Gross motor skills are movements that use the large muscles of the body, such as holding up the head, rolling, sitting, crawling, standing and walking. They build on each other through the first two years.
Typical gross motor milestones
According to the CDC's checklists:
| By age | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 4 months | Holds head steady without support when held |
| 6 months | Rolls from tummy to back |
| 9 months | Sits without support |
| 1 year | Pulls up to stand and walks holding on to furniture |
| 18 months | Walks without holding on |
What you can do
- Give plenty of tummy time and floor play from the early weeks.
- Limit time in bouncers, swings and car seats when not travelling.
When to talk to your doctor
Talk to your doctor if your baby seems very floppy or stiff, uses one side of the body much more than the other, or has not reached the milestones for their age.
