Moving (gross motor)
Lifting head during tummy time
Many babies — 1–3 months
Pushing up and holding the head up while on the tummy — the base for everything that follows.
What’s happening
Tummy time is how babies build the neck, shoulder, and back strength behind every motor milestone that follows — most start by briefly lifting their head, then push up onto their forearms as that strength grows.
How to support it
- A few short tummy-time sessions a day work better than one long one — even a couple of minutes, several times, adds up.
- Get down at their eye level with a toy or your face to give them a reason to lift and turn their head.
- A rolled towel or nursing pillow under the chest can make early tummy time easier while they build strength.
Worth knowing
- Tummy time is always supervised, awake time only — babies still sleep on their backs.
When to ask your pediatrician
Holding the head up during tummy time is one of the CDC's checkpoints for 2 months. If your baby seems very floppy, can't briefly lift their head by then, or you notice one side of the head or neck seems favored, mention it at their next visit.
Often leads to rolling over
Where this comes from
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