Infant Crawling practice

• Somewhere safe for baby movement (I like using textured blankets like pictured below)
• Baby's favorite items 
• A musical book

Just like with tummy time, crawling takes practice. To promote crawling, scooting, and movement skills, I like to use items your baby already loves. I placed Layla on the blanket (the tabs are awesome because she loves trying to grab and eat them). I propped a musical book, penguin rattler, and few teething toys she really enjoys. I started by placing them just out of her reach.  

I like to use the book as incentive, not only because it promotes early reading, but because it's colorful and she loves the noise. I pressed one of the songs and it makes her laugh. She scooted toward the book and I let her get it and play with it for a minute. Then I take it and move it further away. I continue on with this as she moves all around the room. 

If your baby isn't moving yet, no worries. Place it an inch or two away, just enough so that your baby will reach for it. This hand-eye coordination move is super helpful. Plus it helps your baby persist until they get their desired outcome, which in this case is the musical book! Keep at it as long as your baby will let you!

1. Promotes persistence when learning
2. Gross motor skills
3. Cause and effect (if I move my leg, my body goes forward)
4. Hand- eye coordination
5. Problem-solving skills