Parenting: Babies

Super Scooters
Scooting's Role in Infant Development By Jacqueline Bodnar

Crawling is to a baby as swimming is to a tadpole: true or false? It's probably been a while since the last time you had to answer such a question (especially if you haven't been enrolled in an academic institution recently), but go ahead and test your "parenting intuition" – see what your instincts tell you.

Did you answer true? There's surprising news if you did. Despite popular belief, crawling isn't a universal behavior in babies. Research has shown, in fact, that many babies skip crawling altogether in favor of scooting – and with little or no developmental consequences.

According to the National Science Foundation, babies develop based upon the opportunities they're given. Some cultures, such as those in the United States for example, encourage babies to spend a lot of time on their stomachs. Other cultures, such as those in Papua New Guinea, avoid placing their babies on their stomachs due to environmental concerns. The result? Despite the difference in cultural practices, babies in both cultures achieve the same result (i.e. walking) because they encourage muscular development and bodily movement.

"Scooting may be defined differently by some," says Dr. J. Mark Beard, assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Washington. "Generally, it is an infant using either their hands or feet to push themselves along the ground or other surface without standing erect."

Scooting is simply a method that a baby can use as one of many locomotion techniques to facilitate both muscular development and bodily movement. It often resembles pushing – babies use their arms as a method to force themselves (or scoot) along the floor on their backsides. The tendency to scoot instead of crawl is not necessarily a problem. The most important thing as that the infant become mobile.

"These are normal developmental stages that infants go through," Dr. Beard says. "They may not have the ability to stand yet, but want to go somewhere. Some kids go from scooting to crawling to standing and then walking."

Scooting can generally be seen from 6 to 12 months of age. During this stage, babies normally start creeping, crawling or scooting across the floor. The important element for parents to monitor, regardless of the movement type, is equal use of the limbs. For example, if a baby routinely scoots across the floor backward but never forward, a parent would have little to worry about because the key developmental factor involved (i.e. muscular development through movement) is being facilitated.

If, on the other hand, a baby routinely scoots across the floor using only his right arm to push, then a parent might show concern and contact a medical expert. Parents should consider seeing a doctor if the child does not creep, crawl or scoot by somewhere between 7 to 10 months or if he doesn't use both sides of the body.

Scooting allows a baby to develop independence – she can go after a toy, track down a parent or sibling or chase after a family pet. Along with the increased mobility, however, comes an increase in demands on a parent. Experts recommend that one of the first things a parent should do during this stage of development is to introduce the concept of discipline. How does a parent introduce discipline to a child that is in the process of "developing a new perspective on the world"? Simple.

First and foremost, a parent needs to set limits on a baby's movement boundaries. While working in the kitchen, for example, a parent should clearly inform a baby when they're scooting too far out of sight. A gentle "no" while physically placing the baby back within his movement boundary is a simple way to do so. Parents should also set limits on what a baby can touch when he scoots from one spot to another. Once again, a gentle "no" can be uttered when a baby places his hands on objects that are off limits.

Safety also becomes a concern during this stage of development. What many parents don't realize is that most accidents with children take place when the parents are only six feet away from them. Oftentimes, people don't realize just how fast or how strong a child really is. This underestimation can be a recipe for danger. In childproofing it's important to cover all the basics of electrical outlets, using safety gates and locking cupboards. It's also a good idea to get down on the floor so you see things from a child's perspective. Then you may see objects that need to be removed, such as things under the couch.

A Time of Excitement
There's no doubt that scooting increases a baby's potential to get into dangerous situations, but that doesn't mean parents need to spend their waking moments in a state of anxiety. As long as a parent sets clear boundaries and takes the time to childproof a home, the worst that should happen is the occasional bump or bruise.

Parents should encourage their children during the scooting process. The more a child scoots, the faster she'll build up the muscles and reflexes necessary for walking. A small cheer, a quick pat on the back or a big smile can easily keep a baby motivated to move. It's all a matter of development – for both babies and their parents.