How Your Baby Moves in Months 3-6
During the 3 to 6 month window, your baby's movement will transition from random and reflexive to intentional. Some of the most notable developments during this time are:
-Baby grabbing toys and bringing them to mouth.
-Improving their core and large muscle group strength
-Sitting up, either supporting themselves with their hands or independently
-Beginning preparatory activities for crawling
What should my baby be doing at 4 months?
Between 3 and 4 months your baby will really be getting in the groove of developing hand-eye coordination. They'll improve their core strength, and begin some self-propelled movement on the floor.
By 4 months you’ll notice your baby meeting the following motor milestones:
Leaving their hands open at rest
Grabbing toys and bringing them to their mouth
Holding toys
Swinging arms at toys
Maintaining upright posture while you hold them
Have steady head control
Maintain head control when pulled into a seated position
Pushing up on their forearms and elbows when on their tummy
Bringing their hands to mouth
Making small scoots forward on belly with their chest lifted. Supported by their forearms and toes on the floor. (1)
What reflexes will I notice from 3-4 months?
See the 0-3 milestone blog to review the full descriptions of the reflexes that emerge at birth.
You’ll continue to notice strong responses for the ATNR, Spinal Galant, and TLR reflexes. Responses for the Moro, rooting reflex and palmar grasp reflex will begin to fade. These three should integrate completely (meaning you won’t see a response when you stimulate the reflex) between 4 and 6 months.(5)
What should my baby be doing at 5 months?
Between 4 and 5 months, your baby is going to continue to strengthen their core stabilizing muscles and begin to prepare for crawling. They’ll be integrating reflexes and beginning to use more complex movement patterns.
By 5 months, you’ll notice your baby meeting the following motor milestones:
Plays with fingers over the middle of their body
Brings toys to the middle of their body
Lifting their head and shoulders off of the floor when lying on their back or tummy
Pushing themselves up on fully extended arms while on their belly
Pulling their knees under them while in prone
Rolling from belly to back
May begin to pull themselves forward in an “army crawl” fashion2,6
What reflexes will I notice from 4-5 months?
Between 4 and 5 months you’ll see the full Landau reflex emerge. When your baby is on their belly you’ll notice them “swimming”. You’ll also notice when you hold them with their belly down they lift their head, arms, and legs up. The Landau helps your baby develop their vision, balance, core strength, stability, and optimal body posture. (5,4)
You’ll continue to observe the ATNR, and TLR reflexes. You may also see traces of the Palmar Grasp Reflex remaining, as well as a fading Spinal Galant. The Moro and Rooting Reflexes should completely integrate by 6 months. (5)
What should my baby be doing at 6 months?
By six months your baby will start to gain some significant independence in movement. They'll also be acting on objects with more intention and enthusiasm.
By 6 months, you’ll notice your baby meeting the following motor milestones:
Sitting independently. Sitting for short periods independently. Sitting with minimal support from you or their hands.
Roll both directions
Transfers an object between hands
Uses fingers to “rake” a small object
Bangs a toy on a surface
Pivoting in circles on belly
Moves into hands and knees position with belly suspended (quadruped position)
Rocking back and forth on hands and knees (2,6,3)
What reflexes will I notice from 5-6 months?
You may continue to observe the Spinal Galant and Palmar Grasp Reflexes. You’ll continue to see your baby demonstrating the ATNR, TLR and Landau Reflexes. (5)
What reflexes should integrate by 6 months?
By the time your baby reaches six months old, they should have integrated the Moro and Rooting Reflexes. (5)
How do I play with my 3-6 month old baby?
From 3-6 months you’ll want to continue to elicit the Moro, palmar, ATNR, Spinal Galant, and TLR reflexes during play time. (See previous blog for instructions on how to stimulate these reflexes).
You’ll also want to add stimulating the Landau into your play time routine.
To trigger the Landau Reflex: support your baby on their belly with both hands. Place one hand under their chest and the other under the front of their pelvis. Suspend them in the air. It’s fun to imagine them as a bird or airplane (feel free to create all the fun sound effects those images inspire). Watch as their arms and legs extend with their head. Move them up, down, forward and back as fast/slow as they’ll tolerate. (Use common sense and be safe with your baby). This reflex is helping your baby develop the supportive muscles they need to resist gravity for later milestones like sitting, crawling and walking. (3,4,5)
Continue to give your baby as many opportunities for play on the floor as they will tolerate. Place them on their tummy to trigger their Landau Reflex. Watch as they “swim”. This is a necessary part of their neuromotor development, not a hindrance to crawling. A baby on their belly is developing their stabilizing/anti-gravity muscles required for higher-level motor actions.
You can place your hands or leg behind your baby’s feet while they are on their belly with their toes pointed down. Apply gentle pressure to their feet so that they begin to “push off”. This will increase the feedback they are getting through the joints and muscles in their lower half (improving spatial awareness and coordination). As well as strengthen their legs for future crawling and walking. Placing a mirror several feet in front of your baby is a fun and helpful addition to this activity. Their interest in their reflection and motivate them to attempt to move toward it.
Make play-time fun! Don’t over-think it! Sing songs, laugh, read, make silly faces and engage with your baby. Your connection is what matters most. A calm and joyful caregiver will make the movement part much more enjoyable for baby during play-time!
*This is intended for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. If you’re noticing anything that seems “off” with your child, please contact your pediatrician. Always consult with them before beginning any new movement program with your infant so they can more accurately account for your infant’s specific needs and uniqueness.
If you’ve got questions, I’d love to hear them!
Resources:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/milestones/4-months.html
2. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/MotorDelay/Pages/default.aspx#/topic/hold-head-up
3. https://kinactivekids.com/stages-of-crawling-milestones/
4. https://moveplaythrive.com/resources/primitive-and-postural-reflexes/landau-reflex
5. https://www.occupationaltherapy.com/articles/understanding-primitive-reflexes-they-impact-5409-5409
