Your baby changes and grows so much in this first year. Track your baby’s development month by month, encourage your baby’s learning with our suggested activities . Find practical information on health and safety. We can help you with tips on crying, sleeping or even what to look for when choosing a baby sitter. Have questions about basic care? We have the answers !
Activities for gross motor development
Here are some tips to encourage gross motor development in your baby:
Tip: An easy way to encourage gross motor development is to carry your baby in a sling. Research shows that in cultures where babies are routinely carried around in a sling while the mother works, the babies show advances in gross motor development in comparison to babies routinely kept in cribs and seats. The increased exposure to motion while in an upright position stimulates healthy development.
By Anne Oxenreider
- When you sense that the time is right, give him a little time lying on his stomach on top of a blanket. ‘Tummy time’ will allow him to strengthen the large muscles. Be sure to observe him the entire time and give him a break at the earliest signs of discomfort.
- In addition to brief periods of tummy time, think about holding your baby in different positions. Most likely, you’ll find a preferred position for soothing your baby but also find time when your baby is alert to lay him across your lap with his tummy down or his head propped on your shoulder. For an extra twist, lay him parallel on your thighs when you are seated and slowly lift and lower your heels. Help him learn to feel pleasure and comfort in a variety of positions in order to build muscle strength and coordination.
- Rattles that attach to your baby’s wrists or ankles also encourage movement.
- For crawling babies you can make a homemade indoor obstacle course. Try using big empty cardboard boxes for tunnels, bringing the plastic play gym inside, use cushions, tape bubble wrap to the floor... the possibilities are endless - use your imagination (and your common sense - stay with your baby at all times). Your baby will enjoy crawling in and out, up and around. This is a great activity for when you have been stuck inside due to snow or rain.
- When your baby starts cruising (taking steps while holding on to the sofa or coffee table), create a "cruising" course. Make a circle of furniture (think sofa, coffee table, chairs, for your baby to hold on to). Make sure to cover any sharp corners of the furniture.
Tip: An easy way to encourage gross motor development is to carry your baby in a sling. Research shows that in cultures where babies are routinely carried around in a sling while the mother works, the babies show advances in gross motor development in comparison to babies routinely kept in cribs and seats. The increased exposure to motion while in an upright position stimulates healthy development.
By Anne Oxenreider
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