Why Is My Baby Doing The Downward Dog Position?!

"My baby is already walking but will stop and put their hands and head on the floor and stare between their legs, like in a downward dog position. Is this normal?!"

Answer: It is!! Some cultures say that this means they are looking for a sibling, haha! But from a developmental standpoint, it's absolutely normal!

Oftentimes, we may see this when a baby is working on crawling & is integrating reflexes in preparation for that. Once they are standing, it may be seen again as they're figuring out how to transition into standing from the floor without hand support! THEN, once they're walking, it is often something they begin to do again.

To be honest, I haven't heard of a definitive developmental reason why they do, but I honestly just think they're often being silly & playing around/exploring their bodies.

The change in head position also provides a TON of vestibular & sensory feedback, and I truly think as long as they are hitting milestones & enjoying themselves, it would not be a concern and is absolutely normal! Hope that helps!

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For developmental questions, tips and guidance related to milestones about tummy time, rolling & sitting, crawling and walking, check out KC’s developmental Masterclasses linked here.

KC is a pediatric doctor of physical therapy, wife and mom of two (soon to be three)! She has spent her career working with children and young adults of all ability levels, and currently specializes in birth to three years.