Supporting Development Under 12 Months

Entering the world of parenting can be overwhelming – we all want our babies to grow up strong and healthy, but how do we know what to expect and if we are properly supporting their development? While it seems like early parenthood is filled mostly with diaper changes and not enough sleep, our babies are gaining skills rapidly every day! While your baby begins to explore their world and surroundings, you can help facilitate milestones by placing them in new and different positions. Remember to always keep a close eye and hand near your baby for optimal safety!  

Development and Tummy Time (Prone) 

Tummy time plays an important role in many areas of development for your baby. Did you know that you can start introducing tummy time the week your baby is born? While some babies are less tolerant of tummy time, we hope with these tips and tricks they can learn to enjoy time on their bellies and get stronger every day! 

Different ways to support tummy time position:  

• Laying on a textured/soft blanket: Laying on different textures is a great way to introduce sensory experiences. 
• Laying on an adult’s chest: Having a familiar face nearby can help your baby feel more comfortable in this position.  
• The football cradle: Like holding a football, carefully hold your baby over your forearm on their stomach – make sure to support their head!  
• Use a prop: Utilize Boppy pillows, a rolled towel, or a blanket, or place your baby on a small incline. 
• Fold their arms: Folding your baby’s arms can give increased support and start the feeling of weight-bearing through their arms. 

Developmental skills that tummy time supports:  

• Aids in the development of head control: After leaving the womb, babies start to feel the pull of gravity. Lying on their belly can offer support against gravity while promoting head movement from side to side.  
• Supports shoulder and neck strength: Strengthening the shoulder and neck muscles will promote head control and play an important role in many future movements and activities as your child grows. 
• Encourages rolling from belly to back: One of the first transitional moves, which can also be facilitated through support at the hips. 
• Encourages weight bearing through the arms and hands: Weight bearing through the arms is a foundational skill, which can eventually lead to crawling. In addition, weight bearing through the hands allows for arch development in the hands, which is important for writing and other fine motor skills.  
• Develops spatial awareness and supports the development of a vision system: Babies will start to lift their heads in this position, allowing them to see the world from a new view! 
• Promotes ribcage expansion and supports digestion: With the extension that comes with this position, your baby can expand their ribcage, which is needed for later diaphragm control. 
• Fosters cognitive development: Mouthing toys, exploring objects, and watching objects move back and forth are all part of cognitive development! 

Toys to use during Tummy Time:  

• High-color contrast toys 
• Sensory textured toys/books 
• Water mats or trays  
• Rattles 
• Mirrors 
• Animals/pets 
• You! 

Lying on Back for Developmental Milestones (Supine) 

This might be the easiest position for a lot of babies. And while we don’t want them on their back for too many hours of the day, it is a great position for your baby to start learning about their body. Try these different supports and activities to help your baby thrive.  

Different ways to support supine position:  

• On a large pillow, mattress, or couch: Always make sure your baby can’t fall off a raised surface! 
• Tucking the sides: Use a boppy pillow or a rolled blanket and tuck on each side of your baby’s trunk to support a neutral, symmetrical, and safe position. 

Developmental skills supine position supports:

• Development of body scheme and body awareness: In this position, babies will learn to move their limbs against gravity by bringing their legs into flexion. The hands and eyes will learn to come to midline for play, and this position is a precursor to rolling over. 
• Development of the vision system: In this position, babies can turn their heads side to side to see their world. Additionally, this helps with primitive reflex integration. 

• Strengthening the muscles: While your baby kicks their legs and flexes their neck, they’ll be strengthening their muscles. 
• Development of fine motor and feeding skills: Your baby will have full access to their arms in this position so they can bring their hands to the midline and their mouth. Here you can start to see your baby transfer objects between their hands. 

Toys to use when playing in a supine position:

• Books 
• Oball 
• Rattle socks/bracelets 

Sitting and Supported Sitting 

Between 4 and 6 months, you can start exploring supported sitting with your baby. Remember to use your best judgment because your child must have adequate head and neck control before exposing them to this position! In this position, babies can have full engagement with the world around them, which is often an exciting experience for our little ones.  

Different ways to support sitting:  

• Boppy pillow: Using the boppy pillow can give your baby the support it needs around the trunk and hips to maintain an upright position. 
• Seated on your legs/feet: If you sit behind the baby in a pretzel position or side sit position, your baby can sit on your feet/ankles. It will be important to use your hands to provide support at the baby’s trunk and guide them in reaching for toys.  
• Sit behind your baby: Whether on the floor or the couch, you can create support with your legs and trunk for your baby. In this position, your baby’s legs will be extended in front of them.  
• In your lap: In this position, your hands should be on the ribcage for maximal support. 
• Always make sure you’re providing adequate trunk support as you explore these new positions! 

Developmental skills:

• Postural and trunk control: In a seated position, your baby will be able to weight shift back and forth, working on the development of the postural system and equilibrium reactions. 
• Transitional movements: As your baby sits in this position, they will gain trunk rotation skills needed for transitional movements such as going from laying to seated positions. 
• Fine motor development: While seated, your baby will start to reach for toys, play at midline, cross midline, and develop pre-writing skills such as scribbling.  
• Feeding: Between 6-9 months, your baby will start to finger-feed foods, and by 12 months they can begin exploring with a spoon! 

Toys to use during sitting/supported sitting:  

• Cause and effect toys 
• Rainbow spinner 
• Anything that interests the child! 

All these positions can help support your baby’s development in a fun and new way. Learn more about what to expect from your baby in the first year with our Developmental Milestones Handouts:

Developmental Milestones birth – 6 months 

Developmental Milestones 6 – 12 months 

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