Infant Cognition and Crawling at Home

The design of your home can impact your baby's health, wellness, and development. The spaces where babies and young children grow up play a crucial role in their cognitive growth. A fascinating study by Jewoon Choi and colleagues in Japan titled, "Different Flooring Surfaces Affect Infants' Crawling Performance" published in Applied Ergonomics (2022) sheds light on how home design features influence early development. Here we explore this important connection and offer 10 tips to create a home that supports your child's early development.

The Importance of Crawling

Parents often celebrate their baby's first crawl as it marks a major milestone in mobility and exploration. Crawling transforms the infant's world in a variety of ways. As highlighted by Joseph Campos in "Travel Broadens the Mind" (2010), “The onset of locomotion heralds one of the major life transitions in early development and involves a pervasive set of changes in perception, spatial cognition, and social and emotional development.” Jana Iverson outlines the importance of motor development and language in a research paper, "Developing Language in a Developing Body: The Relationship Between Motor Development and Language Development" published in the Journal of Child Langauge (2010). Iverson describes motor development as an “organizer for communicative and language development.” Now you might be wondering what motor development has to do with your home-design choices and how this may impact cognitive development.

The type of flooring in your home can affect how well your baby crawls. Choi and colleagues examined how different types of flooring affect infants' crawling motion patterns and performance, highlighting the link between home design and development.

Infants aged 8.7 to 12.4 months were encouraged to crawl on various surfaces, including tatami mats (a straw mat tradition in Japanese floor covering), hardwood, carpet, and joint mats. Infants' crawling patterns were measured using 3D motion capture systems. When infants crawled on hardwood floors, they had a significantly lower crawling rate and longer duration of hand-floor contact. The authors suggest that floor types need to be carefully considered. The next time you purchase a new home or decide to re-design your home, there are important reasons to consider the flooring choices. Given the links between motor development and cognitive development, it may be worth thinking about the best ways to cover hardwood floors to facilitate early motor development.

10 Tips to Design a Baby-Friendly Home

1. Choose soft flooring: Opt for carpets, rugs, or mats in areas where your baby will crawl. These may provide better grip and comfort, aiding in effective crawling. Remember these can be placed over your beautiful hardwood floors.
2. Create safe exploration zones: Designate specific areas in your home for safe exploration. Consider using baby gates to block off hazardous zones and ensure the exploration areas are free from sharp objects and choking hazards.
3. Incorporate variety: Include different textures and surfaces in your home. Tatami mats, for example, offer a unique feel that can stimulate your baby’s sensory development.
4. Ensure cleanliness: Keep floors clean and free of debris. Babies often explore with their hands and mouths, so maintaining hygiene is crucial.
5. Use nonslip mats: Place non-slip mats under rugs and play areas to prevent them from moving. This ensures your baby has a stable surface to crawl on.
6. Encourage movement: Provide plenty of space for your baby to move around. Avoid cluttering the floor with too many toys or furniture.
7. Stimulate with colors and patterns: Decorate the play area with colorful and patterned rugs or mats that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Visual stimulation can aid cognitive development. Yes, these choices can be in shades of beige or neutrals that fit your home decor.
8. Ensure proper lighting: Make sure the crawling area is well-lit. Good lighting helps babies (and adults) see their surroundings clearly, making exploration safer and more enjoyable.
9. Provide safe furniture: Use furniture with rounded edges and secure heavy items to the wall to prevent tipping. This reduces the risk of injury as your baby explores.
10. Engage with your baby: Spend time on the floor with your baby, encouraging crawling and exploration. You can do this by placing toys out of reach. Your interaction supports their social and cognitive development.

The design of your home can play a significant role in your baby's early development. By making thoughtful choices about real estate, flooring, safety, and stimulation, you can create an environment that supports your child's growth and well-being. Remember, each step you take in designing a baby-friendly home is a step toward helping your baby thrive. Happy crawling.