First, which kind of “not crawling” are we talking about?
This page is for a baby who already uses their gaze, reaching, kicking, turning, pushing, or another action to say, in effect, “I want to get there,” but has not yet developed an effective, consistent way to move forward.
It does not explain every reason a baby may not crawl. If your baby is persistently uncomfortable on their tummy, rarely initiates movement toward a goal, is not using both sides of their body similarly, loses a skill they previously used, or you are concerned about pain, muscle tone, illness, or development more broadly, separate that concern from play advice and discuss it with your child's pediatrician or another qualified healthcare professional. An activity cannot make that judgment.
What does crawling at 9 months mean as a developmental reference?
The 9-month milestone currently used by Better Parenting is:
Begins crawling, though crawling may not be their main way of getting around. Source: UNICEF. Sub-domain: Gross Motor; developmental goal: exploring movement and body positions.
This is a population reference point, not a deadline for an individual baby. “May not be their main way of getting around” also matters: the goal is not to make every baby use one standard crawling pattern. It is to notice whether your baby is exploring new positions and movements in order to reach something.
Seen through this developmental goal, your baby is trying to move their body and get closer to a target; crawling is one possible means. Your role is not to correct the form first. It is to create a worthwhile reason to move and offer the least help needed based on what your baby has already initiated.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also notes that some babies use alternatives such as bottom-scooting or belly-slithering, and that what matters includes coordinated use of both sides of the body and the ability to explore. If you are unsure whether your baby's movement looks typical for them, speak with your child's pediatrician or another qualified healthcare professional rather than relying on an online activity page.
What to notice
| What you see | What it may tell you | How you can respond |
|---|---|---|
| Your baby looks at a person or object, reaches, turns, or kicks | They already have a clear intention to move | Wait before bringing the target straight to them. Keep it close enough that a little effort could make progress. |
| They kick repeatedly, push into the floor, change direction, or try a different movement | They are exploring possible movement strategies | Do not move their arms and legs for them. Watch for the actual sticking point and offer a stable surface only if they need somewhere to push. |
| They pause, vocalize, or look toward you after getting stuck | They may be asking for information, comfort, or help—or simply need a break | Check how they are doing. If they still attend to the target, bring it closer or offer removable support. If they are tired or uncomfortable, stop. |
| They move a little closer or switch positions and continue | They are adjusting their approach toward the same goal | Acknowledge the attempt and keep the challenge manageable. Do not immediately require them to crawl all the way across the space. |
| When they arrive, they touch, shake, bang, follow, or interact | The destination was genuinely meaningful | Let the natural result happen. If the object rolls, makes a sound, or a person reappears nearby, that result can invite another round. |
These behaviors help you understand intention and strategy, but they are not interchangeable. Reaching and kicking are meaningful attempts. Actually moving closer to the target is more directly related to the developmental goal.
A practical sequence: want it, try, minimal help, real result, move again
Want it
Choose something your baby is interested in now: a favorite car, a safe container that makes a sound, a familiar caregiver, or a short route toward another interesting thing. Do not replace your baby's current interest with an object that an adult has decided is better for “training.”
Try
Begin with the target close by, so your baby only needs to reach a little farther, turn, or shift forward. Give them time to organize their own movement. Do not position each hand and leg or require a particular crawling form before the attempt begins.
Minimal help
Help with the immediate obstacle, and choose support that can fade. If your baby keeps kicking but slides backward, you can provide a light, steady surface under their feet. If they are already trying to support themselves on hands and knees, a towel can briefly take some weight; reduce that help as their own support increases.
If your baby does not continue initiating movement, do not increase assistance until you are doing the movement for them. Bring the target closer, choose something more engaging, or end the round.
Real result
When your baby gets there, let them experience what their movement was for: play with the car, shake the container, or reconnect with you. Do not immediately take the object away simply to make them repeat the movement.
Move again
The next attempt works best when it grows naturally from the first: the container rolls a little farther, you appear again nearby, or the car reveals another short part of the route. Movement remains in service of what your baby wants to do rather than becoming repetitive exercise.
Three ways to put the idea into practice
Offer a foothold only when that is the sticking point
Start with a nearby toy that invites reaching. If your baby is already kicking or pushing into the floor but cannot find effective purchase, give their feet a small, steady surface. The idea is not that pushing their feet teaches crawling. It is to notice what they are already trying and assist only at the current obstacle.
Reduce support as your baby takes more of the weight
A towel can briefly share the load when your baby is already trying to support themselves on hands and knees. As their own support increases, gradually reduce yours. The direction of help is always back toward your baby's own movement.
Let the result create the next reason to move
When your baby reaches a safe container, let them shake it. If it rolls away again, the sound and movement create a new destination. They are not an unrelated reward; they are the natural result of the movement itself.
A familiar person can also be a meaningful destination. In an activity centered on reconnecting with a caregiver, the main observation may be the baby's delight in reunion, while moving toward that person also gives Gross Motor practice. An activity can have one primary developmental focus and still support another naturally within the experience.
Common questions
How far away should I place the target?
There is no fixed distance. Look for three things: your baby remains interested, their effort produces at least a little progress, and they are not repeatedly failing until they disengage. If they keep getting stuck, move the target closer. If it is effortless, add only a small amount of distance.
My baby only moves backward, turns in circles, or changes position. Is that useful?
It can be part of exploring force, direction, and available positions. Notice whether your baby is still organizing movement around the same goal, then decide whether to wait, bring the target closer, or offer a place to push. These attempts are worth understanding, but they do not by themselves mean that forward crawling has developed.
Can I be the destination?
Yes. A familiar person, voice, and the interaction that follows can all be meaningful reasons to move. When your baby reaches you, genuinely respond rather than immediately moving away to continue the “practice.”
Do we need to practice a certain number of times every day?
This page does not prescribe a daily number. Your baby's interest, fatigue, and physical state determine whether a round should continue. One or two genuine attempts in which your baby initiates movement can tell you more than many repetitions completed mostly by an adult.
What this page is not promising
- Nine months is not a deadline by which every baby must crawl.
- No activity is promised to teach crawling within a few days.
- Lack of crawling is not always explained by a lack of motivation.
- One standard crawling position is not presented as the only correct path.
- One Activity or one behavior cannot determine your baby's overall development.
Sources and notes
- UNICEF: Your Baby's Developmental Milestones
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Movement Milestones in Babies 8 to 12 Months Old
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Crawling Styles
Better Parenting Content Team | Updated September 1, 2026