Crawling Peekaboo
Call your baby from nearby hiding places and welcome them each time they find you. The repeated search makes crawling playful and your return predictable.
- 9 months
- No prep needed
- At home
- About 5 minutes
Developmental benefits
- Social/Emotional：Disappearing briefly, returning when your baby needs you, and greeting them warmly helps make this exploration feel secure and predictable.
- Movement：Crawling toward your voice and searching across a wider area gives your baby practice coordinating their arms and legs while moving through space.
Preparation
What You’ll Need
Step 1
Come Find Me
Sit face-to-face with your baby and call their name. When they crawl to you, greet them with a smile and a hug: “You found me!” Repeat the exchange, gradually adding a little more distance before the next call.
What to notice
- Turns or pauses after hearing you call their name
Attending and Understanding - Crawls toward you
Gross Motor
Tips
- At around nine months, many babies can use crawling to explore a larger part of their home.
- If your baby does not move toward you after hearing their name, call again and gently clap or shake a favorite toy to draw their attention.
- If your baby is unsure which way to turn, lightly touch their shoulder. Wait until they face you, then invite them to come closer.
Step 2
Here I Am!
Hide around a nearby corner and keep calling your baby’s name. If they follow your voice calmly, stay hidden a little longer. If they stop and seem worried or confused, come back into view and reassure them right away.
What to notice
- Shows happiness when you reappear after being out of sight
Relationships with Adults - Turns their head from side to side while looking for you Relationships with Adults
Tips
- Begin by hiding only part of your body so your baby can still see you. This makes the first search easier.
- Seeing you disappear and return gives your baby repeated experience that a person can still be nearby even when out of sight.
- Returning and comforting your baby when the search becomes upsetting helps the game continue to feel secure.
- Come back into view if your baby stops moving, looks worried, calls for help, or remains confused after searching.
Step 3
Search a Little Farther
Once the nearby search is familiar, hide in the next room and keep calling. Let your voice guide your baby as they crawl farther. When they find you, celebrate together.
What to notice
- Crawls into another room Gross Motor
- Moves close to you after the search Relationships with Adults
Tips
- Explore each new room together. Point out an interesting sound, patch of light, or object along the way.
- Keep giving gentle sound clues during the search so your baby knows you are close by.
- When your baby crawls in the right direction, confirm it right away: “Yes, this way!”
- If your baby stops and seems unsure, add a more specific sound clue. Tap lightly on the wall or door and say, “I’m here by the door.”
Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026