Why Do Some Kids Move Effortlessly—While Others Struggle?

Ever feel like other moms look at you like you have two heads when you mention working on your child’s functional mobility? You’re not alone.

For some kids, movement just happens—they roll, sit, crawl, and walk without much intervention. Meanwhile, your child might need extra support, leaving you wondering: Why is this so much harder for us?

The truth is, when a child’s body is prepared, movement unfolds naturally. Proper hip mobility, for example, allows a child to move through key developmental patterns—like creeping, crawling, sitting, and smoothly transitioning between positions. The body wants to move through these stages. But when something interferes with that natural process, movement can feel stuck, disorganized, or delayed.

Why Does This Happen?

There are so many factors that can impact a child’s movement patterns, and sometimes, they start early—really early. Take this scenario:

Let’s say a baby primarily breastfeeds on the right side. This means they may be getting more visual input from the right field of vision. And as movement expert Michelle Turner says, “From vision follows movement.” If a baby isn’t looking to their left as often, they may not naturally engage that side of their body. Over time, this can lead to imbalances—tightness, asymmetry, and limited mobility.

But it goes even deeper.

When one side of a baby’s visual field is underdeveloped or underused, they may not feel motivated to look, reach, or shift weight toward that side. And when nothing is pulling their attention into that space, they’re less likely to move into it. That lack of visual motivation can disrupt the natural chain of development—especially when it comes to transitioning from sitting to crawling.

Reaching is a cross-lateral activity, meaning it encourages movement across the midline of the body—right hand reaching toward the left side and vice versa. This type of motion is crucial for developing coordinated brain-body connections. But if a child doesn’t reach (because they’re not visually drawn to do so), then cross-lateral movement patterns can be missed or delayed.

And here’s the kicker: those movements are what help open and strengthen the hips. So when the visual system isn’t pulling the body into motion, the hips don’t get the input they need, and essential transitions like sitting to crawling may not happen when or how they should.

Unlocking Movement

By gently reintroducing mobility—especially in areas like the hips—we can wake up the body’s natural ability to move. When I help open up a child’s hips, they often begin sitting, transitioning, and crawling on their own without being forced into those positions. It’s like unlocking a missing piece of the puzzle—once it’s there, everything starts falling into place.

So if your child is struggling with movement, don’t lose hope. The body wants to move—and with the right support, it absolutely can.