Video Tutorial:
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Clear out space on a soft, carpeted floor. Remove all miscellaneous toys to avoid unnecessary distractions. You will need a good amount of space for this exercise.
2. Put an interesting, preferably noisy toy across the room.
3. Place baby on tummy facing the toy. Draw baby's attention to the toy.
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| I recommend doing this exercise when your baby is in a good mood or baby can become frustrated. |
4. Start by taking baby's right leg and bending it at the knee. Then gently push baby's knee underneath her body. This motion should encourage baby to lift tummy off the ground and assume a crawling position (with your support).
5. As you are gently push baby's knee under her body, baby should propel body weight forward.
6. At the same time, baby should extend opposite the left arm forward. Ideally, this motion should mimic how crawling looks. I say "ideally" because this exercise can be tricky and babies don't always cooperate the way you want them to.
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| When my daughter propels off of her left knee, she tends to extend her left arm. Ideally, she would be extending her right arm forward to mimic the correct motion of crawling. |
7. Depending on baby's skill level you may also need to support their upper body during this exercise. (My daughter needs this upper body support during this exercise.)
8. Repeat steps 4-7 with the left leg. Continue alternating sides until baby reaches toy.
9. I aim to repeat this exercise 3-5 times in a row.
10. Support baby's body carefully throughout this exercise to avoid baby falling on face.
Here's some other crawling preparation exercises:
Supported Crawling Position #1
Supported Crawling Position #2
Disclaimer: I am not a physical therapist or medical professional. This post and/or video does not serve as a substitution for medical treatment. If you wish to do any of these physical therapy exercises on your own child, you should first seek approval from your child's physical therapist. Click here for full disclaimer.
