Mother crocodiles help their young by breaking away the hard cap of soil over the nest, and digging down to the eggs. They sometimes break the eggs gently in their mouths, to free the babies, which are only about 8 in (20 cm) long. When the family is complete, the mother either leads them down to the water, or carries them - carefully! - in her mouth. For the first months of their life, she protects them by driving away enemies, such as storks or other crocodiles.