"Crawling Time" - Infant Pelvic Development and the Pitfalls of "Standing Too Soon"

Introduction

Recent housing conditions are also affecting infant development. Rooms are packed with furniture, and there are things to grab onto everywhere. Furthermore, out of a desire to let them play safely within sight, parents often create environments that make it "easy to stand" by surrounding them with playpens or sofas.

However, is this really a natural progression for a baby's body?

They repeatedly pull themselves up to stand before their pelvis is fully stabilized. While adults around them may rejoice that their "growth is fast," this is also an act that forces the stress of standing onto a body that is not yet prepared to "resist gravity."

Originally, babies should slowly develop their core and acquire coordination between the pelvis and shoulder girdle through crawling. By thoroughly going through this stage, they can transition to walking and then running without strain.

However, in modern times, the impatience to "get them standing early, get them walking early" takes precedence, and the number of babies who stand up while their pelvis is still underdeveloped is increasing. This leads to later postural collapse, distorted walking patterns, and imbalances in muscle tension.

Chapter 1 | Why Crawling is Important

Infant development proceeds in stages according to the laws of nature. Among these, "crawling" (on all fours) is the most important stage for fostering the coordination between the pelvis and shoulder girdle.

Rolling over from lying on their back, and lifting their head by pushing up with their hands from a prone position. This series of movements is a process where the baby feels gravity and learns to control their own body. And the time spent "crawling," moving hands and feet alternately to move forward, is the foundation for cultivating proper pelvic mobility and stability.

However, the "crawling period" for modern babies is becoming shorter.
There are various reasons for this, but the following factors are particularly influential.

• The floor area of the house is small, making it impossible to move long distances by crawling

• Surrounded by playpens or cushions, limiting the space

• Prioritizing standing to prevent falling out of safety concerns

• Growth speeds like "walking at X months!" are celebrated on social media, etc.

These environmental changes are robbing babies of their time for a "dialogue with gravity."

■ Benefits of crawling for physical development

Crawling has the following important roles:

• Coordinated movement of the pelvis and shoulder girdle
  ⇒ By moving the upper and lower limbs alternately, the baby acquires the pelvic rotation and stability necessary for walking

• Acquisition of core stability and mobility
  ⇒ The strength to twist, stretch, and support the torso is naturally cultivated

• Recognition of the midline (center line)
  ⇒ By moving the hands and feet in a cross-pattern, the sense of the left-right axis and center of gravity movement develops

• Integration of vision and vestibular sensation
  ⇒ By lifting the head and looking forward, balance and eye movement are trained simultaneously

• Development of fingers and hands
  ⇒ The movements of placing hands down, supporting, and pushing against the floor foster finger function and wrist flexibility

Chapter 2 | The Risks of "Pulling to Stand" Too Early for the Body

Many parents are happy to see their baby stand up, thinking, "My child is developing quickly!" However, that "standing up" often occurs before the pelvis, ankle joints, and spine are ready.

Originally, a baby's development follows this sequence:

1. Flailing arms and legs while on the back (reflexive movement)

2. Rolling over and lying on the stomach (axial rotation)

3. Lifting the head (extension of the cervical spine to the back)

4. Playing with gravity through crawling (coordination of the trunk and limbs)

5. Sitting and kneeling (stabilization of the pelvis)

6. Finally standing up (supporting body weight with the lower body)

This sequence has meaning and a role for everything.

However, if pulling to stand begins first, the following problems may arise:

■ Receiving body weight while the pelvis is unstable

If weight begins to be placed on the feet before pelvic rotation and stability are developed through crawling...

• Pelvic tilting becomes more likely to occur

• The range of motion of the sacroiliac joint may become fixed in an unnatural state

• The lumbar spine may arch too much, inducing future hunchback or swayback

■ Dysfunction of the feet and toes

Standing up puts weight on the soles of the feet, but

• The arch of the foot collapses without being fully formed

• Fewer opportunities to use toes, preventing the development of gripping strength

• Leads to future flat feet and underdeveloped toes

■ Insufficient development of fingers and shoulders

By standing and walking early, the "time spent using hands" during crawling is drastically reduced,

• Finger sensation and dexterity do not develop

• The shoulder girdle remains unstable

• Manifests as difficulty in movement and maintaining posture

■ Incomplete spinal curvature (physiological curvature)

Movement during the crawling phase develops the natural curves of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. If a child stands before these curves are complete,

• stress tends to concentrate on only a few vertebrae

• The trunk's springiness does not develop, leading to a rigid posture

• Difficulty in maintaining posture, which also affects concentration and learning

In other words, "standing" does not equal "evolution."
What is important is how much crawling was done in the preceding stages.

Chapter 3 | "Environmental Design" to Support Crawling

──Ideas for small homes

"My house is small, so my baby can't crawl freely."
In Japan, this may be a common concern.

With modern housing conditions, limited floor space and excessive furniture often limit the space where a baby can move freely. However, by changing your perspective just a little, it is entirely possible to create an environment that encourages crawling.

Below, we introduce "crawling support ideas" that are easy to incorporate into your actual living space.

■ Temporarily rearrange furniture

• Move furniture against the walls to clear space in the center
  → Create a "crawling time zone" for at least a few hours a day

• Increase the time spent outside of the playpen
  → Expand their range of movement by choosing not to "enclose" them

■ Enrich the floor experience

• Combine various materials, not just mats and futons
  → Increase stimulation to the soles of the feet and hands using flooring, fabric, straw mats, towels, etc.

• Create small slopes and steps
  → Build "mini mountains" with cushions or floor pillows to develop a sense of depth, not just flat surfaces

■ Prepare "invitations" that make them want to crawl

• Place favorite toys a little distance away
  → The key is an arrangement that triggers the desire to move

• Parents can lie on the floor to become a "tunnel" or a "climbable mountain"
  → Playing with the human body is the most enjoyable teaching material

■ Reconsider socks and rompers

• Ensure they can use their hands and feet properly while barefoot
  → Socks and thick clothing can cause slipping and hinder crawling

• Choose clothing that does not restrict the range of motion of the hip joints
  → Clothing that allows for full-body movement sparks the desire to exercise

■ Focus on "now" rather than comparisons

• Don't be swayed by comparisons like "they walked at X months"
  → Value the sequence and content of growth more than the speed

• Don't rush; cherish the time spent watching over them
  → Babies grow supported by the parent's "ability to wait"

Even in a small room,"get down on the floor with your baby and enjoy playing together".
With this one mindset, the quality of crawling will improve significantly.

Chapter 4 | Why do children who "crawl thoroughly" thrive?

"Children who crawled a lot have better athletic ability." You may have heard this before. This is not just a superstition, but a truth based on the "sequence of neurological development" related to how the body is used.

a truth based on the "sequence of neurological development" related to how the body is used.

Children who have experienced plenty of crawling will acquire the foundation for all movements, such as walking, running, jumping, and balancing, "naturally and without strain."

So, why is the experience of crawling so important?

■ Brain and body are linked through "cross-lateral movement"

Crawling is based on "cross-lateral movement," where the right hand and left leg, and the left hand and right leg, move alternately. This movement stimulates the corpus callosum, which connects the left and right sides of the brain, and promotes the following types of development:

• Eye movement and spatial awareness

• Trunk rotation and sense of balance

• Emotional stability and improved concentration

As a result, children who crawled extensively tend to exhibit characteristics such as "having a good sense of balance, being less likely to fall," and "maintaining good posture."

■ The coordination between the shoulder girdle and pelvis is the foundation of "running power"

When crawling, the shoulder blades and pelvis rotate alternately to move forward. This movement is the prototype of "walking and running," the same as when adults jog or sprint.

• Natural arm swinging due to improved shoulder girdle mobility

• Increased stride length due to maintained pelvic range of motion

• Ability to perform "movements with an axis" through hand-foot coordination

In this way, it manifests as differences in athletic ability in the future, such as "being fast at running" or "being good at vaulting boxes and backward rolls."

■ The surprising relationship between posture maintenance and learning ability

The trunk stability fostered by crawling leads not only to the "power to maintain posture" but also to the following cognitive abilities.

• Ability to maintain posture for a long time = sustained concentration

• Ability to sit at a desk = foundation for learning is set

• Stable gaze = easier eye movements necessary for reading and calculation

In other words, children who have experienced crawling thoroughly are more likely to be stable not only in movement but also in learning and emotions.

■ Because there is a "foundation," they can grow freely

Growth is not something to be rushed, but something to support.

Children who spend plenty of time in the crawling stage will stand, walk, and run on their own. Their movements are supple, effortless, and free.

What is important is following the sequence and knowing the value of waiting.
Rather than making them stand, build a "body that wants to stand naturally."
That may be the true form of parenting that nurtures a baby's "roots."

Chapter 5 | For Children Who Didn't Crawl Much

── "Readjustment" You Can Do Now

Some children did not crawl much as babies, or moved by shuffling. As they grow, these children may show the following characteristics.

■ Common Trends

• Cannot sit still in a chair and posture easily collapses

• Movements are awkward, and they struggle with skipping or hopping on one foot

• Clumsy with their hands, poor handwriting, or unable to use chopsticks well

• Weak soles of the feet, prone to falling, or uneven wear on shoe soles

• Cannot maintain concentration and appear restless

While these may seem unrelated at first glance, they can appear as a result of a lack of the "senses that should be nurtured through crawling".

■ 3 Measures You Can Take Now

① Incorporate "crawling and bear walking" into daily life

Even if they are older, crawling play serves as re-education.

• Have a "crawling race" with your child

• Crawl under or over obstacles using a bear walk

• Incorporate play that involves climbing stairs or slopes on all fours

It is particularly effective for regaining coordination between the shoulder blades and pelvis, as well as core stability.

② Make "play that nurtures the soles and toes of the feet" a habit

Review a lifestyle that relies too much on shoes, and awakening the sensors in the soles of the feet is important.

• Walking barefoot on grass, gravel, or soil

• "Towel gathering" by scrunching a towel with your toes

• Games like toe rock-paper-scissors or rolling a ball with the soles of your feet

Input from the soles of the feet also leads to pelvic stability, core activation, and autonomic nervous system regulation.

3. Incorporate "cross-lateral movement" into play

The "cross-lateral movement" developed through crawling strengthens the connection between the left and right sides of the brain (corpus callosum).

• Practicing skipping or hopscotch (single-leg jumping)

• Exercises involving cross-lateral movement like radio calisthenics

• Cross-crawls (alternately touching the left knee with the right hand, etc.)

These movements help rebuild balance, rhythm, and concentration.

■ The key is to "incorporate it naturally as play"

Children dislike being corrected. Telling them to "walk properly" or "keep your posture straight" rarely leads to improvement. But,

• playing tag while crawling together

• parents also going barefoot and playing toe rock-paper-scissors

• enjoying obstacle courses or imitating animals

By slipping these elements into such "fun times," the reintegration of the body is entirely possible.

■ In conclusion

Even if they didn't crawl much, it is not "too late." The important thing is to determine what is missing for their current body and
regain those sensations through play.

There is no "do-over" for growth, but "re-stacking" can be started at any time. While playing together as parent and child, let's reclaim the crawling time that was skipped, with smiles on our faces.

Information on the Noto Reconstruction Support Charity T-shirt

On New Year's Day 2024, my wife's hometown, Noto, was shaken by a major earthquake.
A year and a half has passed since then.
While media coverage has decreased, reconstruction is not progressing as hoped.
To ensure this is not treated as "something that is already over," we created charity T-shirts.
These are small prayers from two brands: Growith, which I operate, and ima, which my wife launched.

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