A guide to Tummy Time, Sitting, Crawling and Walking
Welcoming a new baby is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences for parents. From the moment your baby arrives, they begin a journey of rapid growth and development. As a pediatric physical therapist and newborn photographer, I have spent years helping parents understand how simple activities can support a baby’s motor skills in a fun, engaging way with activities that promote infant development.
This guide will walk you through essential milestones, from lifting their head in tummy time to sitting, crawling, and eventually taking those first steps. By incorporating these infant development activities into daily routines, you can help your baby gain the strength, coordination, and confidence they need to thrive.
1. Tummy Time activity: Building Infant Strength from Day One
Tummy time is one of the infant development activities crucial to their progress. It helps prevent flat head syndrome and strengthens the muscles needed for future motor skills like sitting and crawling, and begins on day one of life.
How to Make Tummy Time Enjoyable; best tummy time tips for new parents:
Start with short sessions (a few minutes at a time) and gradually increase as your baby gets stronger.
Place a soft blanket or tummy time mat on the floor and get down to your baby’s level. Helping your baby will be most successful when you place your baby on an angle, lifting their head above their hips like placing on them on your chest while reclining. This is a great way to bond with baby.Use a mirror, colorful and light up toys, or high-contrast black-and-white images to encourage your baby to lift their head.
Signs of Progress in your baby’s development:
By one month, your baby may start turning their head side to side.
By two to three months, they should be able to lift their head 90 degrees.
By four months, they will likely push up on their forearms and have much more endurance for tummy time
2. Sitting Up: Developing Core Strength & Balance for baby’s development
Once your baby has good head control, they will start working on sitting up. This usually begins with supported sitting around four to five months and progresses to independent sitting by six to seven months.
How to Encourage Sitting; Baby Development Activity ideas:
Provide plenty of floor time instead of propping baby up in seats or swings.
Use a Boppy pillow or rolled-up towel around their hips to give gentle support.
Sit behind them and let them use your hands for balance as they strengthen their core muscles.
Place engaging toys slightly out of reach to encourage them to reach and shift weight.
Place a bench, box or low step stool in front of baby for chest support while they reach and swipe for toys
Signs of Progress in your baby’s development:
By five months, babies can sit with support.
By six to seven months, they will begin sitting independently for short periods.
By eight months, many babies can transition in and out of sitting on their own.
3. Crawling: The Foundation for Coordination & Strength
Crawling is a significant milestone that enhances coordination, arm and leg strength, and even brain development. Babies usually start crawling on their hands and knees between six to ten months. This is a quick overview about crawling, but look for a future post “More Than Movement: How Crawling Shapes Your Baby’s Body and Brain”
How to Encourage Crawling: A key skill in baby’s development
Allow lots of tummy time and floor play to strengthen arms and legs.
Place favorite toys just out of reach to motivate movement.
Use a tunnel or couch cushions to create a fun crawling course.
Get on the floor with your baby, and help them hold hands and knees position
Help your baby advance their arm and opposite leg, in an alternating pattern
Signs of Progress in your baby’s development:
By six to seven months, babies may begin scooting or doing an “army crawl.”
By eight to nine months, they often move into hands-and-knees crawling.
Some babies may skip crawling and move straight to pulling up, but crawling offers many benefits so it’s best not to skip it!
arm, leg and core strength
balancing in hands and knees
coordinating arms and legs to move forward
Vision skills and much more!
4. Walking: Those first steps in baby’s development
Helping your baby transition from crawling to walking is an exciting stage. Most babies take their first steps between 9 and 15 months.
How to Encourage Walking: an Infant Development Activity checklist
Offer sturdy furniture for pulling up and cruising.
Let your baby walk barefoot whenever possible to strengthen foot muscles and improve balance.
Hold their hands for support but gradually reduce assistance.
Use push toys or walkers that allow natural movement (avoid ones that suspend babies)
Encourage baby to walk between 2 adults- gradually moving further apart
Signs of Progress in your baby’s development: The biggest gross motor development skill in the first year
By nine to ten months, babies may pull up to stand and cruise along furniture.
By 11 to 12 months, many babies take independent steps.
By 15 months, most toddlers are confidently walking.
Final Thoughts
Supporting your baby’s development doesn’t require fancy toys or structured exercises—just daily opportunities for movement and exploration. From tummy time to walking, each milestone is a building block that sets the stage for lifelong coordination and strength.
Would you like more tips on baby development? Follow me for expert advice on infant development, newborn and family photography, and fun ways to keep your little one moving! Be sure to check out future posts- “Preventing Flat Head Syndrome“ and “Crawling- Why it is so important”
