The instant your baby crawls for the first time instantly becomes one of the proudest moments of your life. They are finally mobile and able to experience the world on their own to some degree.
As parents, we love to see our children progress and grow with ease. Sometimes we even want them to progress a little to faster than nature would have them. This includes inspiring babies to accelerate through the crawling phase and straight into walking.
According to childhood development experts, it's quite important for babies to experience the crawling phase and stay there for a bit. The following paragraphs explain why it's so important:
#1 - Crawling Is Important for Strengthening Their Muscles
Rocking back and forth on all fours, scooting and crawling all help to strengthen their hands, shoulders, legs and trunk muscles. They need to build strength in these areas to continue developing properly and reaching further milestones.
#2 - They Gradually Learn to Connect with You From a Distance
Your little one is used to connecting with you on a skin-to-skin basis. When they learn how to move away from you, they also learn how to connect with you from a distance.
This means picking up on your verbal and physical cues when you direct them not to touch something or to gently move away from something that might harm him. They also learn that even when you’re not right next to them or holding them, you can still offer support and guidance when needed.
#3 - They Become More Observant
Your little one learns to become more observant when they're an active participant in their surroundings. As objects change and “move” past them while crawling forward, they start to process their surroundings differently and notice everything around them. They learn to make note of landmarks in the home and how they relate to her current location.
#4 - They Learn How to Navigate Household Obstacles
The world becomes a much different place when someone else isn’t navigating for you. When your little one starts scooting around, they must learn how to get around obstacles in their way. They also learn how to move to desired areas of the home at a slow and steady pace.
#5 - They Develop Fine Motor Skills
As your cutie becomes more confident in maneuvering around their environment, they'll develop fine motor skills that can be used as they grow. The earlier they develop these fine motor skills, the easier it will be for them to use their fingers, hands, arms, and legs to complete specific tasks.
#6 - They Slowly Gain Confidence
When your baby first tries to crawl, they'll probably become frustrated at times and experience numerous emotions. However, as they push through their emotions and grow, their confidence will expand. They'll learn that persisting past their challenges is important for success.
7. They Learn How to Make Decisions
With this newly discovered independence, self-transportation offers your little one more options. Faced with multiple opportunities and options, they'll be forced to make decisions on their own.
While these decisions may seem minuscule to you as an adult, they’re very important for your little one’s mental development.
Some decisions may yield unpleasant consequences, like pulling up on a chair and tumbling over. The consequences of these decisions will create synapses in her brain and help them learn what situations to avoid in the future.
Last Words
As you navigate through parenthood, you'll no doubt have questions on development. I strongly recommend that you create a strong relationship with your pediatrician. If you are worried as to your baby's development, reach out to your doctor for knowledge and support.
