Dr. Cherilyn Davis (Motor Milestones Guide)
Dr. Cherilyn Davis walks through essential infant and toddler motor milestones—from rolling and sitting to crawling and walking—explaining how each stage builds on the last. She re...
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What are some early motor milestones?
At birth, babies lack the muscle control needed for purposeful movement. But within a few months, you'll see your little one begin to lift their head, push up on their arms, and eventually roll over. Consistent rolling tends to start around four months of age. Most babies will roll from their bellies to their backs first. Rolling back to front requires more coordination and is generally harder due to gravity. By around six months, many babies begin to sit up unassisted using their hands for balance. These early milestones are crucial for building strength and coordination in the upper body.
What should parents remember about motor development?
Remember that every child develops at their own pace. It can be hard not to compare your child to other children or even to their siblings, but do your best not to. Milestones fall in a large scale, and there's often a larger timeframe than parents realise that. Still considered normal when it comes to motor development.
When do children typically start crawling?
By the time babies reach nine months old, they're often crawling, which builds strength in the arms, legs, and core muscles. Crawling also helps develop bilateral coordination, the ability to use both sides of the body in harmony. It's important to point out that many babies skip crawling. In fact, some organisations have removed, crawling from their list of developmental milestones. So it's possible that your child moves straight to walking.