Supporting your Baby's Milestones

Watching your baby grow and learn is one of the most rewarding parts of motherhood. But milestones can also bring questions and concerns. It’s important to remember that milestones aren’t about racing to a finish line—they’re about progress, discovery, and connection.

What Are Milestones and Why Do They Matter?

Motor milestones are developmental achievements like rolling over, crawling, and walking. They serve as general guidelines to track your baby’s development, but every child is unique! Their nervous systems are developing at an exponential rate, and every movement they make provides feedback to their brain, fostering further learning and skills. Think of these small movements as the “baby steps” leading up to the big milestone markers. The goal of motor milestones is to help babies move forward, interact with the world, and develop foundational skills for future movement.

Follow Your Baby’s Lead

Babies develop best when we meet them where they are. By observing their cues and understanding how to challenge them appropriately, we can help them move forward at their own pace.

How to Support Their Exploration:

• Engage at eye level: For pre-rollers, interact with them at eye level on a changing table, on your bed, or by placing them on your chest. For older babies, get on the floor and play at their level.
• Provide varying stimuli: In the beginning, babies respond best to familiar faces and simple black-and-white, high-contrast images. As their vision develops, introduce engaging sounds, movements, textures, and colors.
• Celebrate effort over outcomes: Praise and clap for their attempts, even if they don’t quite get it yet! Encourage movement by placing toys slightly out of reach or to the side rather than directly in front of them.

Progress Over Perfection: Busting Common Myths

Myth #1: Babies should hit certain milestones at specific ages.

Truth: Developmental timelines vary widely—your baby is on their own perfect schedule. Focus on the “baby steps” leading to milestones rather than a rigid timeline.

Myth #2: Early milestones indicate future success.

Truth: Early milestones don’t determine long-term abilities. A loving, nurturing environment is far more important for development. However, some late milestones can impact coordination and learning later in life.

Myth #3: All babies will reach their milestones without help.

Truth: Some babies need extra support. For instance, while some will roll over naturally by five months to grab a toy, others may need assistance learning the small movements that lead up to rolling. The key is recognizing when and how to support them.

When to Seek Guidance

It’s natural to worry—we all want the best for our babies. Trust your instincts. If something feels off, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional support.

Key Signs to Watch For:

• Difficulty holding up their head during tummy time beyond 2-3 months.
• Flattening of the back or side of the head (brachycephaly or plagiocephaly).
• No signs of attempting to roll over by 5-6 months.
• Inability to push into their arms when on their tummy by 4 months.
• Lack of squirming, pivoting, or army crawling by 9-10 months.

Early support can make a big difference! Pediatric-focused chiropractors, osteopaths, or physiotherapists can offer guidance to help your baby move effectively and comfortably.

Celebrate the Baby Steps

Often, the small steps between milestones matter the most. If your baby can pivot their head in both directions, twist to their side, or bring their feet up—these are all precursors to rolling over! Cheer them on, encourage movement, and guide them along the way.

Join the Conversation! The Motherhood Movement is here to support you every step of the way. Have a milestone question or a challenge you’d like to discuss? Leave a comment or reach out—we’d love to hear from you!