As parents, we often wonder what we can do with our babies to help them with their motor skills to reach infant milestones. Motor skills are a very important part of development. Motor skills include the ability to move and control your body. They are crucial for infants as they build strength, coordination, and are the foundation for future physical and cognitive development. In those early months of your baby’s life, you may be lucky enough to be home with them. In this article I will go over some activities, backed by my knowledge as a pediatric physical therapist, that you can do with your infant using what you already have at home.
I spent a good portion of my career as an early intervention physical therapist, going into homes to work with families. I became quite proficient in using whatever was in the home to set up purposeful play activities. Setting up purposeful play activities for infants includes activities where you are working on their motor skills. The following are three activities that can be used with infants as they grow. If you have a couch or any other surface like an ottoman or a bed you should be able to set up these activities.
Tummy time
You are your baby’s best motivator. Help them roll onto their belly on the couch. Sit in front of them, make silly faces, or sing a song. You can use your hands to help them prop on forearms and work on lifting their head and rotating side to side to see you.
Sitting
I like to work with baby by sitting over the edge of the couch. When they are at the edge of the couch their feet are not touching a surface. Therefore, your baby is less likely to push back. This will also help your baby work on their core more.
Place your hands around their hips and engage with them. Then, lean your baby side to side to work on bearing weight through their arms. See how low you can hold them. The lower you hold them the more core work they are getting.
Standing
I love to work on standing balance with a baby’s back to a surface. This allows them to achieve upright and develop good postural control. It will also help with learning to shift their weight forward. Place the baby in front of the couch with you sitting in front of them. Make sure they are as upright as possible. Additionally, see if they can maintain their balance and then reach in front and to the side for a toy. Make it a fun game!
More Infant Milestone Activities
Are you looking for more ways to set up purposeful play activities with your baby to reach important infant milestones?
With over two decades of pediatric physical therapy experience, I created an interactive guide for caregivers. It is my hope that this guide empowers families to guide their baby through crucial motor milestones. Navigating Motor Milestones in Your Infant’s First Year has over 35 age-appropriate exercises, from Visual Tracking to Walking. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions and guidance on facilitating various movements.
What sets this guide apart?
Alongside detailed written instructions, it has an interactive approach. Each exercise includes a QR code linking to instructional videos, allowing parents to visually grasp each activity’s execution. Meagan understands that every parent plays a pivotal role in their baby’s development, and she equips them with practical, hands-on strategies to incorporate into daily routines. Check it out today! This is a great addition to a baby shower gift or for a visit to any new mom.
This guide is not medical advice nor a replacement for an evaluation with a skilled health professional. This guide is meant for educational purposes only.
About The Author
Meagan O’Neill is a physical therapist who founded Ahoy Baby Physical Therapy and Wellness to serve children and their families in the North Shore, MA. Ahoy Baby offers developmental assessments for babies from birth to 6 months. Their services focus on gross and oral motor skills, head turning preference, body tension, and neurological or muscular impairments. Meagan has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Physical Therapy. She has been practicing pediatric physical therapy since 2004. Over the years Meagan has collected countless hours of continuing education in a variety of topics, such as children’s yoga and infant massage.
