Observe whether the child: kicks when lying face up
Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.
Your child is beginning to make kicking movements while lying on their back, though the kicks may be small, uneven, or happen only when they are especially active.
What you might see
Your child kicks when lying face up, showing clear leg movements while resting on their back during normal awake time.
What you might see
Your child kicks while lying face up in a self-started, repeated way and may use kicking during different routines, such as floor time, changing, or playful interaction.
What you might see
Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.
When your child is lying on their back, watch whether they kick their legs.
During floor time or a diaper change, notice whether the kicking happens more than once.
Notice whether your child starts kicking on their own or mostly after you talk, smile, or touch them.
The dataset source and any supporting developmental research.
Stenhaug, B., Ram, N., & Frank, M. C. (2021). The Stanford SHQ: A measure of early developmental milestones.
This item comes directly from the SHQ prompt asking whether the child kicks when lying face up.
Thelen, E. (1981). Kicking, rocking, and waving: Contextual analysis of rhythmical stereotypies in normal human infants. Animal Behaviour, 29(1), 3-11.
Infant kicking is a well-studied early motor pattern that can be observed while babies are lying on their backs.