On April 18th, the Little officially became a crawling baby. For weeks, he had been working through his own careful little system: stretch, push up, rock back and forth, and then collapse with a look of total determination. Then, almost overnight, everything clicked. He spotted the dog, decided the dog was worth chasing, and suddenly our once-stationary baby was on the move.
I did not do a huge amount of tummy time with him because, honestly, he hated it. Every attempt seemed to end in frustration, dramatic protests, and a very clear message that he had no interest in lying on his belly just because a parenting book said it was a good idea. I also did not panic when he was not crawling at nine and a half months. Every baby develops at a different pace, and he seemed perfectly content observing the world from one place. Besides, every time my mama friends talked about their mobile babies, they got that wide-eyed look of fear that said life had changed forever. So I enjoyed my sweet, peaceful, stationary baby while I still had him.
Then everything changed. Now he is crawling from room to room, pulling himself up on anything sturdy enough to hold him, and exploring every corner of the house with impressive speed. Our beautiful 60-year-old oak floors were one of the reasons we fell in love with this home, but they are not exactly soft or forgiving. Hardwood floors and a newly crawling baby are a nerve-racking combination. It is incredible how many little tumbles, bumps, and wobbles an infant body can handle while learning to crawl, stand, balance, and eventually walk.
I used to think the story of the boy in the bubble was only about health issues. Now I wonder if part of it was simply that his parents could not handle watching all those little mishaps that come with balance and movement. Watching your baby learn to crawl and pull up is exciting, but it can also make your heart stop ten times a day. One minute he is squealing with joy, and the next his arm gives out and his face meets the floor. Then he cries, I cry, and we both need a minute to recover.
Of course, we did not just sit around and watch him tumble without trying to make the house safer. I bought a nice thick carpet pad to place under our living room rug, hoping it would create a softer landing zone for our busy little explorer. I also got him the Joovy Room2, which, by the way, is fantastic. It is a large playpen with plenty of space for play, and I added extra padding underneath the fitted mattress sheet to make it even more comfortable.
Naturally, he prefers anything except the carefully padded areas I created for him. Instead of staying in the soft play space, he loves slamming his wooden toys on the hardwood floors, following me around the house, and squealing with happiness as if he has discovered the secret to life. He is curious, determined, and completely unaware of how many hazards exist at baby level. That is the joy and terror of having a crawling baby: the whole house suddenly looks different.
Now I notice sharp corners, low shelves, cords, cabinet doors, and every tiny object that somehow appears on the floor no matter how often I clean. Baby proofing has moved from a vague item on my to-do list to an urgent household project. I know this crawling stage will turn into cruising, and cruising will quickly turn into walking. Once that happens, the falls will probably look even more dramatic, even if they are just part of learning.
I have even thought about buying him an infant bike helmet. I know he may need one later when Mr. Bejelly and I go mountain biking this summer, but right now it feels like it might be useful just for everyday life on these oak floors. I am mostly kidding, but only mostly. There is nothing quite like watching your baby face-plant for the third time in one morning to make protective gear seem reasonable.
I found these sites helpful for tips on dealing with an accident-prone toddler and understanding when a bump or fall is something to watch more closely:
Falls, Rolls and Bumps
When to worry when your child hits his head
Now we are moving fully into childproofing mode because I know my crawling baby will soon become a walking one. The baby gates, outlet covers, cabinet locks, and furniture checks are all becoming part of our new normal. It is a little overwhelming, but it is also amazing to watch him grow more independent every day.
For you mamas out there, what did you do when your baby started crawling, pulling up, and exploring the house?