There’s an old adage that goes, “before you run, you must learn how to walk.” Of course, there are several different versions of this saying. However, the meaning is always the same. It basically means that you’ll have to start out with the basics before you move on to more complex things.
As much as this saying can be applied to almost anything when it comes to learning and progress, it can also be taken literally. You see, everyone started out learning how to walk first before they started running. What’s more, before you all learned how to walk, you first learned how to crawl. It’s been this way for humans since the dawn of time, and it will continue to be—and your baby can attest to this!
So, where are we going with all this? Well, for many mamas, they might see crawling as something that their baby has to go through to learn how to walk. As if it was just a necessary obstacle to learning to walk. However, it’s much more than that! In fact, crawling is an important part of learning to walk. In this article, we’ll show you just what crawling can do and why you should let your baby crawl more!
The Benefits of Crawling
For many mamas, crawling can be seen as something that they have to put up with before their baby learns how to walk. In a way, it’s like that. However, it’s more than just a necessary obstacle for them to get over. If anything, it’s an important part of their development!
Sure, crawling on the floor may be seen as something unhygienic—especially if the surface they’re on is dirty. However, it’s necessary. So, with that in mind, we’ll be showing you why crawling is good for your baby and why you should encourage it!
Exercise
One of the most obvious benefits of crawling would be that it’s a form of exercise for your baby. Just like any other human, babies also need exercise. Unfortunately, they’re not capable of doing the things that older humans are able to, such as jogging or lifting weights. However, there are still other things they can do to keep active.
One of the easiest and simplest things they can do is crawl around. Sure, it’s not like running, but it’s still something that helps them burn some calories and strengthen their tiny muscles. Since it’s the only form of exercise they can get, it’s important that they get as much of it as possible. Plus, letting them crawl around can help them expend their energy and help them sleep more soundly in the evening. So, it’s also something that can benefit you!
Develop Their Motor Skills
Aside from being a form of exercise that helps them burn calories and strengthen their little baby muscles, crawling also helps with their motor skills. More specifically, it helps them with their coordination.
When babies crawl, they learn how to move their arms and legs alternatively to be able to bring themselves from point a to point b. Learning how to move them properly to get them efficiently from one point to another isn’t easy. So, exposing them to the opportunity to do this repeatedly and practice can help them get this process down pat. It’s a lot like riding a bike! What’s more, once your baby learns how to do this effortlessly, it helps open more room for them to learn other movements that require coordination. It can help pave the way for them learning how to walk too!
Help With Brain Growth
While motor skills are technically a part of your baby’s brain growth, there are also other brain growth-related benefits that come with crawling. You see, your babies are very sensory creatures. They learn how to take in and understand the world through all the things they feel. So, by exposing them to the different sensory stimuli, such as what you’d get from varying surfaces, you enhance their senses and give their brain more information to take in.
Aside from that, you help your baby understand better where they are in relation to their surroundings. They’ll learn more about their surroundings, how to get over (or under) certain things, and learn to be more familiar with the spaces around them. As a result, they have a better spatial sense!
So, Crawl!
With all of that being said, you can see how crawling is more than just a stage that babies overcome. It’s a stage filled with so many opportunities for them to grow physically and mentally. So, you should allow your baby the opportunity to craw as it helps them learn more about their world and grow as they do it!
Of course, this doesn’t mean you should just let them crawl anywhere. All the same, it’s good to ensure they’re in an environment that is safe for them. That way, they can maximize their use of the surroundings and be safe while doing so! So, let your baby crawl!
