before active crawling, resolve issues with dust, drafts, etc. This will help protect the child from injury (there is nowhere on the floor to fall).

Microbes? For normal development of immunity, a child needs to live in a real, not a sterile world. It is clear that licking street shoes is not good for your health, but meetingWith« homemade» microbes is inevitable. You should not wash the floor with aggressive chemicals, they are even less beneficial to health. For disinfection during cleaning, you can use aromatic oils that have antimicrobial properties (tea tree oil, juniper oil, etc.).

Before the baby learned to fully crawl on all fours, parents need it themselves literally crawl the entire house on your knees. Firstly, you will set a wonderful example for your child, and secondly, you will be able to inspect your home in advance detect all dangers for the baby objects, look into secluded corners and lift up valuable and dear things to your heart. Do the house is as safe as possible for a child.

Hide the trash can and put away all household chemicals, washing powders, fertilizers, pet food, pots of indoor plants, etc. as high and far as possible. Pay attention to low-lying electrical cords (a child can taste them) and sockets, overhanging edges of tablecloths and other dangerous or small objects. Please note that the child must wants to taste it, whatever he finds.

Create each room has a small corner with interesting and safe things for the baby. It could be a shelf at the bottom of a closet or a small box, but such a beacon should be made in every room of the apartment, even in the hallway or bathroom, if it is not locked. Having reached a new place, the child will be carried away by the “local attractions”, and, if lucky, will not have time to climb somewhere else without your supervision.

Remember that from the start of crawling to 2.5 years - period of consolidation of love for order. It's time for parents get acquainted with the M. Montessori system to introduce life-friendly principles into everyday life.

The most attractive for beginner crawler toys- This a small rag ball with a ringer inside and tumbler. And also all the small noisy objects that are convenient to grab with a small hand and easily throw, so that they fly and roll, and then catch up with you. During the period when the baby is just beginning to move and sways and rolls more in one place, be attentive to the toys that are on the floor with the child. Choose safe, soft toys that won't hurt your child if they bump into or fall on them.

Walkers, jumpers and other “utilities”

According to osteopathic doctors, learning to stand and walk earlier (before crawling) has a bad effect on the development of the child’s entire musculoskeletal system. For the normal formation of the musculoskeletal framework necessary to begin independent walking, the baby needs to crawl for two to three months. After the child begins to crawl, he learns to sit up on his own, kneel down, and then stand at a support. The baby must go through all these stages sequentially and independently, no need to force things and teach the child to walk prematurely. You should not lead a child who has not yet learned to crawl or stand on his own without support by both hands.

Walkers and jumpers– these are items that should not appear in the home of caring parents. If using a playpen is simply restricting a child’s freedom, a kind of prison, which prevents the baby from developing physically, mentally and intellectually, then walkers and jumpers, due to the early vertical load, cause very noticeable harm to fragile muscles and ligaments. The vertical posture, together with the weight of the child, creates excessive load on the intervertebral discs, for which they are not yet ready. They become crushed (compressed), which in the future threatens problems with the spine at any age. The developing foot also experiences greater premature stress in walkers.
You can understand the desire of tired parents to take a little break and go about their business while the child entertains himself by jumping. But having learned to crawl, the child will explore the world around him, developing yourself and strengthening your health. Children accustomed to walkers and jumpers significantly later they start crawling, more often than not completely missing this important stage of their development. Is half an hour of your peace of mind worth it?

If the child does not crawl...

Sometimes you can hear parents say proudly: « But mine didn’t crawl, it went straight away!» . They probably don’t know that if a child doesn’t crawl at the right time, this can result in poor posture, back pain and curvature of the spine in the future. Such problems often arise due to bad heredity(the child’s parents and their parents had some problems with the musculoskeletal system), heavy loads, for example, at school, and during the child’s growth spurts.

According to osteopathic doctors, modern children who did not crawl, but immediately walked, increased loads are contraindicated associated with early intensive sports (participation in competitions, professional sports). Roller skating and skateboarding should be excluded. While studying at school it is necessary do physical therapy, swimming and be regularly monitored by orthopedic doctors in order to promptly identify postural disorders or other spinal diseases (for example, premature aging of intervertebral discs).

Everyone these problems are easier to avoid than to cure. If your baby is not crawling yet, but is already starting to stand up, you should pay special attention to this. Your timely efforts will help the child learn to crawl, keeping the spine healthy and making its development more harmonious.

Not crawled yet. When should you start worrying?

All children develop at their own pace. No one knows your baby better than you. In order not to miss conditions that require correction, regularly take your child to medical specialists you trust. Pay attention yourself and tell your pediatrician about the characteristics and pace of development of the child in accordance with his age.

If healthy baby at 8 months is not yet making any attempts to crawl on his own, it’s time to pay special attention to this. Consult a pediatrician, show your child to an orthopedist, get a massage, visit an osteopath. Make sure your child is healthy and he has all the potential to start crawling: loose clothing, plenty of time on the floor and your support. You can use the track for crawling. And the time spent in the playpen or crib should be reduced as much as possible. If the baby has already learned to stand on a support, but hardly crawls, distract him and encourage him in every possible way to try move on all fours.

Now you won't catch up!

With the beginning of crawling of a child in the life of a family a new era is dawning. Now your baby is no longer that cute toddler waving his arms and legs in his crib or sitting importantly in his mother’s arms. Parents realize that he now lives next to them another person with his own character and interests, speed and love of freedom.

Share the joy of a pioneer with your child and enjoy these wonderful moments. After all, very soon your baby will learn to walk, run, climb and talk. Prepare for this time together, don't rush it, let it crawl!

Probably all parents have heard about the benefits of such a skill as crawling. The ability to crawl contributes to the comprehensive development of the baby and to some extent makes the life of adults easier. Of course, you have to hide all valuable and fragile things from little crawlers, but moms and dads no longer have to worry about this developmental milestone. In addition, the baby actively explores the world and reaches out to objects and toys that interest him.

However, not every child begins to crawl at the “allotted” 6-8 months. Some children learn to sit, stand up and then immediately walk. Is this a violation, is it worth sounding the alarm and, in general, what to do in such a situation?

Do all babies crawl? Should a baby crawl?

The question of whether a child needs to crawl is difficult to answer unequivocally. On the one hand, crawling is a natural stage of development. Thanks to the ability to crawl, the baby strengthens his muscles and spine, learns to coordinate his own movements, becoming more dexterous every day.

On the other hand, not all children crawl. Among your friends (and maybe you yourself) there are probably people who did not crawl in childhood. They all grew up, and the absence of this important stage of development had virtually no effect on their development. It is impossible to say what would have changed in their health and life if they had crawled through a few months of their infancy.

A child of 5, 6, 7, 8 months does not crawl

It’s a little funny to hear this phrase: “My baby is not crawling at 5.5 months!” Moms, don’t rush your children - everything has its time. At 5-6-7 months, many children do not crawl. Your task is to provide the child with the opportunity to move and explore space, to create motivation for crawling; in some cases, a course of special massage may be necessary (usually for plump, leisurely children).

If an 8-month-old baby does not crawl, this worries parents even more. But if the pediatrician, neurologist and orthopedist have not seen any reasons for concern, there is definitely no need to worry. It is likely that your baby is part of a fairly large percentage of “non-crawling” children and will immediately start walking. Or it will crawl a little later.

A child of 9, 10, 11 months or a year does not crawl

When a child who is already 9-10 months old or almost one year old does not crawl, mothers understand: all the “average” periods have passed, and the baby will probably begin to walk without going through the crawling stage. Well, that happens. In any case, you must create a safe development environment for the baby and be attentive to his attempts to move.

If a child is born premature, all estimated pediatric time frames for acquiring new skills are shifted. Your baby will develop according to its gestational age. He will crawl not at six months, but, say, at 10-11 months, so not crawling at 9-10 months is the absolute norm for such a baby.

Why doesn't the baby crawl? (Komarovsky and other doctors)

Why doesn't the baby want to crawl? Babies with normal physical and psycho-emotional development always strive for movement after they have mastered the ability to roll over onto their stomach and love this position. But they do not know about the norms: it happens that a child does not know how to crawl “traditionally”, but chooses alternative methods of movement. As an option, he strives to get up and go as quickly as possible.

Pediatrician Komarovsky, popular in Ukraine and Russia, says the following about crawling: “ Don’t waste time and nerves constantly looking for “irregularities” in your own child. Believe me: truly serious illnesses in which a baby cannot learn to crawl, sit or walk are quite rare.<…>Just understand the main thing - parents are obliged to do everything that really depends on them in order to have the proper influence on the growth and development of the baby.<…>The more actively the massage and gymnastics are carried out, the cooler the water when swimming, the less extra kilograms (or grams - it doesn’t matter) in the child - the better the muscles develop, the more opportunities there are to sit down, crawl, stand up, walk in a timely manner».

Other experts (pediatricians and neurologists) say approximately the same thing: crawling is included in the list of important baby skills, but is not critically necessary, such as the ability to hold up one’s head and roll over on one’s stomach.

If your child has stopped trying to crawl on his belly, this may be a temporary phenomenon; his body is not yet strong enough to crawl. Children may sometimes crawl less as they learn new skills such as standing hands-free and walking. If the child suddenly stops crawling, and especially after vaccination, immediately contact a neurologist!

The child crawls poorly

If your baby is crawling, that's great. But parents will always find a reason to worry. The most common complaint is that the child does not crawl on all fours.

Indeed, some children crawl “wrongly”: backwards, on their butts, pushing off with one leg, on their backs; others squirm like little worms and are in no hurry to lift their bellies off the floor.

Crawling on your belly is the first stage of developing the crawling skill. Why does a child crawl on his stomach, on his belly? and still doesn’t start crawling on all fours? The answer is obvious: crawling on your tummy is easier. The baby tries to move as best he can. Perhaps he is still small and the muscles of the abdomen, back, and spine are not yet ripe for crawling on all fours. Do not panic; There are special exercises for teaching a child to cross crawl; massage is also very useful for strengthening muscles.

A fairly common situation is crawling backwards. Why does the baby crawl backwards? And again, it’s easier for him this way. It often happens that children go through the crawling stage in this way. Nothing wrong with that.

A funny, but disturbing picture for parents - the child crawls on his back or on his butt, pushing off with one leg . And this is also a variant of the norm. Don’t be annoyed with your baby, but show him the “correct” way to crawl.

We wish your children health and new discoveries, no matter whether they are made while crawling or immediately walking!