My Baby Is Not Crawling at 10 Months: A Paediatric Physiotherapy Case Study
Quick answer: Most babies crawl between seven and ten months, and some never crawl and still walk on time. What matters more than crawling is whether a baby can move between positions: lying to sitting, sitting to hands and knees, and up to standing. In this case a 10-month-old who was stuck in sitting learned to crawl, pull to stand and cruise within four months of home physiotherapy.
This case study is based on a real baby seen by a physiotherapist in our team. The location and other identifying details have been changed or removed to protect the family's privacy.
The concern: sitting well, but stuck
A GP and the baby's parent asked us to see a 10-month-old who was not crawling. The baby had rolled at around four to five months and sat independently by six and a half months. Since then, little had changed. Placed in sitting, the baby stayed there. They could not get into or out of sitting, rarely rolled, and had never liked tummy time. They loved standing while held.
The parent's questions were direct. Are the arms weak? Is something wrong? Is my baby in pain?
What the physiotherapist found at the home visit
Sitting: steady, using both hands equally and passing toys between them.
On the tummy: good head control and propping on the arms, with small pivots to reach toys, but the tummy stayed on the floor.
Hands and knees: could hold the position briefly when placed there.
Standing: took weight evenly through flat feet while holding on.
Joints and muscle tone: full, comfortable movement and nothing to suggest a neurological or orthopaedic cause.
Tolerance: the baby cried quickly whenever a position was changed or made harder.
The physiotherapist's impression was that there was no physical impairment. The likely contributors were limited tummy time earlier on, reduced trunk strength, and a baby who protested loudly at anything new, which made it hard for adults to keep going.
There was also a timing point. The baby had not started bottom shuffling. Once babies find an efficient way to move in sitting, they have less reason to learn crawling.
The physiotherapy approach
The session was as much for the adults as for the baby.
Reassurance about pain. The positions were safe and the crying was frustration. This was the hardest part for the parent, who found the distress upsetting to watch.
Transitions first: moving from the floor into sitting and back, over each side.
Hands-and-knees play: short holds, rocking, and kneeling at a low block.
Side sitting as the halfway point between sitting and crawling.
Settling strategies: songs, pauses and cuddles between attempts, then trying again.
Parents and grandparents all learned the same handling so practice happened every day.
Progress at 14 months
Four months later the baby could:
crawl on hands and knees, including up stairs
move from sitting to hands and knees independently
pull to stand through half kneeling
cruise along furniture and step across small gaps
walk with a push walker with an adult close by
squat down a little way to pick up toys.
The baby never became a bottom shuffler. A mild preference for leading with one side remained, with nothing concerning on examination, and it is being monitored. The next goals are standing alone and first steps.
What parents can learn from this case
Not crawling is common. Being unable to change position is the more useful sign to act on.
Crying during practice usually means effort. A physiotherapist can show you what is safe.
Getting every carer to practise the same way speeds things up.
Earlier is easier, before a baby settles on another way of getting around.
When to seek an assessment
Book an assessment if your baby is not sitting by nine months, cannot get in or out of sitting by ten to eleven months, uses one side of the body much more than the other, feels very stiff or very floppy, or has lost a skill they used to have.
Can the NDIS help?
A baby who is only late to crawl will not usually need the NDIS. If delays are wider or last longer, children younger than 6 can get help through the NDIS early childhood approach without a diagnosis, starting with an early childhood partner. See our NDIS physiotherapy page. Families can also book with us privately without a referral.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for a 10-month-old not to crawl?
Yes, it can be. Many babies crawl later, and some skip crawling. Check whether your baby can move between lying, sitting and standing with help.
Do babies who skip crawling have problems later?
Most do not. Crawling builds shoulder and trunk strength, so physiotherapists encourage it, but skipping it does not by itself cause later problems.
Why does my baby cry during tummy time and exercises?
Usually because the position is hard work or unfamiliar. Short, frequent practice with comfort in between builds tolerance.
How long does physio take to help a baby crawl?
It varies. In this case the baby was crawling and pulling to stand within four months of regular home practice.
Home-visit baby physiotherapy on the Lower North Shore
Sydney Child Physio is a mobile paediatric physiotherapy service. We see babies at home in Lane Cove, Chatswood, Artarmon and across the North Shore and Ryde. Call 0491 042 992 or contact us.
Related reading
Why does my baby hate tummy time?