Lifted Tummy Playtime
Parent gently lifts baby by the hips while baby is on their tummy, creating a wheelbarrow-like position. The agent coaches the parent to observe arm strength, head control, and back muscle engagement — building the foundations for crawling and walking.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Baby lying on tummy on a soft mat or blanket. Room should be comfortable. No props needed beyond the mat.
How it works
- 1~30s
Great! Now gently take your child by the hips and lift their lower body just a little — like a wheelbarrow position. Keep it gentle and only hold for about five seconds. Watch what your child does with their arms and head. Does they push up with their hands? Does they try to hold their head up? Tell me what you see.
Watch for: Baby bears weight on arms and pushes up when hips are lifted, propping upper body with elbows or hands.
- 2~30s
Now let's try it again — lift your child's hips gently for another five seconds. This time, pay close attention to their head. Does your child lift their head up? Can they hold it steady, or does it wobble? A strong head lift while the hips are raised is a great sign of developing neck and back muscles. What's happening?
Watch for: Baby holds head up independently while in the lifted tummy position.
- 3~35s
Let's do one more round. This time, after you lift your child's hips, hold the position and watch their arms and legs. Does your child move them? Are the movements alternating — like a crawling pattern — or are both arms and legs moving at the same time? Any kicking or reaching? This tells us a lot about how your child's coordination is developing.
Watch for: Baby moves arms and legs in a coordinated pattern while in the lifted position, showing early pre-crawling coordination.