The earlier your baby or child is exposed to daily movement and exercise, the better the likelihood of healthy development in later life. At this stage of their lives this is the time that the brain is developing pathways and connections to the muscles.

When your baby is still a newborn, you should try putting them on their tummy for a few minutes at a time, several times a day. This will allow them to work their muscles that they will need to use when learning how to crawl, and then walk.

Once your baby can hold there head up, you can start helping them to learn to crawl. One of the easiest ways to do this is to put a toy just barely out of her reach. Most children will move towards it, so they can hold it and examine it. This is also a good way to help your baby learn to roll over. Choose toys that are bright and/or shiny to make your child more interested in reaching them.

Before long, they will probably start crawling. Not all babies crawl, but many do. While they are crawling, most babies discover that they can use the edge of the couch or coffee table to pull up on and stand and look at stuff. This leads to cruising, which quickly leads to walking. Once they learn to walk, there will be a whole new world of possibilities available for exercise and movement.

More Information

The Importance of Exercise for Your Baby