As a pediatric physical therapist, I have the experience to know the importance of a baby moving through the stage of crawling (or creeping as we like to call it) on all-fours (or quadruped).
The jury is out on this milestone, with studies showing that kids can skip this stage and turn out fine. Fine, I say! Not every kid who skips crawling on all-fours, or every kid who toe-walks, will develop problems later. But almost every kid with dyslexia, with an attention deficit disorder, or with autism, did skip crawling and/or was a toe-walker. Remember that there is a wide range of learning disabilities and of autism, and even "normal" kids may have a touch of a problem. But those with obvious problems missed out on something important. Or is it because of their problems, that they skipped this stage? Either way, we should encourage the crawling experience!
It's been difficult to find an appropriate article, but check out "Crawling and Creeping..."
This is a big deal for pediatric occupational therapists, because they end up treating the kids with learning disabilities and autism.
Crawling on all-fours is an extension of Tummy Time. It further strengthens head and trunk control against gravity (for controlled strength and endurance in sitting, standing, and walking). Weight-bearing through the upper extremities (arms!) improves shoulder girdle strength and control which is essential for fine motor control and visual motor control (eye-hand coordination). Weight-bearing through the arms and legs promotes bone growth and joint development. Weight-bearing on the hands elongates the fingers and stabilizes the wrist, and weight-shifting across the hands leads to dissociation (parts of the body able to function separate from the rest of the body) within the hand and separation of the thumb for finer motor control. Weight-bearing on the hands also normalizes sensory integration (processing and response to sensory input) and provides proprioception (unconscious body awareness). Proprioception is also calming and organizing for the brain. The all-fours position helps to integrate or inhibit the last of the infantile reflexes. It also expands the rib cage for improved respiratory control, leading to speech and language and eating skills!
The position of the head in all-fours stimulates the vestibular system for improved balance and awareness of body in space, and activates the brainstem for self-regulation (you may see greater emotional responses at this time).
The crawling on all-fours movement promotes dissociation within the trunk and lateralization for bilateral integration (awareness and coordination between the two sides of the body) needed for eye tracking left to right, crossing midline (eyes and hands), and hand dominance, which are all skills necessary for reading and writing. Transitioning to and from sit (through rotation) leads to improved grading (controlled movement with controlled speed) and along with bilateral coordination leads to a sense of rhythm, space, and timing. As the baby crawls towards objects and absorbs time and distance, they develop binocular vision and depth perception. Repetition of movement stimulates and organizes the brain for cognitive processes such as comprehension, memory, and concentration/attention.
Crawling on all-fours also develops self-identity and independence, and through exploration of her environment, the baby is learning, learning, learning!
I may have simplified things a bit. Perhaps there are other ways that babies can develop all these "building blocks." But it seems so much simpler to give babies the experience of crawling on all-fours to better prepare them for continued "normal" development.
There are even adult fitness programs that are incorporating crawling, not only for strength and mobility, but to "improve the ability to think, focus, and reason!"
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