Develop your baby’s motor skills

Playtime is important and should be fun!

Playtime helps your baby learn new skills and ways of moving. Follow these quick and simple tips to help your baby’s movement.

Play positions include lying your baby:

• on their back with shoulders supported forward, head in the centre and a curled lower body
• on their side with legs/hips curled up and hands together
• on their tummy (tummy time) with their elbows propped under shoulders. Start by lying your baby on your chest for short periods of play before progressing to mat flat on the floor.

Remember that your baby will tire easily, so for the first three months one minute of play at any one time is enough. After three months, you can build up to three minutes of play at a time.

Other playtime activities involve getting your baby to:

• look at different faces, still or moving toys, or people
• explore with their hands either in their mouth, playing with toys or touching your face
• listen to different sounds, including you chatting, singing or even copying your baby’s own sounds, music or nature outside.

Simple ideas to help your baby’s development

Moving your baby regularly helps develop their motor skills and prevent changes in their head shape, or ‘flat spots’. There are many ways to move your baby:

• Gently roll your baby side to side and then lifting lift your baby up using your fingers to support their head and neck.
• Include gentle side-to-side rolling into your care routine when dressing your baby or during nappy changes.
• Carry your baby
  • face-down over your forearm.
  • in a sling or carrier, which can also calm your baby – see Babywearing Australia (external site) for safety information.
  • up on your shoulder or tucked into your chest, with the crook of your arm supporting your baby’s head.

• Support your baby to experience different positions when in the bath, as the water supports their body and helps them to move freely.
• Remember to sleep your baby on its back. and follow safe sleeping advice (external site)
• If you have any concerns talk to your child health nurse or paediatric physiotherapist.