Why do babies crawl?
Why do we bother learning to crawl before we walk?
It’s not just a handy way to get up to mischief. Crawling has a purpose that helps us later on, even once we’re long past using it as a method of transporting ourselves.
As we start figuring out how to crawl, we start off by getting on to all-fours, and then often rocking back and forth.
This process starts activating muscles in our trunk and spine, and gives us our natural spinal curves, which are important for transferring weight safely through our spine when we stand and walk as adults.
Once we get crawling, our psoas muscles have to do a lot of work.
These muscles help to stabilise the spine, contribute to our important spinal curves, and share an attachment with our breathing diaphragm. By helping align this attachment, the psoas muscles indirectly help us to breathe effectively.
So when we learn to crawl, it’s not just about moving around. It has far-reaching consequences that affect our spinal health, breathing mechanics, and posture far into adulthood.
If you’re concerned that your little one isn’t crawling yet, is choosing to bum shuffle instead, or looks a bit one-sided as they move, book in for an appointment with Anna.
