logo
BabySparks
logo
  • What is BabySparks?
  • The Science
  • Online Classes
  • Learning Center
  • My BabySparks
  • Join Us
  • en
    • es
  • JM
    • JM
      Joel Mena username@gmail.com

    • Contact Us

    • Logout
  • My Profile
    • Contact Us
    • Logout
  • Prev
    0
    Why Barefoot is Best for Baby
    07 August 2017
    Next
    0
    Pragmatic Language – How Your Child Learns to Relate to Others
    21 August 2017
    Fine Motor
    Cruising: Preparing Baby for First Independent Steps
    10 August, 2017 by BabySparks in Fine Motor

    Pulling up to stand was exciting for your little one. Suddenly he could see his surroundings like never before. To explore in this new, upright position, he starts shuffling his feet side-to-side while holding on to furniture or other large, fixed “support” objects. This is cruising, and it prepares him to move in an upright position for the rest of his life.

    Highlights:

    • Shortly after babies learn to pull themselves up to stand, they start cruising! 
    • Cruising begins with small side-to-side steps while holding onto a fixed object for support. As they feel more balanced on their feet, they slowly take wider steps, rely less on support, and rotate their trunk to turn and look around. 
    • Cruising develops the hip abductors and strengthens leg muscles necessary for gross motor movements, and prepares their feet for fine motor movements. 
    • It also promotes motor planning as they learn to safely navigate their environment.
    • Parents can encourage this by setting up safe spaces for cruising, place favorite toys in areas to entice movement, and keep babies feet bare for more sensory input. 

    When Do Babies Cruise?

    Babies generally start cruising within weeks of learning to pull to stand, usually between 10-12 months.

    How Does Cruising Evolve?

    Cruising starts with tentative side-to-side steps. As your baby gets used to bearing weight on his feet, he will gradually rely less and less on his hands for support. Eventually he’ll cruise with confidence, taking wider steps and using his hands only to steady himself. When he’s comfortable, he’ll experiment with holding on with one hand, switching to the other hand, rotating his trunk to turn and look around, and even letting go for a split second to cruise from one support object to another.

    Cruising and Gross Motor Development

    Cruising is prime time for your baby’s hips. The act of stepping side-to-side develops his hip abductors—the muscles on the outside of the hips that allow one leg to remain stable while the other swings through space. Strong hip abductors are crucial for walking, so cruising is an important prerequisite.

    Cruising also strengthens his leg muscles and core, which gives him the power and postural stability required to move while holding himself upright.

    Cruising and Fine Motor Development

    Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Andrea Hayward, PT, DPT explains that just as crawling helps develop the hands for hand-related fine motor skills, cruising does the same for the feet. As your baby cruises he shifts his weight from one part of his foot to another, shaping and preparing his feet for the fine-motor movements involved in future milestones like walking, running, jumping, and climbing.

    Cruising and Motor Planning

    Cruising promotes motor planning, which allows us to safely and efficiently navigate our environment. Being able to do things like turn corners while walking through a building, swerve while driving to avoid a pothole, or maneuver a cart through a crowded supermarket are a result of motor planning. Hayward explains that cruising supports this because your baby must figure out how to turn the corner when he reaches the edge of the coffee table, for example, or get around a toy on the floor.

    How to Encourage Cruising

    • Set up a safe environment for cruising. Hayward says that babies are more likely to practice cruising when they feel safe, so be sure yours has plenty of stable support objects, like furniture, or sturdy play tables or toy kitchens. You can also put bumpers on table corners and other hard edges to ensure that his inevitable tumbles are as padded as possible.
    • Entice him! Place his favorite toys on different support objects to encourage him to cruise to get them. Place play tables, toy kitchens and the like close enough to other support objects that he can cruise from one to the other. You are one of his favorite toys, so sit on the opposite end of the couch and encourage him to cruise to you!
    • Keep his feet bare. Wearing shoes can both restrict the precise foot movements that happen during cruising, as well as dull the rich sensory information your baby receives through his feet. Being barefoot as much as possible is important throughout your baby’s development.

    Above all, set your baby free to cruise as much as possible! As with every stage of his development, cruising is a difficult new skill that takes a lot of practice to master. The better he masters cruising, the more prepared he’ll be for the next stage: Walking!

    0 Comments
    • cruising
    • milestones
    • walking
    • gross motor
    3 Like!
    Share
    BabySparks

    Recent comments

      Tags

      baby child cognitive feeding fine motor gross motor health language language skills milestones parenting sensory social-emotional speech toddler
      ABOUT US
      THE TEAM
      CHILDCARE PROVIDERS
      TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY
      support@babysparks.com
      Copyright © 2021 BabySparks LLC. All rights reserved
      logo
      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 2 of 2
      ACTIVITY PACKAGE:
      (All Prices in USD)

      Form of Payment

      Monthly: $1.25 per month/per child
      Annually: $12.00 per year/per child (20% discount)

      Form of Payment

      Monthly: $2.25 per month/per child
      Annually: $21.50 per year/per child (20% discount)

      Form of Payment

      Monthly: $5.00 per month/per child
      Annually: $45.00 per year/per child (25% discount)

      Number of children:

      x per child

      Total Amount

      SELECT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
      * Required field
      Buy now BS

      BabySparks Premium Gives You…

      Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

      An expert-created program to support the development of children under your care

      Tools to increase family engagement, invite each family to use the program at home

      Ability to track each child's progress in real-time (and share it with his/her family)

      Add unlimited children, caregivers and locations to your account

      Manage and track progress across your organization through our desktop dashboard

      Cancel your subscription at any time

      By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
      X
      EDIT YOUR ACCOUNT
      Your account
      Change your password
      X
      EDIT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
      Update payment method
      * Required field
      Buy now BS
      By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
      X
      UPDATE YOUR PACKAGE
      Your Activity Package
      (All Prices in USD)

      1 Month

      $ 3 99

      per month

      1 Year

      $ 23 99

      per year

      Update your package at any time
      (All Prices in USD)
      Pay as you go

      1 Month

      $ 3 99

      per month

      50% Discount

      1 Year

      $ 23 99

      per year

      60% Discount

      Lifetime

      $ 39 99

      one time

      How does it work?

      You can change your activity package at any time.

      The change will take place at the end of your current subscription period.

      You will only be charged the new rate once the change takes place.

      Cancel Activity Package
      X
      LOGIN BABYSPARKS

      Forgot your password?

      X
      PASSWORD RESET
      X
      RESET PASSWORD
      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 1 of 2
      Create Your Account

      Already Have an Account? Login

      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 1 of 2
      Create Your Account

      Already Have an Account? Login

      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 2 of 2
      Logged in as: (Not me)
      Select Your Activity Package
      (All Prices in USD)
      Pay as you go

      1 Month

      $ 3 99

      per month

      YOUR OFFER

      $ 2 99

      50% Discount

      1 Year

      $ 1 99

      per month

      Paid Annually: $23.99
      YOUR OFFER

      $ 2 99

      60% Discount

      Lifetime

      $ 39 99

      one time

      YOUR OFFER

      $ 2 99

      BabySparks Premium Gives You…

      Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

      An expert-created program to support your child’s development

      Weekly development reports summarize progress

      Browse activities for any situation

      Expert-written articles about development

      Sync up to 5 devices (add family and caregivers)

      Add up to 5 babies to your account

      Cancel your susbcription at any time

      * Required field
      Buy now BS
      By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.