How to Help Infants With Motor Skills

A new baby can be overwhelming, but finding ways to encourage her budding skills is easy. Understanding that all babies develop differently helps parents from worrying if their baby hasn't rolled over at the same time as their close friend's. Helping baby develop motor skills takes a small amount of effort and also provides parents and baby with quality time together.

Things You'll Need

• Colorful blanket or sheet
• Hanging mobile
• Small stuffed animals
• Soft toys
• Rattles

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Instructions

• 1

  Start by placing the baby on the floor on top of a colorful blanket or sheet. Place infants on their stomach to encourage them to hold their heads up and instigate their crawling reflex. With babies who are unable to hold their heads up on their own, only a few minutes of time may be comfortable for the baby. Spending short amounts of time on her stomach will encourage the infant to hold his head up on his own.

• 2

  Flip the infant over onto her back and place a hanging mobile over her or hold items above her to encourage her to reach out and touch. Bring items such as small stuffed animals close to the baby's face, so she is able to focus on them with her developing eyes. Slowly move items away from the baby and watch her reach for the toy. This will help her developing hand-eye coordination.

• 3

  Place several toys around the baby to encourage him to roll over. Lie next to the baby and entice him with colorful toys or rattles just out of his reach. Along with placing items out of his reach, place rattles and stuffed toys in his hands, encouraging his grasping reflex.

• 4

  Hold baby in a front-facing position on your lap while sitting on the floor. Positioning the baby in a forward-facing position encourages her to try sitting up on her own and gives her a different view of her world. Use pillows to prop the baby in a sitting position while providing assistance.

• 5

  Provide lots of positive praise for the baby while she is experimenting with developing her motor skills. Clapping, singing and talking to the baby while she is exercising encourages her to continue trying.