Encouraging Your Baby’s Movement: Rolling, Reaching, and Sitting
At this stage, your baby is learning essential skills like rolling over, reaching for objects, and sitting up. You can support your baby’s development by providing a safe environment for practice and offering a variety of interesting objects to explore.
How Is My Baby Moving?
Rolling:
By now, your baby can likely hold their head up and push onto their elbows and forearms while lying on their stomach. They may begin to lift their head and chest higher by straightening their arms, using the chest and back muscles. You might also notice your baby moving their legs and rocking while on their stomach, which helps prepare them for rolling over and eventually crawling.
During this time, many babies learn to roll over in both directions (from tummy to back and back to tummy). Since rolling can happen unexpectedly, it’s important never to leave your baby unattended, even if they haven’t rolled over before.
Sitting:
With increased neck and trunk strength, babies start to sit with support, often leaning forward with their arms outstretched for balance. Over time, your baby will gain the strength and confidence to sit without support, but they may still need assistance getting into a seated position.
Practicing Standing:
Your baby’s legs are getting stronger, and they may learn to support their weight when held in a standing position. While you shouldn’t force a baby to stand before they’re ready, most babies this age enjoy standing (and even bouncing) with support.
Reaching and Grabbing:
As your baby gains more control over their hands, they’ll start reaching for and grabbing objects they want. They are learning to pass items from one hand to the other and to pick up objects by raking them with their fingers into their grasp. Offer toys with different sounds and textures to encourage this exploration. However, be cautious with small objects, as babies will often put things in their mouths, which can pose a choking hazard.
How Can I Encourage My Baby?
- Create a Safe Play Area: Set up a designated space where your baby’s favorite toys are within easy reach. Continue providing supervised tummy time, encouraging your baby to lift their head and chest off the floor. Use sounds or a rattle to catch their attention and motivate them to lift up and reach forward.
- Practice Sitting: Help your baby practice sitting by supporting them with your hands or a pillow behind their back. In this position, your baby’s hands are free to reach for and explore toys.
- Help with Standing: From a sitting position, gently help your baby pull up to a standing position. Let them bounce a few times while standing before lowering them back down. These activities strengthen the muscles needed for future milestones.
These activities—tummy time, sitting, and standing—provide your baby with the opportunity to exercise their muscles and build the skills necessary for reaching their next developmental milestones.
When Should I Call the Doctor?
Child development typically follows a pattern, with early skills serving as the foundation for later abilities. However, the timeline for developing these skills can vary widely among babies.
It’s important to consult your doctor if your baby isn’t meeting the following milestones:
- By 4 months:
- Unable to hold a toy placed in their hands.
- Cannot keep their head steady while being held.
- Does not lift their head and push up onto elbows/forearms during tummy time.
- By 6 months:
- Has not rolled from tummy to back.
- Does not lean on their hands when sitting.
- Does not reach for objects.
While missing individual milestones doesn’t always indicate a problem, it’s important to talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your baby’s development.