The Pillow Mountain — Getting Ready to Crawl

For babies around 8 months old · Gross Motor Skills · Crawling Prep · Core Strength

Why this week matters

Around 8 months, many babies are on the edge of one of the biggest adventures of the first year: crawling. Some are rocking on hands and knees, some are scooting backwards (yes, backwards first is completely normal!), and some are still perfecting their pivot on the tummy. Whatever stage your baby is in, crawling is worth encouraging — it builds cross-body coordination, where the left arm and right leg learn to move together, and strengthens the shoulders, core, and hands. These are foundations your baby will use for years, from climbing stairs to sitting steadily at a desk.

This week's activity: The pillow mountain course

You'll need: Two or three firm pillows or folded blankets, a bedsheet to cover them, one or two of baby's favourite toys, and a clear patch of floor.

Build a low "mountain" on the floor: one pillow flat, one folded blanket on top, all covered snugly with a bedsheet so nothing slips.
Place your baby on their tummy on one side of the mountain, and their favourite toy just out of reach on the other side.
Get down on the floor at their level and cheer them on: "Come on! Come and get it!" Your face is often better motivation than any toy.
Let them work at it — reaching, pushing up, wriggling over the bump. If they get stuck, place a hand behind their feet so they have something to push against, instead of lifting them over.
When they conquer the mountain, celebrate loudly, then move the toy and do it again — one or two more rounds is plenty.

Make it your own: If your baby is already rocking on hands and knees, roll a thin blanket and tuck it under their chest to help them practise the position with straight arms. If they can crawl a little, let them chase a slow-rolling ball across the floor instead of climbing.

What your baby is learning

Cross-body coordination — moving opposite arms and legs together connects the two sides of the brain and body, a skill that supports many later milestones.
Core and shoulder strength — pushing up and over an obstacle builds the muscles needed for crawling, climbing, and pulling up to stand.
Motor planning — figuring out how to get the body over a bump is real problem-solving: look, plan, try, adjust.
Persistence and confidence — reaching that toy after honest effort teaches your baby that they can do hard things.

Make it easier with Kizoplay

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Good to know

Always do this activity on the floor, never on a bed, and stay within arm's reach the whole time. Keep the mountain low — one or two pillows high is enough — and stop when baby shows tiredness or frustration. Most importantly, every baby develops at their own pace: some crawl at 7 months, some at 11, and a few skip straight to cruising. Backward scooting, army crawling, and bottom-shuffling are all healthy steps on the way. Enjoy the journey — it goes fast once they get moving!

This is Week 33 of the Kizoplay 52-Week Play Series — one simple, science-backed activity for every week of your baby's first year. Explore all our Montessori play kits at kizoplay.com.