Ways to Play
Advanced floor play & tummy time.
Expected Age Range: 3 months, or so.
Floor play at this stage of development is laying the foundation for skills like rolling, pivoting, crawling, and sitting.
On Their Back
Hands to Mouth
Allow your baby to bring their hands and toys to their mouth for exploration. This is a primary way that babies take in new experiences. It also helps them develop tongue mobility necessary for eating and talking. Make sure your baby doesn’t get their hands on anything they can choke on.
Bringing Hands To Midline
Place a toy or object of interest gently on your baby’s chest. They should be beginning to bring their hands toward their midline to interact with the toy on a consistent basis. Since this is the primary position that babies explore toys and objects with their hands at this age, introduce a wide variety of items.
Think about how the experience differs when they hold different items. For example, babies can grasp linking rings with tightly fisted hands; a stuffed animal is more difficult to squeeze tightly because there is more material to hold onto; and the noise from a rattle encourages your baby to shake it. Each different experience is bringing new information about the world around them. Allow plenty of time for your baby to explore and interact with the toy.
Anticipatory Timing and Reaching
Hold a toy up high over your baby, about 2 feet. Slowly lower it down onto their chest as they watch. With repetition and predictability, you may notice your baby anticipate the toy and reach for it with both hands.
Visual Tracking and Reach for Toys to the Sides
Hold an object of interest about 9 inches from your baby’s face, give it a little shake to get their attention. Once your baby establishes visual contact with the object, slowly move it to the left or right. Your baby should be able to visually track the toy all the way down to floor level on the left and right sides, in a smooth and comfortable manner. When they have turned their head to the side, and the toy is within their line of sight and within reach (in a 9:00 or 3:00 position), encourage them to reach for the toy by shaking it. Pause and allow your baby time to respond. You can also brush the toy against your baby’s hand to encourage them to reach to the side and interact with the toy. Your baby should be comfortably making attempts to reach for the toy to both sides. Linking rings make a great toy for this activity because your baby can easily hold onto them.
Under the Play Gym
The play gym is a great place for your baby to play on their back during this time. Your baby is more likely to be able to reach for and interact with the toys that dangle from overhead.
Baby Sit Ups
While lying on a soft surface, grasp your baby’s hands and wrists. Gently pull them up to sit. They should be starting to hold their head up. If your baby is able to hold their head up on the way up to sitting, slowly lower them back down in the same manner. If they do not hold their head up yet, you can keep trying without pulling all the way up to sitting.
Mindful Toy Placement
Arrange toys to the sides and around your baby so that they are just within reach, equal emphasis on left and right sides.
On Their Side
Play With Both Hands
Just like in levels 1 and 2, side lying remains a great position for play. Roll your baby from their back to their side to play with a toy with both hands.
Visual Tracking in Side Lying
You can also practice visual tracking in this position. Hold the toy at floor level, and slowly move it up above your baby’s head. Gravity acts differently on your baby in this position as compared to on their back. It makes it a little more difficult for them to turn their head to look up while side lying.
In Supported Sitting
Tilt to the Side
When you are holding your baby on your lap in a supported sitting position, with your hands around their trunk and under their arms, gently tilt their body to the left and right about 45°. With time and practice, your baby will begin lifting their head up to the opposite side – to align their eyes with the horizon. This is called Head Righting. Your baby should eventually be able to lift their head up equally to the left and right sides.
In Supported Standing
Hold Your Baby in Supported Standing
Hold your baby in a supported standing position with your hands under their arms, around their trunk, with their head supported. Your baby might not be accepting too much weight though their feet yet, but this prepares them for more sustained weight bearing.
Tummy Time Suggestions
Increasing Tolerance Without Modifications
At this stage, your baby should be able to play on their tummy for increasingly longer periods of time, building up to a total of 30 minutes per day. They should not need modifications to reach that goal. Tummy time on the floor without modifications is essential for learning to roll, which is coming right around the corner. Continue your daily tummy time as you have been, and try layering in these other skills.
Introduce Tactile Input and Toys to Hands
Introduce tactile input to your baby’s hands when they are on their tummy. Brush a toy or object against your baby’s hands, cuing them to open their hands and grasp or interact with the object.
Baby’s Love Mirrors
Set up a baby-safe mirror about 1 foot away from your baby so that they can see themselves. This will encourage them to lift their head up for longer periods of time. Experiment with placing the mirror directly in front of your baby, as well as to the sides.
Elevate Toys From the Floor
Elevate toys several inches off the floor to encourage your baby to push up through their forearms and lift their gaze above the horizon. Try putting their toys up on a small step stool (about 4-8 inches tall) or on a couch cushion on the floor.