Encouraging physical skills in the first year is fun for parents and babies. But it is important to remember that every baby’s physical development is different and because of this babies vary in how naturally physically active they are. It can help to practice the skills at the various stages and encouraging them by praising their efforts, however this will not enable them to go through the stages quicker than their body and brain will allow. What it will do is help you to play with your child and have a fun time together.

In the first few months babies begin to develop head control. A baby needs strength in his neck muscles to do this. Put him on his front and see if he can try to raise his head if you shake a rattle over his head or speak to him with your face above his head. As soon as he objects to being on his front stop the game and try again tomorrow

Between five and nine months babies begin to roll. It is a very exciting time because it gives the baby some mobility and helps him/her to get to things that were previously out of reach. From about six weeks you can encourage her to roll by laying her on the floor and getting down beside her in a position so that she has to roll slightly to get closer to you and then put a cuddly toy near her face so that she has to move her head from side to side Make sure that it is a fun game as you nudge and move her from side to side.

Most babies will be unable to sit unsupported until they are eight months but they do like to be in the sitting position much earlier than this. An adjustable baby chair reclining to more upright position is a good buy

As the back gets stronger from about six months many babies can sit well in a high chair when they are well supported, for feeding and playing, for short periods. Propping the baby up with cushions with the back close to the sofa gives good support and then you can introduce toys that they can hold for example wooden spoons and saucepans to bang. I never wanted my son to have a drum but he was given one by a friend and he loved it. It can be noisy but they love making sounds and it is so encouraging especially if you can smile and be happy with the noise for short periods. Activity centres are also good for the times they are sitting in the high chair or on the floor if they can sit without toppling.

Many babies like to stand from an early age and sometimes mothers worry about this because they have been told that allowing their baby to stand will cause damage to their developing legs and in the future they will have bandy legs. There is no truth in this so if your baby likes to stand encourage you baby to stand, it is a normal part of his development. Next month we will continue with encouraging the physical skills from six – twelve months.

Frances Byatt-Smith RN RHV BA Psychology

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