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“I didn’t crawl and I’m fine.”
We hear this all the time - from parents, grandparents, and even professionals. And while it can be true, there’s a lot more nuance to the conversation.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why crawling plays such a critical role in development
How crawling supports strength, coordination, vision, and primitive reflex integration
Why skipping crawling may not seem like a problem early on, but can impact coordination, learning, and regulation later
Simple ways to encourage crawling in babies, kids, and even adults
How to respond (kindly and confidently) when someone says, “I didn’t crawl and I’m fine”
Thanks for listening 🩷
If this episode made you think differently about crawling, share it with someone who says they’re “fine” without it.
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Why Crawling Is Essential for Babies, Kids & Adults? Infant Development & OT Strategies
Crawling for Brain Development
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
At Harkla, we hear this phrase a lot: “I didn’t crawl, and I turned out fine.” Maybe you've said it yourself or maybe you’ve heard it from a grandparent, a friend, or even your pediatrician.
While it’s true that every person has a unique developmental journey, and many people who skipped crawlingaredoing well in life, the question we want to ask is: What if “fine” isn’t the goal? What if you—or your child—could be thriving?
Let’s explore the powerful science behind crawling and why it matters more than most people think.
Crawling might seem like a small detail in a baby’s development. But it’s actually a critical milestone that builds the foundation for physical, sensory, cognitive, and emotional development.
We’re not here to shame anyone for skipping crawling—some children go straight to walking, and that’s okay. But we also want to encourage parents and professionals to understand that crawling builds more than just muscles—it builds the brain.
At Harkla, we believe in optimizing each child’s potential, no matter their starting point. That means even if your child didn’t crawl—or if you didn’t—there’s stillhuge value in incorporating crawling movements into your life today.
Crawling isn’t just a cute phase. It’s a whole-body developmental workout. Here's what it supports:
Crawling puts weight through the shoulders, arms, hands, hips, and core. Over time, this builds essential postural strength and endurance—critical for fine motor tasks, sitting upright in school, and overall coordination.
Before a child walks, crawling helps develop the mobility, control, and stability needed in the shoulders and hips. It also supports balance and alignment through rhythmic, repetitive movement patterns.
It might seem unrelated, but crawling is a precursor to fine motor control. Why? Because strong shoulders and core muscles are the foundation for hand control. Without it, handwriting, buttoning, and utensil use can be harder.
Crawling with the head up strengthens the neck and eye muscles. It builds depth perception, spatial awareness, and visual tracking, all of which are essential for reading, writing, and navigating space safely.
Crawling helps integrate key primitive reflexes like:
STNR (Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex).
ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex).
TLR (Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex).
Spinal Galant.
These reflexes, if retained, can contribute to delays in motor development, attention, and learning. Crawling provides the sensory and movement input needed to help these reflexes mature.
Crawling is a cross-lateral movement, which means both sides of the body and brain are working together. This builds connections between the left and right hemispheres, improving:
Reading and language processing.
Emotional regulation.
Motor planning.
Attention and executive function.
Every time a child crawls, they receive:
Proprioceptive input (body awareness).
Vestibular input(balance and movement).
Tactile input (touch and texture).
Together, these help regulate the nervous system—especially important for children with sensory processing disorder, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorder.
Not necessarily. However, we do want to consider the entire picture.
If a child didn’t crawl as a baby, it doesn’t mean there’s a problem. Itmight just mean they need more support building the skills crawling typically develops.
Crawling activities—at any age—can still help children improve coordination, regulation, focus, and strength. Even adults benefit from crawling!
Here are some fun, developmentally appropriate ways to encourage crawling:
Tummy Time to 4-Point Position: Help your baby get onto hands and knees, then gently rock them forward and back (called quad rocking).
Crawl Over Obstacles: Your legs, a rolled towel, or foam cushions can create low barriers to encourage lifting and movement.
Tunnels Everywhere: Pop-up tunnels make crawling fun while promoting better posture and bilateral movement.
Pivot Play: Use sensory bags taped in a semi-circle on the floor to motivate babies to pivot and explore.
Crawling Up Stairs:This strengthens core and hip muscles and builds confidence (with supervision, of course).
Make crawling cool with play-based strategies:
Obstacle Courses: Include tunnels, chairs, and stuffed animals. Try placing a toy on your child’s back for a “don’t drop it” challenge.
Animal Walks: Bear walks, crab walks, and invented creatures make transitions fun and functional.
Wheelbarrow Walks: Support your child’s legs while they walk on their hands—great for core and shoulder strength.
Yes, even adults should crawl! Try:
Crawling races with your child.
Crawling as a sensory break during your workday.
Using crawling to help regulate your nervous system and posture.
And yes, crawling can even help you feel calmer and more patient with your child. Try it and see how your body and brain respond.
Here are a few friendly, non-confrontational ways to reframe the conversation:
“Totally! But crawling is like the brain’s WiFi—things just run smoother when you’ve got a good connection.”
“Crawling is like preheating the oven. Sure, the cookies still bake… but they’re just better when the oven’s ready.”
“You’re doing great. But what if crawling gave you 5% more focus, coordination, or regulation? Wouldn’t that be worth it?”
“It’s not about being ‘broken’—it’s about being the best version of yourself. Crawling just helps get us there.”
These gentle responses promote a growth mindset without judgment—especially helpful when talking to other adults or skeptical professionals.
Whether you’re a therapist, a parent, or someone whodidn’t crawl and feels “fine,” here’s the truth:
Crawling is one of the most powerful tools we have to support brain and body development.
And it’s never too late to benefit from it.
So go ahead—crawl with your child. Make it fun. Make it silly. Make it part of your sensory routine. It might be the easiest (and most unexpected) way to support learning, attention, and regulation.
BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double check all of our facts but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science & art. One doctor / therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views & opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health related difficulties & what we have found to be beneficial that will be as evidenced based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links & make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews & comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair & balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.
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