Army Crawling to Hands and Knees Crawling

Quick Summary: The transition from army crawling to hands and knees crawling typically happens between 7 to 10 months and requires significant upper body and core strength development. Babies need lots of practice opportunities to figure out this complex movement pattern. Encourage the transition by creating obstacles like your outstretched leg for baby to crawl over, offering toys at elevated heights, and ensuring plenty of tummy time. Most babies army crawl for 1 to 3 months before mastering hands and knees crawling.

Army crawling is one of those developmental milestones that can feel like it lasts forever. As a pediatric physical therapist, I frequently hear from parents who are eager to see their baby progress from scooting around on their belly to proper hands and knees crawling. The transition between these two movement patterns requires significant strength and coordination changes.

What Is Army Crawling and Why Do Babies Do It?

Army crawling, also called belly crawling or commando crawling, is when babies pull themselves forward using their arms while their belly stays in contact with the floor. This movement pattern typically emerges around 6 to 8 months of age and serves as an important stepping stone toward traditional crawling.

Babies army crawl because it's an efficient way to move around before they have developed the core and upper body strength needed for hands and knees crawling. It allows them to explore their environment and reach desired toys or caregivers while building the foundational strength they'll need for the next stage of mobility.

Army crawling is completely normal and actually provides excellent strengthening for the muscles babies will use for hands and knees crawling, standing, and eventually walking. Every time your baby pulls themselves forward, they're working their arm muscles, back muscles, and core in preparation for more advanced movement patterns.

The Physical Development Behind the Transition

The progression from army crawling to hands and knees crawling requires several key strength and coordination developments to come together.

Upper body strength is crucial for this transition. Babies need enough arm and shoulder strength to push their entire torso up off the ground while simultaneously coordinating their leg movements. This is much more demanding than the pulling motion used in army crawling.

Core strength development is equally important. Hands and knees crawling requires babies to maintain their trunk in an elevated position while moving their arms and legs in a coordinated pattern. This demands significant core stability that develops gradually through practice and play.

Coordination between the upper and lower body becomes essential. Unlike army crawling, where babies primarily use their arms to pull themselves forward, hands and knees crawling requires alternating movements between opposite arms and legs. This cross lateral movement pattern is complex and takes time to master.

When Does This Transition Typically Happen?

Most babies begin army crawling between 6 to 8 months and transition to hands and knees crawling between 7 to 10 months. However, there's significant variation in this timeline, and some babies may take longer to make the transition.

The duration of the army crawling phase varies between babies. Some babies army crawl for just a few weeks before transitioning, while others may continue this movement pattern for 2 to 3 months. Both scenarios can be completely normal and don't indicate any developmental concerns.

Some babies skip army crawling entirely and go straight to hands and knees crawling.

Activities to Encourage Crawling

Creating opportunities for your baby to practice the movements needed for hands and knees crawling can help facilitate this transition. The key is providing natural, fun challenges that motivate your baby to experiment with new movement patterns.

The Leg Obstacle Technique

One of my favorite techniques involves creating a simple obstacle course using your own body. While playing on the floor with your baby, stretch your leg out in their path. This creates a natural barrier that encourages them to problem solve how to get over it.

When your baby encounters your leg, they'll likely try their usual army crawling technique first. However, the height of your leg makes this approach less effective, naturally encouraging them to push up higher to navigate over the obstacle. This repeated practice helps build the strength and movement patterns needed for hands and knees crawling.

Start with your leg positioned relatively low and gradually increase the height as your baby becomes more comfortable with the movement. Make sure to keep the activity playful and positive, celebrating their efforts regardless of their success level.

Elevated Toy Placement

Strategic toy placement can naturally encourage your baby to experiment with different positions and movements. Place favorite toys on low surfaces like cushions, couch edges, or your own lap while sitting on the floor.

This positioning motivates babies to reach higher than they would during typical floor play, encouraging them to push up into hands and knees position to access desired objects. Choose toys that are particularly motivating for your baby to increase their willingness to work for them.

Rotate the toys regularly to maintain interest and provide varied reaching challenges. Books, musical toys, and textured objects often work particularly well for this type of encouragement.

Surface Variation

Providing different surfaces for crawling practice can help develop the varied muscle activation patterns needed for hands and knees crawling. Playing on surfaces like yoga mats or carpeted areas can provide different sensory and stability challenges because they offer more traction than slippery surfaces.

Tummy Time

Continue providing regular tummy time even after your baby is army crawling. This position continues to build the back, neck, and arm strength essential for crawling progression. Make tummy time engaging by using mirrors, interesting toys, or interactive play.

Vary the surfaces and locations for tummy time to provide different challenges. Playing on your chest, on a blanket outdoors, or on different textured surfaces all provide unique strengthening opportunities.

What If Your Baby Seems Stuck in Army Crawling?

Some babies become very proficient at army crawling and seem content to continue this movement pattern for extended periods. While this is usually not a concern, there are ways to gently encourage progression.

Evaluate Your Environment

Look at your play environment to ensure it's providing appropriate challenges. If everything is easily accessible through army crawling, there may be less motivation to develop new movement patterns.

Consider rearranging toys and furniture to create natural obstacles that make hands and knees crawling more advantageous. This might include placing favorite items on low surfaces or creating simple obstacle courses.

Increase Practice Opportunities

Some babies need more practice opportunities than others to develop new movement patterns. Increase the frequency and duration of floor play while ensuring the activities remain enjoyable and pressure free.

Focus on activities that naturally encourage pushing up into hands and knees position rather than directly teaching the crawling movement. This indirect approach often works better than explicit instruction.

Consider Individual Differences

Some babies are naturally cautious and prefer to master one skill completely before moving to the next. Others are adventurous and quick to try new movement patterns. Both personality types are normal and don't indicate developmental problems.

If your baby is meeting other developmental milestones and seems happy and engaged, extended army crawling is usually not a concern.

When to Consult a Professional

While variation in crawling development is normal, there are some situations where professional guidance might be helpful. Understanding when to seek advice can provide peace of mind and ensure any concerns are addressed promptly.

If your baby is approaching 12 months and shows no interest in attempting hands and knees movements or seems to have difficulty with basic strength activities, consider discussing this with your pediatrician.

Babies who appear to have significant strength differences between sides of their body or who seem to avoid certain positions consistently might benefit from professional evaluation.

Any concerns about your baby's overall development, muscle tone, or movement patterns are always worth discussing with your healthcare provider. Early intervention, when needed, is most effective when started promptly.

The Bottom Line

The transition from army crawling to hands and knees crawling is a significant developmental milestone that requires patience, practice, and appropriate encouragement. Most babies make this transition naturally between 7 to 10 months, but the timeline can vary considerably.

Focus on providing lots of opportunities for strength building and movement practice through engaging play activities rather than drilling specific crawling techniques. Create gentle challenges that motivate your baby to experiment with new movement patterns while allowing them to progress at their own pace.

Remember that army crawling is an important and valuable stage of development in its own right. Babies are building important strength and coordination during this phase that will serve them well for future movement challenges.

Every baby's developmental journey is unique, and there's significant normal variation in how and when babies master different movement patterns. Trust your baby's individual timeline while providing the support and opportunities they need to continue progressing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long do babies typically army crawl before crawling on hands and knees? Most babies army crawl for 1 to 3 months before mastering hands and knees crawling, but this can vary significantly. Some babies transition within weeks while others may take several months.

Q: Is it normal for babies to skip army crawling entirely? Yes, some babies go directly to hands and knees crawling without an army crawling phase. Both patterns are completely normal developmental variations.

Q: Should I be concerned if my baby prefers army crawling even after learning hands and knees crawling? Babies may continue to use army crawling for speed and efficiency even after mastering hands and knees movement. This is normal and not usually a cause for concern.

Q: What can I do if my baby seems frustrated during the transition? Keep practice sessions short and playful, celebrate small progress, and ensure your baby has plenty of opportunities for successful movement using their preferred method. Frustration often indicates they're working hard to master new skills.

Q: When should I contact my pediatrician about crawling development? If your baby is approaching 12 months without attempting hands and knees movements, shows significant strength differences between body sides, or if you have concerns about their overall development, discussing this with your pediatrician is appropriate.