It’s essential for every mother to understand her baby’s main stages of growth, especially during the first half-year of life — the period when the infant develops rapidly to adapt to the world around them. This growth involves the quick development of the senses, as well as cognitive and motor skills, all of which indicate healthy progress.
During this time, mothers play a crucial role in supporting their baby’s motor development. Strengthening these abilities during the first six months is one of the most important aspects of growth and has a lasting effect on overall health and future milestones.
In a special interview with Nadormagazine, pediatric nutrition and sleep consultant Dr. Salwa Saleem shared a few morning activities that help promote your baby’s motor development during the first six months. Among these are the sock-touch activity, tummy time, and more — each designed to encourage sensory exploration and physical coordination.
Major Motor Development Milestones (Birth to 6 Months)
By the time your baby reaches six months, they may be able to sit up on their own without support. Around the fourth month, you’ll notice your little one attempting to roll over — an early sign of coordination and curiosity, as they reach for toys that catch their attention.
Your baby will also begin transferring soft toys from one hand to another, exploring them with their mouth, and reacting when they’re taken away.
As the months progress, your baby will likely:
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Roll in both directions (from back to tummy and vice versa).
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Rock back and forth while sitting, especially when supported by pillows on a firm, soft surface.
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Push down with their legs when placed in a supported sitting position.
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Gain better head control and upper-body strength by pushing up on their arms while lying on their tummy.
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Improve eye-hand coordination, reaching for and grasping nearby objects with increasing accuracy.
6 Morning Activities to Boost Your Baby’s Motor Development
1. Exploring New Textures
Try this activity when your baby is between 3 and 6 months old. Lay your baby near the edge of the bed with their bare feet exposed. Hold a wide strip of shiny aluminum foil near their toes and heels. Your baby will notice the new texture and try to keep touching it — a fun way to stimulate sensory awareness and curiosity.
2. Tummy Time
Encourage your baby to spend a few minutes each day lying on their tummy. This exercise strengthens the neck and core muscles and helps prevent flat head syndrome caused by prolonged back-sleeping. Studies show that regular tummy time also promotes earlier standing and crawling milestones.
Place colorful, soft toys within reach to motivate movement — this encourages your baby to reach forward, promoting coordination and early crawling skills.
3. Mirror Play
Sit your baby in front of a mirror for a few minutes each day. Watching their reflection helps them recognize their own features and expressions — an exciting moment of self-discovery! Mirror play also stimulates movement, as babies may try to reach for their reflection or nearby colorful toys, strengthening both upper and lower body coordination.
4. Holding and Grasping Objects
Offer your baby soft, colorful toys that are large enough not to be swallowed. Encourage them to hold, shake, and move the toys between their hands. This helps them understand different textures, sizes, and shapes while improving hand strength and coordination. Toys like soft balls of various sizes are ideal for this activity.
5. Visual Tracking
Using a baby projector or moving light toy can enhance visual tracking skills in infants between 3 and 8 months. Watching gentle light patterns helps calm your baby and reduces fussiness. However, be sure to supervise — if your baby stares too long without shifting their gaze between the light and you, consult your pediatrician, as this may indicate delayed visual development.
6. Sock Play
Place small, soft, baby-safe rattling toys inside your baby’s socks. Test the material first to ensure it doesn’t irritate the skin. As your baby kicks their legs, the toys make gentle sounds that spark excitement and movement. This activity strengthens the leg muscles and encourages your baby to roll over later, driven by curiosity to reach for the moving, jingling objects near their feet.
Through these simple morning routines, mothers can nurture healthy motor skills, curiosity, and self-awareness in their babies — all while making playtime fun and meaningful.
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