As your baby gets older, you can use tummy time to teach your baby how to crawl. 

My name is Tanya and I'm a pediatric physiotherapist with Alberta Health Services. 

In this video, you'll learn about helping your baby learn to crawl. 

Many babies learn to crawl between 6 and 12 months of age. 

Some babies skip crawling and go from lying and sitting to pulling up to stand. 

These babies often go on to other movement skills without any problems. 

You don't need to panic if your baby skips crawling and starts walking instead. 

However, crawling is a great activity for your child. 

It helps your baby build strength that walking at furniture doesn't. 

If your baby isn't crawling yet, try these ideas to give them a little help. 

Pivoting helps your baby learn to move on the floor while pushing with their arms and legs to start moving. 

Help your baby move in both directions by putting toys out of reach. 

Help your baby push through their arms until their arms are straight by holding toys so that they lift their head higher. 

You can even try this with your baby over your lap on the couch or on the floor. 

They can reach their hands down to help support themselves. 

You can help them get into a hands and knees position over your leg. 

Help your baby position their legs and give them support to get a grip with their feet and knees. 

Allow them to push against your hands or place your hands on their hips to help keep their legs from going out to the sides. 

Bare legs and bare feet sometimes help your baby push with their legs without slipping on the floor. 

Help your baby learn how to crawl up the stairs. 

Make sure you're right there to help your child stay safe. 

Place a toy a step or two above them to encourage them to reach up into a kneeling position to get to the toy. 

This helps them learn the motion they need to crawl. 

If your baby doesn't seem to want to get on all fours to crawl and keeps their belly on the ground, think about putting the toys up higher. 

Toys on the ground mean that your baby is looking down or straight ahead. 

When the toy moves a little higher, it encourages your baby to lift their head higher, get up on their straight arms, and be up on all fours to crawl. 

When they keep their eyes up high, it helps them learn to get their tummy off of the floor. 

Once your baby gets their belly off of the floor, they may rock back and forth in this position. 

This helps them get stronger and learn to balance. 

When they start crawling, they may go backwards at first. 

That's OK, your baby is just figuring out how to coordinate their body to shift into forward gear. 

Watch the last video in this series to learn more about different crawling styles your baby might try and more ways to help them start to crawl on all fours. 

Find information, support, and services for you and your child by clicking on the link in the description.​