Seeing your baby scoot might leave you perplexed. Although it looks different, scooting is an important developmental milestone for some babies, and may even replace crawling. You might notice your baby scooting around on their bottom, moving either forward or backwards. Some babies even start out scooting backwards on their back, using their legs to push off. It’s all part of the process of learning how to control and move their body.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- When do babies scoot?
- How babies start scooting
- Why is my baby scooting backwards on their back?
- What if your baby doesn’t scoot?
- After your baby scoots, what’s next?
You’re probably eagerly waiting for your baby to hit major milestones like rolling, sitting, and crawling. While many parents have ideas about how movement milestones will happen over the first year, babies haven’t seen the playbook. That means sometimes they throw in a few surprises, like scooting instead of crawling.
When it comes to development, scooting is perfectly normal and is considered a type of crawling. So there’s no need to worry if you find your baby scooting instead of doing the traditional crawl.
Keep reading to learn more about when babies start scooting and how it can lead to other milestones.
When do babies scoot?
Although parents tend to notice the differences between scooting and crawling, they’re part of the same developmental phase. After your baby has mastered the art of rolling over and sitting up, they’ll begin to experiment with other ways of getting around, usually between 7 and 10 months.
You’ll probably notice your baby trying an array of different movements. Babies may crawl, scoot, “commando crawl” on their belly, or even roll to get where they want to be. Some babies seem to be stuck in reverse at first, but eventually they figure out how to move forward.
Even scooting has variety. Some babies sit and scoot on their bottoms, using their arms to move forward. Others prefer scooting backwards on their backs or scooting sideways. Any way your baby prefers to get around is fine, as long as they seem to be using both sides of their body equally. Their movements might look funny or seem ineffective, but they’re helping your baby gain the strength they’ll need for other milestones.
How babies start scooting
During the first year of life, your baby is building muscle strength and control. Eventually, that will help them learn to walk. Scooting is an important part of that process.
Newborns
The first thing that your infant must master is controlling their head and neck. Wearing your baby in a carrier and doing tummy time every day are great ways to help them gain strength.
1 to 2 months
You’ll notice your baby becoming stronger. They’re likely to lift and turn their head when on their tummy, although they probably don’t have much control over the rest of their body yet.
3 to 6 months
Once your baby has control over their head, they’ll begin working on moving the rest of their body. You may notice your baby doing mini push-ups during tummy time. They’re training for important tasks like crawling or scooting.
Your baby will start to roll over regularly, first from front to back and then from back to front, usually by 6 months old. After they’re rolling, help your baby sit with assistance to continue to build core strength.
7 to 8 months
Around this age, babies are gaining more control over their movements. When you put your baby down on the floor, they may not stay put for long. Your baby may be skilled at rolling, and beginning to learn to sit on their own. You might even see your little one start to scoot, either in a flat or seated position.
9 to 10 months
By 9 to 10 months old, most babies are able to get into a sitting position by themself and sit without support. From there, many babies get onto all fours and crawl. Some babies scoot instead, and some babies never crawl or scoot and skip straight to standing and walking.
Why is my baby scooting backwards on their back?
Babies experiment with many different positions and movements, including some that look ridiculous to parents. When your baby is lying on their back, you might notice them using their heels to push off and scoot backwards on the floor. It’s not the most effective way to get around, but it’s a great leg exercise!
Even once your baby figures out a more effective crawling position, it’s common for babies to move backward instead of forward. That’s because they’ve spent months building upper body strength, so their arms are usually stronger than their legs. Soon they’ll figure out how to move in both directions.
What if your baby doesn’t scoot?
It’s entirely normal for babies not to scoot or crawl, while some babies do both. What matters is that your baby is using both sides of their body equally, and that they eventually figure out a way to move in a forward direction. There’s a range of normal development, and your little one may take longer to get on the move.
However, if your baby isn’t crawling by their first birthday, talk to your child’s doctor. It could be a sign of a developmental delay, and getting help can make a big difference for your child.
After your baby scoots, what’s next?
Once your baby is scooting around, you might expect crawling to follow. That may be the case, but some babies skip crawling all together. What you’re likely to see is your baby getting more confident their movements. Soon, they’ll be cruising along holding on to furniture or a walker. Then, sometime between 9 and 15 months you’ll see those precious first steps when your little one starts walking. After that it’s off to the races as your child learns to run, jump and dance.
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