Every parent looks forward to their baby’s first steps, but Dr Jeremy Schmoe, founder of the Functional Neurology Center in Minnesota, says the real magic happens before that moment. “Crawling on hands and knees is vitally important for proper development of the brain and body,” he explains. Each time a baby moves one hand and the opposite knee, both sides of the brain work together and start learning how to communicate. That co-ordination later helps children balance, pay attention, and even learn to read.

Crawling might look simple, but it is doing big work behind the scenes. As babies move, their eyes, ears, hands, and feet are constantly sending messages to the brain, helping them understand where their bodies are in space. Schmoe says this will benefit their development later in life with skills such as walking, sitting at a desk, or catching a ball. Babies who skip crawling may have a harder time with these skills later, because their brains miss out on that early practice.

Parents sometimes feel pressure to get their babies standing quickly, but rushing can backfire. Devices that prop babies up too soon take away valuable floor time where real learning happens. Schmoe’s advice is simple give babies time and space to explore safely on the floor. Every time they crawl they strengthen their muscles, sharpens their focus, and help wire their brains for the learning that lies ahead.