Designed and funded by Novartis Gene Therapies in partnership with experts.
Tracking your baby’s movements, also known as motor developmental milestones, in the first few months of life is particularly important.
Seeing your baby grow and develop is a fascinating experience – from birth onwards you will have plenty of exciting ‘firsts’ to look forward to in the coming months.
Watch this video to see babies demonstrating 3 movements typical of 3 month olds1,2
Cannot raise their head when on their tummy Has floppy arms and legs Is not reaching for things
Cannot raise their head when on their tummy
Has floppy arms and legs
Is not reaching for things
Remember, children develop at different rates, so there may be nothing to worry about.3 However, if you have any concerns about your baby’s movements, see your GP.
What movements should I expect my baby to make by 3 months of age?
If you have any concerns, act now and see your GP to discuss your baby’s movement
Tracking your baby’s movements is an important way to check their health and development. Remember, children develop at different rates, so there may be nothing to worry about. However, if you have any concerns about your baby’s movements, see your GP.
When lying on their front, baby can briefly lift their head
Can move hands to their face and mouth
Startle reflex – when baby is startled, such as a loud noise, they throw out their arms and spread their fingers
When lying on their front, baby can lift their head and move it side to side – may also use arms to push off of the ground
When lying on their back, baby can move and wriggle their arms and legs. As development continues these movements will become smoother
Can briefly hold a toy that is placed in their hands
When lying on their front, baby can lift their head and chest
When lying on their back, baby waves their arms and kicks their legs
Beginning to reach out for toys and deliberately grasps and holds items
When laying on their front, baby can briefly lift their head
Can move hands to their face and mouth
Startle reflex – when baby is startled, such as a loud noise, they throw out their arms and spread their fingers
When laying on their front, baby can lift their head and move it side to side – may also use arms to push off of the ground
When laying on their back, baby can move and wriggle their arms and legs. As development continues these movements will become smoother
Can briefly hold a toy that is placed in their hands
When lying on their front, baby can lift their head and chest
When lying on their back, baby waves their arms and kicks their legs
Beginning to reach out for toys and deliberately grasps and holds items
Every baby is unique. This table illustrates typical development patterns and the exact age to show these skills for individual babies may differ.
Figure adapted from data in: Hadders-Algra, M. 2018, Cambs NHS, NCT, Healthy Children and Help Me Grow.1-5
Movement milestone timeline
MILESTONE CARDS
If you find your baby is not showing the 3 movements shown in the video above, it could simply mean that they are late in the normal age range for reaching these movement milestones. However, in some rare cases, delays in reaching such milestones could be down to other causes.6,7
If you have any concerns, it is important to make sure and speak to your GP.
This conversation guide contains some tips on
talking to your GP about your concerns
CONVERSATION GUIDE
See your GP to discuss your baby’s movement if your baby is 3 months of age and:1,2
1. Hadders-Algra M. Neuroscience and Beiobehavioral Reviews. 2018(90):411-427. 2. Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust. Child Development milestones. Available at: https://www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk/advice/childhood-development/milestones. Date accessed: April 2022. 3. NCT. Your baby’s development: physical stages. Available at: https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/games-and-play/your-babys-development-physical-stages. Date accessed: April 2022. 4. Healthy Children, American Academy of Pediatrics. Is your baby’s physical development on track? Available at: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Is-Your-Babys-Physical-Development-on-Track.aspx. Date accessed: April 2022. 5. Help me grow MM. Motor Developmental Milestones. Available at: https://helpmegrowmn.org/HMG/DevelopMilestone/MotorMilestones/index.html. Date accessed: April 2022. 6. Physio. Delayed Milestones. Available at: https://www.physio.co.uk/what-we-treat/paediatric/problems/neurological-problems/delayed-milestones.php. Date accessed: April 2022. 7. McDonald CM. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2012(3):495-563.