Crawling track - any ideas?

[Tombliboo]

I'm trying to think of an inexpensive way to make a crawling track for 8 month old DD, sans any kind of sawing or woodwork! Has anyone had any success?

Was thinking of maybe getting one of those cheap plastic slides, and just using the slide bit? Not very comfortable though. I think I may have a look in a plumbing store for a plastic type of half funnel, long and wide enough if they exist, that can be covered with yoga mats?

[waterdreamer]

I was thinking the same thing. I have to go to Home Depot and see if I can get the wood cut in store for me. If I can then its just a matter of a few screws and covering it. If I have to cut it myself I'm going to have to look for an alternative option. Keep us posted on what you decided to do. I still have about 2 months before I need mine, so I'd love to hear your ideas.

[Mandabplus3]

What is the recommended age to start kids on a crawling track? Just curious.

[waterdreamer]

What is the recommended age to start kids on a crawling track? Just curious.

as early as birth

[Mandabplus3]

Fair enough. I was/am a big believer in getting them going early. Too many mums use the high chair as a babysitter mine didn't have a crawling track but they were always on the floor. We didn't own a basinet or rocker so if I wanted to put them down the floor was the only option available. They crawled early (all at 6 months) and were very mobile very quickly. I think a crawling track would have sped up the first child by 6 weeks and the second by at least a month. I doubt it would have made any difference to my boy. He decided he wanted something and crawled over to get it when I didn't answer his cry. He couldn't belly shuffle to it because the ground was uneven 
I like the idea of the slide...very inventive. I am sure you could get the wood cut at the store ( we can here) and then just glue every thing else together. But the slide has a multi use! Always good with kids to get a multiuse product since they grow out of everything so fast.

[waterdreamer]

When you place then in an inclined crawling track, the movements that they naturally do on the floor are productive and gets them moving. This is super motivating for babies and makes them experiment with movement even more. In some cultures infants are placed on their mother's stomach after birth and they have natural reflexes that help them crawl up to their mothers breast. I'm actually hoping to be able to experience that this birth (as long as it is safe for me and the baby at the time.)

[khatty]

Have you considered the ASICs crawling track?  http://www.gentlerevolution.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=G&Category_Code=NYSBtrack

I used from birth until about 4-5 months with my son.  It isn't very long, so once they start crawling quickly, it isn't long enough.  Waterdreamer - I am storing it in my basement closet right now.  My sister is due in November, but it isn't being used between now and then.  Wonder what shipping between Kindersley and Winnipeg is?

[Mandabplus3]

Water dreamer, best of luck with your both experience them. I had the pleasure of experiencing that with my first daughter. She came out screaming and quite overdue. They placed her on my lower tummy while the placenta was untangled or something and she crept up to my breast and muzzled around looking for dinner. The midwife saw it and said well you best feed her she looks hungry. I was amazed, shocked and proud, but had no idea as this was my first 
It didn't happen with the next two as I gave birth in reverse positions. ( upright was by far the easiest, but not the most restful)

[Tombliboo]

That sounds amazing Mandabplus3- wish I had left my DD to crawl up me but I scooped her up into my arms as soon as she came out! But then straight onto the boob. I always relive that moment... Waterdreamer you have so much to look forward to!! I second that upright, forward and mobile is by far the easiest way to give birth. I used hypnobirthing and instinctively this was the most relaxing position. Have you thought about not cutting your baby's cord until it stops pulsating naturally? Wishing you a lovely and peaceful birth.

I've found out about this track quite late in the day so don't want to spend a fortune on it. I think I'm going to give the slide idea a go, like you say Mandab, at least I'll get some extended use out of it.

[waterdreamer]

Have you considered the ASICs crawling track?  http://www.gentlerevolution.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=G&Category_Code=NYSBtrack
I used from birth until about 4-5 months with my son.  It isn't very long, so once they start crawling quickly, it isn't long enough.  Waterdreamer - I am storing it in my basement closet right now.  My sister is due in November, but it isn't being used between now and then.  Wonder what shipping between Kindersley and Winnipeg is?

The ASIC track is a bit out of my price range, especially with shipping to Canada.
We are planning on having another little one in a few years, so I was going to have my dad price out the cost of making one. I'd love to borrow yours, but I'm worried that it would get damaged shipping back and forth.

Have you thought about not cutting your baby's cord until it stops pulsating naturally? Wishing you a lovely and peaceful birth.

Thank-you. My last birth was, well to put it nicely traumatic. So I'm really trying to educate myself and watch my weight(drinking a green smoothie right now!)
Yes this is one of the things I have in my birth plan, my massage therapist(who is also a doula) and I had been talking about this for a few months. I heard the health benefits are amazing.

Water dreamer, best of luck with your both experience them. I had the pleasure of experiencing that with my first daughter. She came out screaming and quite overdue. They placed her on my lower tummy while the placenta was untangled or something and she crept up to my breast and muzzled around looking for dinner. The midwife saw it and said well you best feed her she looks hungry. I was amazed, shocked and proud, but had no idea as this was my first 
It didn't happen with the next two as I gave birth in reverse positions. ( upright was by far the easiest, but not the most restful)

Wow what an amazing experience! I'm glad to hear it from someone who experienced it instead of just in a book.

[Wolfwind]

I'm working on ideas for an infant crawling track as well.  I used makeshifts with my first baby (a yoga mat between a wall and a heavy chest for a flat track, the yoga mat on a card table on the lovesac for an inclined track - I know that sounds horribly unsafe but I had a hand on either side of her at all times so it's not like she could hurt herself) but I'd rather have the real thing this time around.

My current plan is a nap mat.  They usually have up to an inch of foam and blankets on one side, a slick surface on the other.  I want to get a piece of plywood and cut two pieces off, then nail them on as sides.  My husband is good at woodwork, so I'm not worried about that part.  A plastic slide sounds like genius, though.  If I see one at a yard sale this summer, I'll get it.  That would be easier than the wood.  And line it (or the wooden track if that's what I do) with the nap mat upside down.  That will provide the foam padding and the slightly slick surface.  I haven't decided how to attach the mat; we'll see when I have the pieces in front of me.

I'm pretty sure I can do it for $30-$40 and a little time spent nailing parts together.  Less if I can find a plastic slide at a yard sale.  My oldest crawled much younger than any of her cousins, a week past 6 months, and I'm sure my makeshifts helped.  I think a real crawling track will be even better.

[Dr Miles R Jones]

Might I suggest we don't have to spend a lot of money.  One can use a rope strung across a space like a clothesline but lower that goes through a loop in a baby harness.  It provides support for them allowing easy crawling. You can adjust the tension on the rope to give them more, or less, physical support of their weight.  If you use a single loop in the harness they should be able to turn around and go the opposite direction.  One could find an attachment for the loop which rotates making it simpler still to turn around.   You might provide some cushions so they have a place where they can rest when they want.

This is a precursor to walking by building strength and skill at cross pattern crawling.  We balance in crawling AND walking by moving opposite arm and leg.  Notice when you walk your right foot goes forward and right arm goes back while your left arm is forward to balance the other side of the body.  Just walk around a little bit and notice how your arms and legs move in sequence.  It is simple but crucial.  Teach your child their cross pattern crawling by moving their arms and legs in the correct sequence.  It takes two people to do this, one on the left side and one on the right.

The benefit of this is that it gets them to standing and walking sooner.  Standing erect and walking are a function of the cerebral cortex.  Once the cortex is activated your child is capable of grasping the use of symbols like spoken words, written letter-sounds and number-quantities.  I have never heard of any physical harm to a child from speeding up this sequence of brain development.  It has become clear from forums like brillkids that any parent can speed up the brain development of their child if they are willing to learn and use the keys to doing so.

By the way, you can use the same rope and harness idea to help them practice walking, just raise the rope.  You should locate the loop about shoulder level for walking, lower for crawling.  For walking put a connecting cord between the rope and loop on the harness so your baby does not rub their head on the rope as they walk.  There will be plenty of other things to spend your money on.  Keep us posted on how this works if you try it.

Another note - Cortical opposition, being able to use your thumb to squeeze against your fingers, is also a function of the cerebral cortex and can be trained.  A ladder is great for this, walking by holding the rungs of the ladder arranged securely at an appropriate height above their head.  Show them how to squeeze by putting your hands over theirs and squeezing gently showing them how to grasp with fingers AND thumb.   These are the keys to activating the cortex.  Go for it!  Language is next, I am sure you talk to your child all the time.  Speak normally and simply, baby talk is okay sometimes but should be minimized.  Speak to them normally and they will speak normally.  Name things they can see.  I am going to stop now before I write a dissertation.

[PokerDad]

being able to use your thumb to squeeze against your fingers, is also a function of the cerebral cortex

I did not know this! Thank you for this bit of info. Doman talks about training the prehensile grasp, and does speak about cortex development, but for some reason, I never put two and two together!

That tether idea sounds interesting... but for some reason sounds complicated (maybe because I have a difficult time understanding where I'd connect the two ends of the suspended line); do you have any photos or video of such a contraption?

[Dr Miles R Jones]

For the rope idea you can either install sturdy hooks by drilling or use a vise attached to window or doorsill and attach the rope to that.  You will probably have to locate the stud in a wall to attach the other end.  They are usually on 18 inch centers.  I suppose you could make a couple of 2 x 4s with holes drilled at regular intervals then simply figure a way to attach them wherever you want to set up the rope run. Again, this could be done by using vises or nail a loop of cord high and low to slip the 2 x 4 into.  Outside you could actually use the clothesline pole just tie the rope to it at the appropriate levels.  It's worth a try.

[Tombliboo]

I am going to stop now before I write a dissertation.

Please keep on! An interesting idea. I will try and improvise tomorrow in our little flat. By baby harness to you mean a baby carrier/sling or a type of rein? So far this week I have been rolling up a blanket into a U shape and supporting her underside/belly to get her on her hands and knees. Not sure if this has helped or that she is just developmentally more ready but today she started the beginning of a commando type crawl! I am much more motivated now to succeed in making a crawling device of some sort now I understand how it will help my little one- thanks for your really informative post. And will definitely start work on developing that pincer grip!

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