Why Crawling Is The “Superfood” of Baby Development S9 | Ep228

Crawling is about so much more than getting your baby from A to B. In this episode of Sense by Meg Faure, Meg and Parent Sense COO Tové de Chazal Gant dive into why crawling is such an important developmental milestone and why parents shouldn’t be too quick to rush their baby towards walking.

Meg explains how crawling supports muscle tone, vestibular and proprioceptive development, bilateral coordination, fine motor skills, spatial awareness and problem-solving. They also explore how your baby’s sensory personality can influence when and how they crawl, what parents can do to encourage crawling, and what it means if a baby skips crawling altogether.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN

• Why crawling is considered a developmental “superfood”
• Why the sequence of sitting → crawling → walking matters
• When babies typically start crawling
• How crawling supports muscle tone, sensory development and coordination
• How your baby’s sensory personality can influence crawling
• How tummy time prepares babies for crawling
• What to do if your baby skips crawling
• What parents should know about baby walkers, walking rings and jumpers
• How crawling may support later fine motor, spatial and problem-solving skills
• Simple ways to encourage your baby to crawl through everyday play

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why is crawling a developmental “superfood”? Meg explains why crawling is much more than a milestone in itself and why so many later developmental skills are built on it.

02:18 Why crawling can be harder than sitting Why crawling is a complex developmental skill

03:42 Why parents shouldn’t rush towards walking Meg explains why crawling deserves more time and attention before your baby gets upright.

06:13 When should babies start crawling? The typical range for crawling and why the sequence of milestones may be more important than the exact age.

07:47 Crawling, the vestibular system and muscle tone How movement stimulates the vestibular system and contributes to the muscle tone babies need to work against gravity.

10:21 Proprioception: your baby’s internal body map How crawling helps babies understand where their body is in space.

12:23 Bilateral integration and brain development Why reciprocal crawling matters for coordinating the two sides of the body.

12:42 Your baby’s sensory personality and crawling How sensory-sensitive, sensory-seeking, slow-to-warm-up and settled babies may approach crawling differently.

16:42 How to encourage your baby to crawl Practical ways parents can adapt the environment and support their baby according to their sensory needs.

19:27 What if your baby skips crawling? Meg explains why some babies go from sitting to walking and what parents can do if crawling is missed.

21:49 Why are more babies skipping crawling? The impact of the Back to Sleep campaign, tummy time and the modern “container culture” on opportunities for movement.

23:50 Baby walkers, walking rings and jumpersMeg shares what parents should consider when using developmental equipment and why movement on the floor matters.

26:20 Can crawling affect later skills?How crawling may support fine motor control, bilateral integration, spatial awareness and problem-solving.

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG FURE PODCAST

Sense by Meg is the parenting podcast from occupational therapist, parenting expert and Parent Sense founder Meg Faure.

With more than 20 years of experience in OT and a special focus on infant regulation, sensory processing, attachment and early relationships, Meg brings together leading experts, researchers and parents to explore the science behind raising happy, healthy and resilient children.

The podcast is part of Parent Sense, a science-backed parenting solution designed to help parents understand their children and feel more confident in their parenting journey.

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