The motor milestones that occur during your baby's first year may
seem unrelated to one another, but in fact they happen in sequence.
Development usually progresses from head to foot, with skills
involving the head and arms developing before those that involve
the legs and feet. Motor control also progresses from the center of
the body outward, which means that your baby will be able to
control her torso before she can manipulate her fingers and
toes.
The following are some of the most important milestones from head
to toe, and suggestions for enhancing your baby's
development.
Head Control
One of the first things new parents are taught is to support the
baby's head because baby can't do it himself until about 3 months
of age.
Once his neck muscles strengthen, he'll be able to do "mini
push-ups," raising both head and chest off the floor.
By about 7 months of age, your baby will attain full control of
his head and will be able to hold it steady for a long time while
sitting on your lap or being held upright. To help baby develop
head control:
- Place your baby stomach-down on the floor. Do this several
times a day to let him practice.
- Entice your baby to lift his head. Put an unbreakable mirror or
large picture in front of him, or get down on the floor
face-to-face with him.
Reaching and Grasping
Most infants start waving or batting at objects by 3 months of age,
an impulse that quickly becomes more refined.
By 5 or 6 months, your child should master visually directed
reaching, which means she's able to see an object and reach for and
grasp it with her hand.
By 8 or 9 months, as your baby learns to grasp with her thumb and
forefinger, she can pick up surprisingly small objects -- crumbs of
food, for example, and, unfortunately, bits of dust and dirt from
the floor. You'll have to keep a watchful eye on baby, because
she'll be tempted to taste whatever she picks up.
Try these four suggestions to encourage development of baby's
hand-eye coordination:
- Install a crib gym. This allows him to bat at the objects
overhead. (To be safe, remove it from the crib as soon as he can
sit up.)
- While your baby lies on his back on the floor, dangle
eye-catching objects above him. Shake them three to eight inches
above his head, giving him the opportunity to swipe at them.
- To help your 4-month-old baby practice grasping objects, hand
her rattles or other safe items to hold. Things that make noise
when she shakes them, or have a nice texture to gum on, may
encourage her to keep her grip.
- Place several toys within reach. Let her grasp for things as
she lies on her stomach on the floor.
Rolling Over
While gaining control of their unwieldy head is a gradual process,
turning over is one milestone that seems to appear out of the blue
in babies -- a milestone that parents anxiously await.
At 4 or 5 months, your baby will be able to roll over in one
direction only (either back-to-stomach or stomach-to-back). She
probably won't be able to flip herself in the opposite direction
until 6 or 7 months.
You can encourage rolling by:
- Providing baby with plenty of space and opportunity to
practice. The floor is always great for this.
- Praise baby. Talk to her and encourage her as she practices
rolling.
- Hold an object of interest, such as a rattle or a baby mirror,
next to her. This can catch her attention and entice her to turn
her body to see it.
Sitting Up
Once a baby can roll over, sitting up isn't far behind. Babies have
a whole new view of the world when they learn to sit up. So it's as
exciting for them as it is for their parents!
By about 4 months of age, your baby can sit when propped up.
By 6 months your baby may have some success sitting in a high
chair, and sometime before 1 year of age, she'll perfect the art of
sitting unaided.
To help baby practice sitting skills:
- Place him in your lap, facing outward, while you sit
cross-legged on the floor. Your stomach and legs will provide the
necessary support for his back.
- Prop baby on a standard pillow or a U-shaped pillow. Let him
experience the sensation of sitting with your supervision.
Crawling and Walking
Between 8 and 13 months, your child will achieve some form of
locomotion. Parents often view crawling and walking as the greatest
physical milestones for their babies. While it's very exciting, you
should remember that each child develops uniquely and at his own
pace. If you have concerns about your baby's development about
locomotion, discuss it with his pediatrician. But most babies will
follow a recognizable pattern of learning locomotion:
- First he'll likely get himself up on his hands and knees.
- Next he'll rock back and forth in an effort to move
forward.
- He'll develop different ways of getting around, such as
rocking, swiveling, rolling, and squirming on his tummy.
After about a month of this, you'll see him begin to progress
toward a true crawl.
Many babies learn to crawl backward first, but it's not long
before they learn to crawl in the right direction.
Not all babies crawl in the same fashion. In fact, some don't
crawl at all and instead insist on walking with an adult holding
their hands. Others bounce on their bottom, scoot along on their
stomach, or do a "bear walk," crawling with arms and legs extended.
No matter which style of motion your baby chooses, this stage
brings her unprecedented freedom and opportunity to explore.
Try encouraging your baby to learn locomotion skills with these
simple games:
- Play crawling "tag." This can be great fun for babies who are
learning to locomote. Crawl after your baby, saying, "I'm gonna get
you!" Then crawl away, encouraging her to follow. Try hiding behind
a piece of furniture and letting her "find" you.
- Create an obstacle course. Fill the room with things your baby
can practice crawling over, under, or around.
Safety Tips
Now that your baby is moving around, it's essential that you
provide him with safe places to play. Thoroughly babyproof your
house and yard; this means protecting your baby from potential
danger as well as safeguarding your valuables.
Your baby will begin climbing up stairs and furniture during this
period as well. Unfortunately, most babies learn to climb up steps
long before they're able to descend. You can try to teach your
young one how to crawl down safely (feet first, on her tummy), but
she'll still require supervision. Place a gate at the top of
staircases, and another on the third or fourth step from the bottom
(so your child can safely practice climbing on the bottom few
steps). If the slats or spindles on a stair rail or landing are
more than three inches apart, install Plexiglas or safety mesh so
that baby won't fall through them.
One of the greatest joys a parent experiences is watching the
wonder, frustration, and joy as their child moves through the
various stages of development. Each stage is unique and wonderful.
Enjoy and treasure these moments of discovery with baby!