Is It Easier for Babies to Crawl Backward Than Forward?

Babies on the move use many different means of locomotion to get from one place to another. Many often find it easier to move backward than forward when they first start going places. Crawling backward is part of the normal progression of physical development for many babies. Within a few weeks, most learn to reverse course and attack the world head on.

  1. Strengths Needed to Crawl

    • Your baby can't crawl until he develops certain motor skills. Before he can crawl, he must gain the ability to hold his head up. He needs strong arms to raise his chest off the floor and support his weight. Your baby will usually sit before he begins to crawl; this requires strong back muscles. To crawl on hands and knees, your baby must acquire the ability to coordinate the left and right sides of his body. Spending time on his stomach will help him develop the muscle strength he needs to start moving.

    Why Backward Crawing is Easier

    • Backward motion often precedes crawling forward because your baby's motor control generally develops from the head down and from the body's center outward to the arms and legs. Babies often go in reverse before going forward because they develop neurological control over their arms and shoulders before they develop control over their legs, explains the Encyclopedia of Children's Health website. This makes pushing backward with her arms easier than moving forward with her legs. Pushing backward with both arms at the same time also doesn't require the alternating coordination of both sides of her body that crawling on hands and knees does.

    Crawling Age

    • Your baby probably won't start to move before he reaches the age of 6 months. You can encourage him to move by placing toys just out of his reach. Expect some frustration when his initial efforts push him away from the objects he's trying to reach. Continue giving him motivation to switch course and figure out how to move himself forward. Give your baby plenty of floor time and avoid constant use of walkers or other devices that don't allow him to develop his motor skills.

    Potential Issues

    • It doesn't matter which style of crawling your baby adopts; some babies never crawl on hands and knees but scoot on their bottoms, roll or army crawl to get where they're going. Some stand up and walk when they decide it's time to get going. Do let your pediatrician know if your baby appears to use only one side of her body to move or if she isn't moving at all by age 10 months, when most babies have developed some form of movement.

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