Bear Crawl + Normal Crawl | What Is My Baby Doing?

"My baby half bear crawls and half normal crawls when she is trying to move really quickly...is this normal?!"

Answer: I know crawling on hands and knees gets all the attention, but in a scenario like this, I honestly wouldn't worry! If you're seeing hands and knees MOST of the time, and just noticing that when looking for speed, they switch between, it's usually okay! The main reason a 3 legged or bear crawl can be a concern is when it is the ONLY way that a baby can move effectively. In those cases, it can indicate an underlying weakness or tightness somewhere, and is worth investigating a little further! The other thing worth noting based on this description is that sometimes, as a baby is learning to pull to stand and working on increasing the speed of those transitions, you may start to see a bear crawl as a way to more quickly execute that!

Hope that helps!

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For developmental questions, tips and guidance related to milestones about tummy time, rolling & sitting, crawling and walking, check out KC’s developmental Masterclasses linked here.

KC is a pediatric doctor of physical therapy, wife and mom of three! She has spent her career working with children and young adults of all ability levels, and currently specializes in birth to three years.