The major milestones in your baby's motor development

Your baby is here (or about to arrive) and you're wondering what the first few months will be like. When will they be able to hold their head up? When will they be able to toddle around and get into all sorts of mischief? At what age will they be fit enough to run their first marathon?

To help you get a clearer picture and prepare for what's to come, we've researched the motor development of babies . Of course, every child is different and develops at their own pace. Here are the main stages of their motor development !

Developing your baby's motor skills during the first 6 months

Your baby's psychomotor development in the first months of life

The first challenge for your baby in their first few months of life is learning to hold their head up on their own . They should be able to do this around 3 or 4 months old. Before that, their vision isn't very good; they can only focus on bright objects but have difficulty distinguishing colors.

It is only from the 3rd month onwards that her motor development experiences a slight acceleration. He sees better, is able to track objects with his eyes, and his trunk is firmer. He becomes aware of the sounds around him and begins to vocalize at all hours of the day and night.

At 6 months, your baby has doubled their birth weight (yes, you can already put away their first onesies). With a little help, they can even sit up. They often play on their tummy and tell their little story through babbling.

We felt it best to warn you, it's also the dreaded teething season…

Motor skills course or dino plush toy: what should we buy for him/her?

During his first six months , there's no need to offer him expert-level puzzles; he's still exploring his senses. Buy him soft toys, play mats, rattles, or plastic keys that he can lovingly chew on when his teeth hurt.

He's already starting to grasp objects with his little fingers and is learning to differentiate between different textures. Be careful though, from 6 months old, he might send some toys flying across the room.

If you'd like to create your own motor skills course for your little one , you can do it with anything you have at home: chairs, cushions, cardboard boxes. La Maison des Maternelles offers a DIY video tutorial.

Developing your baby's motor skills from 6 months to 1 year

Baby's motor skills after 6 months: first steps and big projects

After six months , your baby will have a strong urge to carry or grasp all sorts of objects (or even their own toes) between their thumb and forefinger. This period of " free movement " opens the door to all sorts of mischief. And what about walking? Little ones acquire this skill between nine and eighteen months . The range is wide, but every child develops differently. By ten months, they are able to stand on their own two feet with a little help.

Between 6 months and 1 year, your baby starts to string together syllables and pronounce their first words , often “papa” or “mama”.

From 11-12 months, your baby will clearly identify their favorite toys and begin to show preferences for certain activities. They will also be able to combine different ideas to form rudimentary sentences , like "baba bobo". In short, at the end of this first year of life, your baby's motor development takes a real turn: your little one is gaining independence!

How to support your baby's motor development from 6 months to 1 year

Between 6 months and 1 year , babies love building and stacking toys . They develop a sense of depth and begin to think about their actions: you're entering the golden age of Lego! You can also consider nesting cups, cubes, mirrors…

If you have the chance to take him or her to the beach, you'll spend some wild afternoons building sandcastles. He or she will take great pleasure in destroying your work with a shovel or rake.

Your baby's motor development after 1 year

Your baby's motor skills course from 1 year old

From 13 months old, your little one can pull objects behind them and can crawl up stairs . This is when extra vigilance is needed. They can turn the pages of a book, fit objects into their corresponding slots, throw a ball… In short, they interact more with their environment and begin to understand their own strength.

Between the ages of 2 and 3, your child continues to gain independence and develop their own preferences. Encourage them to be active through physical activities , but also to develop their creative spirit . Your child can draw, paint, and find ways to express themselves beyond words.

At 3 years old, he finally speaks about himself in the first person and asks questions, some more embarrassing than others: this is an opportunity to start a real dialogue with him! He better distinguishes between “quiet” times dedicated to rest or conversation, and playtime.

Even if he has been imitating you since day one, at 3 years old he openly reproduces your gestures and repeats what you say , which can lead to some rather comical situations.

What do you buy for a 2-year-old child?

After age two, your baby's motor development is well underway. You can offer them slightly more advanced games, requiring a bit more thought or involving role-playing . You'll spend delightful hours playing cashier, hairdresser, or doctor! If possible (and especially if your child is keen), avoid investing in overly gendered toys. Boys also love playing house; they just aren't given the opportunity.

The key is to encourage your child to explore different things to continue to awaken and develop their own tastes.

Motor skills course: how to know if your child has a developmental delay?

Even though every child is unique and follows their own developmental path , it's important to pay attention to their progress and any obstacles they encounter. Their motor skills development isn't linear, and your little one may need a little help at certain stages. Parents play a vital role in their child's independence .

If he or she encounters significant difficulties or delays, it is also up to you to alert healthcare professionals.

“ The parents in the study also mentioned that emotions can be a barrier to screening for disorders in their children, particularly in the psychological sphere, where denial of disorders is more frequently observed, linked to fear of diagnoses, for example, within the autism spectrum. “I think that when we're parents, we're a bit blind to things; I think that when there are problems, we don't necessarily see them,” E2. “When it's more psychological, when it's more about behavior, for example, autistic traits or personality disorders, then I think it's more difficult,” E1. “ The psychomotor development of children from 0 to 36 months, a qualitative study on the knowledge and expectations of parents of children receiving outpatient care in Brittany ,” Marie Guerin, 2021

Several reasons can explain a A delay in a child's motor development . If your baby was born prematurely , doctors and midwives will explain beforehand what their developmental timeline might be, depending on their degree of prematurity . You can also connect with other parents who are going through a similar experience: 40% of premature babies experience delays in their motor development ( Inserm report ).

Other factors can explain these difficulties: a medical condition, a genetic predisposition , or simply a lack of interest in their environment. The first signs appear quickly, often within the first few months of life: your infant cannot hold their head up, their trunk is floppy, and they are not acquiring basic language skills. If necessary, your child can benefit from educational support for a few months.

Just because your little one has some motor delays in the first few months doesn't mean they'll have them for life. Don't compare yourself to other parents and adapt to your baby's rhythm.

You now have a better idea of what the first few months of your baby's life will be like . To ensure their motor development goes as smoothly as possible, interact with them, gradually give them responsibilities, and celebrate their small victories!

Need some advice on taking care of yourself postpartum? Look no further !