Not long after birth the reality sets in—at some point this baby is going to move around on their own – Baby’s First Steps – and get into all kinds of mischief. When will they roll over? Sit up? Those first scoots that become a crawl?
With these tips, you can help your little one get on the move.
| Get Rolling | Sitting to Crawling | Crawling to Walking | |
| What they may be doing… | Around 3 months, when baby starts to lift their head, arms and legs, as if they’re flying, they’re strengthening those muscles that will help them roll over. They may roll on their side while lying in their bassinet or on the floor. When they starts doing mini-pushups with their hands lifting their shoulders during “tummy time,” they’re getting even closer. First, they’ll flip from front to back, but they’ll need more strength to get back on their tummy. | Sometime around 6 months your baby is going to startle you by sitting up on their own. Don’t resist the urge to help them get into position for scooting or crawling—the fun is just beginning! Baby may sit in some odd positions as they learns balance, and just when you see them try to go up on all fours, they may go rolling toward a favorite toy or book. They probably won’t actually realize that those hands and knees can work together till around 10 months. | As they gains strength watch baby begin to pull themselves to standing alongside the couch or a small table. Once they’re steady they may begin to “cruise,” holding on but with no fear of falling typically, to get where they want to go. These are the first steps toward walking. They may cruise for some time before they ever tries independent steps. |
| How you can help them… | Give them lots of tummy time and hold toys just above eye level and in a way that makes their try to lift their head and shoulders off of the floor. Show them how to swim their arms and kick their legs, which will seem like a funny game but will be strengthening the muscles they need to get moving. | If baby has siblings, there’s nothing more fun than having a crawling party around them; they’ll love it! Put toys and desired objects just out of their reach and watch them use their own gyrations to move their body toward them. Place them in crawling position when possible but leave it up to them to figure it out. Don’t be surprised if they pull their body with their hands and even drags their legs in a combat crawl! | Steady baby as they start cruising, hold them by their trunk or upper arms so that they can focus on balance as they tries their first steps. Don’t be surprised even if those first steps come right around their first birthday, many babies don’t walk until around 18 months. |
| Watch out for… | Baby still needs to spend all of their sleeping time on their back until they’re easily turning themselves from back to tummy, and then returning to their back again, which is usually around age 6 months. Once they’ve mastered that, they can pick their own sleep positions. | Baby’s exploration. Whether they rolls or scoots, they now has a 6-12 inch worldview from the floor and it’s time that everything within sight is safe for them. | Objects that can trip baby, like rug edges or toys on the floor. Keep a clear path and encourage barefoot walking for a sure grip. |
We have a range of articles for your Baby’s Milestones:
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