My First Hands-and-Knees Crawl
Support your baby’s chest and belly with a folded bath towel while they press through their hands and knees. Gradually reduce the support as they move toward a favorite toy.
- 9 months
- Quick prep
- At home
- About 5 minutes
Developmental benefits
- Movement：Gentle support under the chest and belly helps your baby find where to press through the hands and knees and practice coordinating the limbs for crawling.
- Cognitive：Moving toward a toy while the amount of support changes gives your baby experience adjusting their effort and continuing toward a goal.
Preparation
What You’ll Need
- 1
A bath towel
- 2
a favorite toy
Step 1
Feel the Hands-and-Knees Position
Fold a bath towel lengthwise and pass it beneath your baby’s chest and belly. Lift gently so the belly clears the floor while the hands and knees remain down. Place a favorite toy ahead as a reason to move forward.
What to notice
- Looks toward and reaches for the toy ahead
Initiative and Curiosity - Presses up through the upper body while the towel is positioned beneath them
Gross Motor
Tips
- If forward movement is still new, begin with belly crawling before using this activity to explore hands-and-knees support.
- Do not move your baby immediately after lifting. Wait for a hand press, knee tuck, or forward effort, then follow their rhythm.
Step 2
Let Your Baby Do More
As your baby moves toward the toy, travel forward with the towel. Notice how much weight they support. When their arms and knees press more firmly, lighten your lift so more of the effort returns to them.
What to notice
- Changes how they press and attempts to move forward
Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning) - Finds a way to move closer to the toy
Reasoning and Problem-Solving
Tips
- Use the towel to support weight, not to pull your baby forward.
- If your baby stops pressing and rests fully in the towel, pause. Continue when they make another effort to move.
Step 3
Gradually Release the Support
When your baby reaches the toy, name what their effort achieved. Repeat the route, reducing towel support over several successful turns. When they can hold their body more independently, remove the towel and invite a hands-and-knees crawl toward the toy.
What to notice
- Crawls toward the toy on hands and knees Gross Motor
- Continues crawling to reach the toy Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning)
Tips
- The towel does not need to disappear in one turn. Reduce help gradually across several attempts.
- After your baby reaches the toy, give specific encouragement so the effort and result are connected.
Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026