Specialist support for early physical development
- SEND
- Child development and growing up
- Moving and being active
![Baby Girl Sitting Up Using Support With An Adult Woman Placing A Toy In Their Lap](/media/g0uglj5w/baby-girl-sitting-up-using-support-with-an-adult-woman-placing-a-toy-in-their-lap.jpeg?rxy=0.49745655278655904,0.34235548726559856&width=720&height=540&v=1dad904aa8d3b50)
Typically babies will learn how to move by themselves, however some babies need a little extra help and encouragement.
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Learning to roll
Rolling is one of the first experiences of your baby moving their entire body. It helps babies strengthen their muscles which are used when sitting and standing. It also helps them build their balance and spatial awareness skills.
Some babies can find it harder to roll. You can help your baby roll by:
- Placing a toy just out of reach of your baby.
- Encouraging your baby to reach for the toy.
- When your baby reach for the toy, gently hold their hips.
- Guide them to roll over onto their tummy or side.
Rolling can be a scary experience for babies. You can help them expect to roll by counting "1, 2, 3!" before rolling them. You can also help your baby feel more secure by seeing your smiling face. If you can't be more visible to your baby when you roll them, use mirrors to see each others faces. Babies love to play with mirrors.
It's important to encourage your baby at every step. You can do this by talking to your baby encouragingly with a big smile.
Side lying to sitting
Whilst your baby is lying on their side, you can use the steps below to help them move into a sitting position.
- Place one hand under their armpit that is closest to the ground.
- Place your other hand on top of the hip that is away from the ground.
- Slowly tilt them up into a sitting position by lifting with the hand under the armpit and gently pushing down on the hip.
Make sure you practice doing this on each side equally. This will help them develop evenly.
Try to let your baby do as much as they can themselves. This will encourage them to support their weight as they push up through their hands.
Getting comfortable with the crawling position
Introduce your baby to a crawling position from a sitting position. Place a toy in front of your baby. When your baby reaches forward, guide them over onto their hands and knees. You can use your leg to support them under their tummy.
Try to keep your baby in the crawling position whilst playing with toys. This will encourage them to shift their weight through their hands and knees.
To encourage independent crawling, you can assist your baby by gently holding them at the hips and slowly reducing the support.
Read more about the different crawling positions.
Getting into a standing position
A simple way to encourage your baby to stand is by placing toys at a higher level. You can place a few of their toys on a small table or on the sofa.
At a sofa level, place toys out of reach to your baby's right or left to get them to bring their weight over to one side.
You can also encourage your baby to play with their hands while they are propped up on their knees. Make sure their knees are directly under their hips.
If your baby is having difficulty standing, you can guide them to bring one foot forward. You can also give them a little lift under their bottom to assist them into a standing position.
Last reviewed: 1 November, 2023