Chapter 4 – Motor Progress

At birth, the baby lacks motor coordination, with the exception of the innate reflexes already mentioned, and does not have the muscular strength needed to support the weight of his head, which must be carefully supported when held. For this reason, sudden shaking movements should be avoided, as without the ability to control his neck, they could affect his head and potentially cause serious damage to the brain and retina.

It takes a few weeks before the baby can hold up his head for a few seconds when held in someone’s arms, or lift it when placed on his tummy (prone position). Over the weeks and months, his nervous system gradually matures, his muscles strengthen, and he becomes able to assume different positions and perform increasingly intentional movements. These new achievements influence how he relates to the surrounding world.

Around 3 months, lying in the crib, stroller or baby bouncer, he curiously observes his surroundings, the mobile or toy arch, and waves his arms in an attempt to touch them. Even if he doesn’t succeed yet, his efforts stimulate intellectual development and motor coordination. When he eventually manages to touch them and they move and produce sounds, the baby’s brain begins creating the necessary connections to build a sequence that will later guide the future movements of his arms.

By around 4 months, he can lift his head and turn it when he hears voices or sounds, or to follow his mother’s movements in the room.

By around 6 months he is able to keep his back and torso more upright and thus begins to sit up, first with support, then independently. From this position, he can see more objects and new spaces, as well as follow the movements of his caregivers — all diverse stimuli that spark curiosity and foster growth. From this point on, driven by the desire to explore, the baby begins to rehearse his first steps: rolling, crawling, scooting on his bottom, and creeping.

Each child finds his own way of beginning to move through space, experimenting with different ways and styles at his own pace. These milestones often appear suddenly and are welcomed with wonder and joy by parents. However, not all children reach the same milestones at the same time. The pace of progress varies greatly depending on each child’s inclination to explore, the surrounding environment, movement opportunities, and the encouragement he receives from caregivers.

The WHO (14) has published a chart with six key motor development milestones, each with a broad time window during which most children typically acquire that skill. The six stages are:

1. Sitting without support;
2. Crawling;
3. Standing with support;
4. Walking with support;
5. Standing without support;
6. Walking independently.

The timeframes for reaching these milestones span several months and often overlap. The key takeaway is that there’s no specific age by which a child must learn to sit or walk unaided, nor is there a rigid order in which these skills must be acquired: some children stand without ever crawling.

Therefore, there’s no reason to worry if one child cannot yet stand while a peer of the same age already can. In any case, the pediatrician will monitor the child during checkups to determine whether any anomalies are present.

What parents can do to encourage their child’s progress is to offer opportunities for free movement from the very first weeks of life (15): when awake — and always under adult supervision — they should, for example, help the child strengthen neck and arm muscles by placing him on his tummy on a bed or a soft mat on the floor. They should also prepare a safe area in the home so he is free to crawl, using colorful and noisy objects to attract his attention and encourage movement, and provide safe supports he can grab onto in his first attempts to stand up.

Fine motor development progresses alongside other milestones: at 3 months a baby can grasp an object if placed in his hand and promptly bring it to his mouth to explore its shape and texture — though he’ll soon drop it once he moves his arms.

Between 4 and 6 months, he develops the ability to hold the object firmly and shake it to make noise. Between 8 and 10 months he learns to hold and control smaller items, like tiny cups or spoons. His first attempts to feed himself with a spoon are often clumsy, but they’re essential exercises for learning the correct movement. Between 12 and 18 months, he learns to hold a crayon and make more or less intentional scribbles on a piece of paper (16).