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0–5 monthsGross Motor (physical culture)

lifts their head and chest using their elbows and forearms while lying face down

Observe whether the child: lifts their head and chest using their elbows and forearms while lying face down

What it looks like

Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.

Emerging

Just starting

Your child is beginning to push up during tummy time, but may lift the head or chest only briefly and may need a calm voice, toy, or nearby face to help them try.

What you might see

  • Briefly raises the head during tummy time, then rests again.
  • Pushes a little through the forearms when encouraged by a parent voice, face, or toy.

Expected

On track

Your child reliably lifts their head and chest using their elbows and forearms while lying face down during comfortable tummy time.

What you might see

  • Lifts the head while lying face down.
  • Raises the chest off the surface using elbows and forearms.
  • Maintains the position long enough to look forward or toward a nearby person.

Exceeding

Going further

Your child starts this push-up on their own in different safe floor settings, holds it longer, and turns the head to look around while staying supported on the forearms.

What you might see

  • Pushes up on forearms without needing a prompt when placed on the tummy.
  • Uses the forearm-supported position to look around in more than one familiar setting.

Try this at home

Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.

  • During a short tummy-time moment, notice whether your child lifts the head and chest while resting on elbows and forearms.

  • Place your face or a quiet toy in front of your child and watch whether they push up to look.

  • Notice whether the push-up happens only with encouragement or starts on its own.

Where this comes from

The dataset source and any supporting developmental research.

Dataset source

  • Stenhaug, B., Ram, N., & Frank, M. C. (2021). The Stanford SHQ: A measure of early developmental milestones.

    This item asks parents to observe the infant lifting the head and chest with elbow and forearm support while lying face down.

Developmental research

  • Bayley, N., & Aylward, G. P. (2019). Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Fourth Edition.

    Early prone head and chest lifting is a standard infant motor skill used to observe developing postural control.