Pediatrics: Lillian Beard, M.D.

My 11-month-old baby has been crawling for about four months now and seems to prefer crawling to standing. Should I be worried that this will slow the development of her coordination and balance and prolong the time it takes to learn to walk?

By Lillian Beard, M.D.

No need to worry. Crawling actually helps a baby develop the arm and leg strength necessary for balance in walking. Many babies also find crawling a much more effective way to get around than the first slow steps of walking, so they're bound to prefer it until their walking abilities improve. Whether your baby walks "early" or "late" has little to do with her future physical capabilities. The developmental process is different for each child, so remain supportive of her crawling activities. She'll be walking before you know it!

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