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About the Element

Mobility Milestones

Controlled Movements

Sometime during the third or fourth, babies movements become intentional, voluntary and controlled, as the dominance of the reflexes continues to wane. When babies want to get hold of something, they now use their acquired skills to reach it: extending the hand, striking the object, or grasping it and bringing it to the mouth...

Moving Forward

Babies can now hold their head steady independently , and they enjoy lying on their tummy for longer periods at a time - by now they can raise their head and chest while leaning on the hands.
Babies now try to roll to the side - an effective way to learn how to shift weight from side to side, which makes for excellent practice for rolling over.
Pre-crawling movements also appear now: babies move from side to side, and inch forward or backward.
Babies come up with some incredibly creative ways to be mobile: be it using the head as a pivot to move the rest of the body, or utilizing the tummy as an axis on which to turn from side to side - these are all effective training methods for moving forward.

Sitting and Spine

By the age of 6 months, 

when placed in the sitting position, babies may be able to remain seated without falling to the side. This means that the muscles and spinal column are developing and becoming stronger. However, avoid placing babies in the sitting position for too long so as not to exert excess pressure on the spinal column. It is best to allow babies to move to a sitting position on their own - they will do it once the spinal column is mature enough to bear the weight.

Related Products:  Double-Sided First Book , Gymini® ™Move & Play,  Tummy-Time Fun: Frog    

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Gross Motor Skills, 3-6m

  • 3-4 months 
    • While on his back, if pulled forward by his hands to a sitting position, he can now hold his head steady. 
    • In the prone position, he can now raise his head to a 45° angle and remain in this position for an extended time. 
    • May begin to roll over in one direction, generally from the prone position to the back. 
    • Begins to gain control over his arms, and intentionally strikes at toys placed in front of him.
     4-5 months 
    • In the prone position, now leans on his hands and raises his chest, supporting himself with his arms for an extended period of time. 
    • Can probably roll over in one direction; and may even be able to roll over in both directions.
    • While on his tummy, may occasionally raise both arms and legs in swimming-like motions. 
    5-6 months 
    • Begins to shift his weight from side to side, leaning on one hand and raising the other. 
    • Can probably roll over now in both directions. 
    • The beginning stages of crawling appear. These include rocking and pivoting, rolling, rolling over or even backward movement.
    • May sit unsupported when placed in the sitting position. 

    • While awake, lay your baby on a firm, soft surface, so lifting his head and chest is easier. 
    • Dress your baby in soft, comfortable, unrestrictive clothing so it is easier to roll over and move. 
    • Place stimulating toys in front of your baby, or to the side, to encourage him to extend his arms to reach them and move toward them.
    • Very slowly roll your baby over from his stomach to back, and vice versa, so he can feel the motions his body makes when rolling over. 
    • From the third month, place a mirror in front of your baby while he is in the prone position to encourage him to raise his head and look at his reflection.
    • From the fifth month, your baby lean on one hand while on his stomach with the other hand free. Place a toy to his side, like the “Rolly Polly” that he can play activate with one hand.
    • Even though your baby may be able to remain sitting when placed in that position, it is best not to place baby in the sitting position for too long to avoid putting excessive pressure on his spinal column. It is best to allow him to move to a sitting position on his own to ensure that his spinal column is mature enough to bear his weight.
    • Make the most out of play time by joining him on the floor and rolling along with him.
    • Be sure to caress and massage your baby often. Besides the wonderful bonding experience this provides, it fulfils your baby’s innate need for physical human contact and helps him become more familiar with his own body.

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Guidelines and tools created by child developmental experts to help you choose stimulating toys and support your baby's development