Some scoot, some slide, some shuffle from here to there. How does your baby crawl?

Your baby has been learning to crawl since the minute she was born. All previous milestones—head lifts, push ups, rolling and sitting—were all part of the basic training for the physical adventure of crawling.

Crawling is a child’s first attempt at mobility—and getting there is more complicated than putting one hand and knee in front of the other.

Creative methods of crawling are more common than most parents think they are. Babies will try a variety of styles before they find their favorite way of getting from A to B in a jiffy. And though her style may surprise (even worry) you, trust that there is method in madness. For your baby, it matters not how she crawls—only that she moves forward.

Karen Adolph, PhD, associate professor of psychology at New York University, observed 25 unique combinations of body parts used to propel a baby forward. The 7 most common crawls are:

The Commando Crawl – Also known as the belly crawl. These babies pull themselves forward on their arms and slither on their tummies, because they haven’t developed their lower body muscles yet.

The Bottom Shuffle or the Bum Scoot– These babies either shuffle around on the posterior using a hand behind and a foot in front to propel themselves or use a bouncing motion to move forward (thank heavens for padded diapers!).

The Crab Crawl – It’s two scoots forward, one scoot back for this crawler. Crab crawlers scuttle around on one knee while sticking out the opposite leg like an oar. Sometimes, they push off on their arms, which frustratingly sends them backwards.

The Bear Crawl – The knees never touch the ground for this crawler, who gets around by walking on all fours.

The Leapfrog Crawl – These babies get on all fours then thrust forward by pushing off the soles of their feet.

The Roll – Some babies roll as efficiently as a barrel that they don’t bother to find other ways of getting around.

The Cross Crawl – These babies take the classic approach to crawling: When one hand moves forward, so does the opposite leg.

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