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Pre-walker Physical Development

Babies develop at a rapid rate; however, they need to develop naturally and should not be rushed.  In order to develop physically and learn new skills, babies need to develop muscle strength. Equally, their brains and nervous systems need to develop in order to send the correct messages to the required muscles. 

Physical activities also stimulate the connection between mind and body. This is particularly evident when observing how children learn problem-solving skills as they try actions such as climbing up, over, in, or through.

If you use equipment in a manner that simply encourages a hastier development of milestones, this will ultimately not be of use to babies.  They need a lot of time to develop their basic skills to a competent level, therefore if you support babies to learn new skills by themselves, at their own pace and to take risks, they will become more capable, self-assured and determined.

Babies are born with involuntary reflexes – for example “tracking” when their cheek is touched or automatically grasping any object placed in their hand – and need many opportunities to develop more complex skills in order to lose these reflexes.  If they do not lose these involuntary reflexes, they can inhibit natural development.  Consider what would happen if the involuntary grasp/palmer reflex was not adapted!

Babies need to practise important movements such as:

  • Reaching for and grasping objects
  • Playing with other people, objects and toys
  • Turning their head toward stimuli
  • Pushing and Pull
  • Moving their eyes

Remember:

  • Stimulate babies’ brains to grow and help develop their language
  • Gentle “rough and tumble” games
  • You are the best piece of play equipment
  • Babies need to move freely as much as they can in an environment full of stimulation
Movement Mark – Pre-walkers

Balance

The vestibular system (which is in the inner ear) is the main contributor to balance and needs to be developed in babies and young children.  Slowly and gently spinning, rocking, swinging baby and dancing to music whilst holding baby in your arms will contribute to the development of their balance.  When children spin, roll and hang upside down they are developing their vestibular system and, in turn, their balance.

Tummy Time

During waking time, it is important for babies to spend time on their stomachs.  This will prepare babies for crawling, strengthen their muscles and support the development of head control.  It also provides many more benefits.

Helping Babies to Enjoy Tummy Time

Some babies naturally enjoy being on their stomachs but many find it uncomfortable and are reluctant at first. Before placing babies flat on their stomachs:

  • Sit with your knees slightly raised 

  • Place baby face down on your thighs (this will support them) 

  • Stroke their back 

  • Over a period of time, reduce the angle of your legs until baby is lying flat 

  • Place baby on their stomachs for a short period of time and often 

  • Carry baby on their stomachs 

  • Place baby over a cushion 

  • Roll up a towel and place under their chest. 
When babies are ready to lie flat on their stomachs, it is important to create a stimulating experience for them: 

  • Lie in front of them and talk, sing, make different facial expressions 

  • Lie them in front of a mirror 

  • Put interesting toys in front of them 

  • Put stimulating objects at the each of their reach to encourage them to move and reach.

Benefits of Tummy Time

  • Strengthens back, neck and torso muscles, which will support them to sit, crawl and walk 

  • Teaches them about the world around them and encourages them to rotate their head and 
body into different positions 

  • Helps avoid flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly), which can occur when babies lie on their backs for too long 

  • Babies being placed in different positions keeps their bodies and minds active 

  • Babies who spend time on their stomachs are less likely to develop torticollis (defined as a 
twisted neck where the head is tipped to one side, while the chin is turned to the other.) 

  • When on their stomachs, babies will learn to focus on objects, themselves and others and to 
track movement of those objects and people. This has an impact on visual development 

  • Helps to inhibit the palmer reflex (clenched fist) as babies will open their hands to push up 

  • Develops their senses 

  • Helps to develop balance (vestibular system) 

  • Teaches them about their body 

  • Interaction with others 

  • Develops language and communication skills 

  • Lifting up from the floor stretches open the baby’s chest, which improves their lung and heart 
 

  • Helps to improve baby’s digestive system and general disposition 15. Strengthens muscles that lift the spine and pulls the shoulders back 16. Develops interaction with others and emotional bonding
  • As it is recommended that babies lie on their backs when asleep to counteract the incidents of cot death, tummy time should only be provided when babies are awake.

Crawling

Crawling is an important milestone for babies, who should be showing emerging signs of crawling by around 8 months (pushing up on hands and knees, rocking, belly crawling) and be crawling by 9/10 months.  Some babies find this difficult and might miss out crawling, opting for getting around via bottom shuffling or moving straight to walking.  However, there are many benefits of crawling that babies will miss out on if they skip this important gross motor stage.

Benefits of Crawling

  • Gross motor development – crawling helps to strengthen the shoulders, back and core muscles 

  • Fine motor development – crawling helps to strengthen muscles in the hand 

  • Supports bilateral coordination of arms and legs
  • Plays a role in visual development, as they need to scan their environment with the eyes before moving.