Crawling is more than just a cute milestone—it’s a major piece of your baby’s developmental puzzle. When a baby crawls on all fours (hands and knees), they’re doing way more than getting from point A to point B. They’re building the muscle strength, coordination, and brain connections that set the stage for success in school, on the playground, and in everyday life.

All babies should naturally crawl on all fours. If they’re not, there’s an underlying reason—and it deserves attention. Babies don’t skip or alter crawling patterns just for fun. They’re compensating for something, whether it’s weakness, tightness, asymmetry, or discomfort. And when we overlook these signs, we miss a critical window to build the foundation they need for future milestones.

Maybe your baby scoots around on their bottom, army crawls across the floor, or uses one leg more than the other. These atypical crawling patterns might look harmless—or even adorable—but they often signal something deeper: a missed opportunity for essential development.

Let’s break down what these crawling variations really mean—and why helping your baby get to hands-and-knees crawling now can make a big difference later on.

Atypical Crawling Patterns to Watch For

🪖 Army Crawling

Your baby’s belly stays in contact with the floor, and they pull themselves forward using mostly their arms.
What it means: They likely don’t yet have the strength in their arms, shoulders, core, and hips to lift themselves onto all fours. Without this foundational strength, they may also struggle later with fine motor skills like writing, cutting, and even swinging from monkey bars. These babies also miss out on important weight-bearing through the arms, which is essential for hand development and postural control.

🍑 Butt Scooting

Your baby moves in a seated position, using their legs and arms to propel themselves.
What it means: This often comes from body tightness that limits rotation—sometimes due to issues like oral ties, reflux, or torticollis. These babies may be stuck in a seated position and avoid being on their tummy, where strength and mobility really develop. Without rotating through the trunk and crossing midline, they miss crucial opportunities for brain and body coordination.

🦵 Hitched Crawling

Your baby crawls with some asymmetry, with one leg hiked up doing most of the work.
What it means: This uneven pattern usually points to tightness on one side of the body leading to decreased ability to use that side and strength and mobility imbalances. It also means baby isn’t using both sides of the body equally, limiting their ability to build a foundation for bilateral coordination—using both sides of the body together to open water bottles, climb a ladder, button a shirt, or even write across a page.

🪱 Inchworm Crawling

Baby uses both arms and legs together in unison, instead of alternating sides.
What it means: This pattern lacks reciprocal movement—an important skill that wires the brain for left-right coordination, essential for activities like reading, walking, and eventually riding a bike. These babies are also missing out on dynamic movement patterns that develop timing, rhythm, and balance.

〰️ Other Unique Crawling Styles

From scooting in a side-sit to only moving backward or even trying to “crawl” with their head, we’ve truly seen it all.
What it means: These creative workarounds are often signs your baby is avoiding movement they find too hard or uncomfortable—something that’s worth exploring. These babies may be developing compensation habits that limit full-body integration and proper movement patterns for future motor skills.

Why Crawling on All Fours Is So Important

When your baby crawls on hands and knees, they’re not just moving—they’re building a whole-body foundation for future learning and movement.

• 💪 Full-body strength (arms, shoulders, core, hips)
• 🤲 Bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together)
• 🔄 Crossing midline (reaching across the body, a key brain-building move)
• 👀 Visual tracking (important for reading later on)
• 🖐️ Sensory input (especially through the hands and knees)
• 🪑 Postural control (needed for sitting at a desk or table)
• ✏️ Fine motor development (laying the groundwork for pencil grasp, cutting, and more)

If your baby is skipping these benefits because of an atypical crawl, it’s not too late to help—but it’s important to address it now, not later. Waiting may result in weaker foundations for school tasks, lower endurance, and difficulty with attention, balance, and handwriting.

What You Can Do

If your baby isn’t crawling on all fours, don’t panic—but don’t wait, either. Atypical crawling is often a clue that your baby needs a little extra support to strengthen their body, improve mobility, and build a solid developmental foundation.

You don’t have to guess what’s going on. Inside The Tot Spot membership, we help you uncover why your baby is moving the way they are—and give you expert strategies to help them reach milestones the right way. No long waits, no expensive evaluations, just guidance that makes sense.

👉 Join The Tot Spot today and get expert support you can trust.