GTK Blog

The Importance of Crawling: How the Daytot Joey Supports Essential Development - GTK

Written by Ashleigh Haskins | Jan 7, 2025 1:43:18 AM

Crawling is such an exciting milestone in early childhood. It lays the groundwork for building strength, coordination, and motor skills that are key for walking and other complex movements. Even if a child chooses alternative ways of getting around—like bottom shuffling or rolling—crawling is still worth encouraging because it connects so many physical and neurological skills. That’s where the Daytot Joey comes in! This innovative tool helps children, especially those with developmental delays, practice crawling with confidence. Let’s explore why crawling matters so much and how the Daytot Joey can make a big difference.

There’s a lot of buzz around crawling for good reason! According to the UK Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP) and MAES Therapy, crawling brings a whole host of developmental benefits:

  • Hip Development: Crawling on hands and knees helps the hip joints develop properly while strengthening key muscles for standing and walking.
  • Shoulder Stability: Crawling builds shoulder strength and stability, which kids need for fine motor skills like writing, dressing, and playing.
  • Core Strength: Trunk control and core strength improve through crawling, supporting overall gross motor development.
  • Contralateral Coordination (left and right movement): Moving opposite arms and legs together develops coordinated movement patterns—essential for walking and running.
  • Coordination and Balance: Crawling enhances joint awareness, balance, and control, which help with jumping, skipping, and sports.

The APCP reminds us that even if kids use other methods to get around, teaching crawling can prevent future balance and coordination challenges.

 

Where the Daytot Joey comes in 

The Daytot Joey is an exciting, supportive crawling aid designed for children who need extra help with hands-and-knees movement. It’s lightweight, portable, and fully adjustable. The Joey lets kids bear weight on their hands and knees while exploring coordinated crawling patterns. Its ergonomic design provides just the right amount of support and can be tailored to each child’s needs. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to use in both clinical and home settings.

A recent study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics examined how early crawling training using a device like the Joey affects very premature infants. The research followed 44 babies starting between 37 and 40 weeks gestational age (GA), split into three groups: Joey training for 5 minutes daily, prone play on a mattress, and a no-training control.

Here’s what they found:

  • At 2 months, Joey-trained infants had better sitting endurance.
  • By 6 months, 50% of Joey-trained babies could step with light hand support.
  • At 9 months, **60%** of Joey-trained babies could crawl independently, compared to only 38% in the control and 20% in the mattress group.
  • At 12 months, 40% of Joey-trained infants were walking five independent steps, compared to just 14.3% in the control group.

Joey-trained babies also showed better head control, rolling, sitting, and standing postures. By incorporating Joey-based crawling exercises into therapy, we can help children develop the strength and coordination they need to grow into confident walkers and runners, ready to take on the world.

 

Crawling is a powerful building block for motor development, balance, and coordination. The Daytot Joey provides a research-backed, practical tool to help kids who need extra support master this important skill. By incorporating Joey-based crawling exercises into therapy, we can help children develop the strength and coordination they need to grow into confident walkers and runners, ready to take on the world.

To learn more about the Daytot Joey, visit https://gtk.com.au/product/daytot-joey/

References
View full post