Will babies who don't crawl have sensory integration dysfunction?

Babies who do not crawl may generally experience sensory integration dysfunction.

Crawling is usually beneficial for a baby's physical development, as it involves neural control that helps coordinate muscle tone development and promotes muscular growth. During crawling, repeated adjustments of the limbs enhance limb coordination and also support brain development. If a baby does not crawl adequately during the sensitive crawling period, the whole-body muscles may not receive sufficient exercise, and leg strength may be insufficient to support the body. This may also affect perception, sensation, and sensory integration, leading to sensory integration dysfunction—such as inattention, poor balance, hyperactivity, frequent falls, habitual eye deviation when looking at objects, poor language expression, and lack of confidence. When such issues occur, regular enhanced physical training can usually help improve these conditions, especially if other abnormalities are present.

When babies are crawling, parents are advised to use toys or other objects appropriately to guide and stimulate their interest, which helps promote physical development.