In response to my post of "crawling is a necessary developmental milestone
 which allows for coordination between opposite sides of the body."

Kathy wrote:
<< This is a common belief of physical therapists (and others) in the United
 States -- but it is (merely) a cultural belief, not scientific fact.
 Children in cultures where crawling does not occur grow up just fine, with
 no coordination problems between opposite sides of the body.>>

I wonder if crawling is adaptive in some way. In other words, since babies are not carried in our culture, perhaps crawling satisfies some of the neurological/developmental needs met in arms in other cultures. I am learning to question more and more what is normal and what is adaptive or compensatory, esp as it relates to birth and breastfeeding.

Jennifer Tow,IBCLC,CT,USA

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