3-min read
2025-08-26
4-min read
Development isn’t a race. It’s a flow.
Every baby—and parent—is figuring it out at their own pace.
Instead of milestones, we encourage you to focus on this amazing moment.
Your baby’s brain makes more than one million neural connections per second in these first three years. Simple, consistent interactions with baby today can have profound, lifelong benefits.
Here’s how baby’s brain is developing this month, and how you can support their progress.
Developmental Highlight
One minute baby’s sitting and reaching for a toy. The next minute they’re crawling, unlocking the first form of independent movement!
Crawling is one of baby’s most impressive—and important—feats, because it:
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Develops the vestibular system, cognition, problem-solving skills, and coordination.
- Strengthens shoulder and thigh stability and postural control.
- Promotes bilateral coordination, as both sides of the body work together.
- Lengthens finger muscles needed for fine motor skills.
- Separates each hand into a skilled side (thumb and first two fingers) and a stabilizing side (ring finger and pinky).
With every inch they crawl, baby’s reaching a new level of independent exploration—and honing skills necessary for self-feeding, more advanced play, and eventually, walking, dressing, and writing.
If you haven’t already, get down on baby’s level and secure anything dangerous. Baby puts everything in their mouth, so clean objects and surroundings with a non-toxic, plant-based spray.
Brain-Building Activity
Floor Play
Routine: Playtime
If baby isn’t crawling on their hands and knees yet, they’re likely doing a variation, like scooting. Here’s a way to help them graduate to the next level of movement:
- Gather baby’s favorite toys and objects and place them around the room where baby can see them.
- Encourage baby to retrieve the items. Start closer and gradually encourage baby to travel farther.
- Try this game in new places—different rooms or outside—and make it more complex as baby gets better at finding their treasures.
- Make the game more advanced by adding an element of chase, trying to “catch” baby as they crawl away from you.
You’ve Got This
Baby’s on the move, and you’re on your toes! New motor skills have unleashed a craving for more independence in feeding, play, and sleep. You’ll notice baby taking action and then looking for your reaction. This act-react-act-react dance is a form of two-way bonding.
Remember that baby’s too young for any exploration to be considered misbehavior. They aren’t capable of being manipulative or intending to cause harm, but their curiosity can be inconvenient, messy, frustrating, or potentially dangerous.
Clap your hands or say a big, approving “yes!” to indicate your pride in baby’s accomplishments. With repetition, they’ll realize that the skills they’re working on are important, and you trust them to keep trying. This builds baby’s confidence.
When baby does something you want to discourage, use a quick “no” in a neutral tone and physically remove baby or the object of concern. Keep your reactions—both positive and negative—consistent to build baby’s understanding of what to expect from you and the world.
