3 Reasons Crawling Is Crucial for Healthy Development
Crawling might seem like just another step on a baby’s journey to walking, but it’s actually one of the most important stages in early development. At Vitality Precision Chiropractic, we often talk with families about how foundational movement patterns like crawling play a powerful role in lifelong health and neurological development.
If your little one is approaching the crawling stage or has skipped it altogether, here are three big reasons to take a closer look at why crawling matters and how your Rochester Hills chiropractors, Dr. Thomas Madigan and Dr. Brendan Shanahan, can help support healthy milestones.
1. Crawling Builds Brain-Body Coordination
Crawling is more than just mobility—it’s a full-brain workout. When babies crawl, they engage in cross-crawl patterns, where opposite limbs move together (right hand with left knee, left hand with right knee). This movement activates both hemispheres of the brain and helps develop the neural connections needed for complex motor skills, coordination, and even cognitive functions later on.
This phase lays the foundation for things like reading, writing, balance, and focus. Skipping or shortening the crawling phase may mean fewer opportunities for the brain to wire these essential connections. Encouraging crawling through playtime and floor time can help support this critical development.
2. It Strengthens Core and Postural Muscles
Crawling engages the entire body. It helps build strength in the shoulders, arms, hands, hips, and core—all of which contribute to proper posture, balance, and gross motor skills as your child grows. These muscles are key for activities like sitting upright in a chair, running, climbing, and even writing later in childhood.
Without this important strengthening phase, children may develop postural imbalances or show signs of physical delays. Making time for tummy time and limiting extended use of walkers or jumpers gives babies the opportunity to build strength naturally through movement.
3. Chiropractic Care Can Support Healthy Movement Patterns
If your child is delayed in crawling, avoids weight-bearing on one side, or seems to skip the phase entirely, it could be a sign of an underlying imbalance in the nervous system. That’s where chiropractic care comes in.
At Vitality Precision Chiropractic, Dr. Thomas Madigan and Dr. Brendan Shanahan specialize in nervous system-focused chiropractic care for all ages. By gently assessing and adjusting the spine, particularly in the upper neck and pelvis, we help support proper communication between the brain and body. This can enhance a child’s ability to move freely and develop foundational patterns like crawling with greater ease.
Our Rochester Hills chiropractic team often works with growing families to ensure little ones are meeting milestones and moving through each phase with confidence.
Build a Strong Foundation with Vitality Precision Chiropractic Schedule a visit with Dr. Thomas Madigan and Dr. Brendan Shanahan at Vitality Precision Chiropractic today. Let’s work together to support your child’s journey to healthy growth and development, one milestone at a time.