Guide to the Lying Stage: Senses, movement and presence
An article by Laura Mittet, Pediatric Physiotherapist

In the first year of life, your child goes through major motor development – from being a newborn lying helplessly on their back, to rolling over onto their stomach, crawling, creeping and eventually walking.

In this article, we focus on the development that takes place during the first months of your child’s life, including how you as a parent can support your baby’s motor development through everyday play, presence, and activities.

Media grid image

Getting to Know the Body

A newborn has no body control or experience of moving in the world outside the womb. In the first weeks after birth, your baby’s movements will be random and uncoordinated, but as the weeks go by, you will see that the movements become more intentional, coordinated, and fluid.

This happens as the baby gets to know their body, gains experience of what movement feels like, and gradually becomes more aware of their surroundings.

Motor Development Through Milestones

A child’s motor development takes place through so-called motor milestones, where your baby gradually develops skills through repeated sensory and movement experiences.

For example, a small baby placed on their stomach will at first only be able to lift and turn their head from side to side. But as the baby spends more time on the stomach and builds strength and balance in this position, they will after a few months be able to rest stably on their forearms and turn their head freely.

By 5–6 months of age, the baby will be able to rest on straight arms and lift their stomach off the ground.

The Senses as a Foundation for Movement

When a child develops motor skills, it happens in interaction with the senses. Humans have 7 senses: taste, smell, hearing, sight, touch, proprioception (muscle-joint sense), and balance.

The last three are often called the primary senses because they form the basis for movement and motor skill development.

The 3 Primary Senses

Sense of touch

Registers touch, temperature, and textures.

Muscle and joint sense

(Also known as Proprioceptive sense)
Provides awareness of body position and movement.

Sense of balance

Helps the child keep balance and orient themselves in space.

Sense of touch

Sense of touch helps your baby register touch, pressure, cold, heat, pain, and textures. This builds body awareness and the ability to distinguish between surfaces, textures, and shapes. To stimulate your baby’s tactile sense, you can:

  • Hug, stroke, kiss, and caress your baby all over the body – ideally skin-to-skin.
  • Massage hands and feet using sensory balls, brushes, or soft cloths.
  • Let your baby touch and explore toys with different textures and surfaces.

Proprioceptive sense

The proprioceptive sense gives your baby an understanding of where their body parts are and how they move in relation to each other. It helps them regulate strength, precision, and coordination. You can stimulate this sense by:

  • Letting your baby grip your fingers or toys of different sizes.
  • Moving your baby’s arms and legs, e.g. making “cycling” movements with the legs or crossing and stretching the arms.
  • Pressing gently against your baby’s soles (both when lying on the back and stomach).

Sense of balance

Sense of balance registers the head’s position and movements in relation to gravity. It develops your baby’s sense of space, direction, movement speed, and balance. You can stimulate it by:

  • Laying your baby on their stomach, either on your chest or on a flat surface.
  • Rocking, swinging, or spinning around with your baby in your arms.
  • Rolling your baby from side to side or from back to stomach and back again.
  • Gently holding your baby upside down.

In short, your baby uses their senses to collect information about their body and the surrounding world – information that helps them adapt and control movements, like reaching for a toy or keeping balance.

Supporting Motor Development Through Play

For babies, play is an important part of motor development. As a parent, you can support your child’s learning of new movements and motor skills through playful activities. Many games stimulate multiple senses at once. For example, placing your baby on their stomach on a soft surface with toys in front encourages reaching, feeling, and balance.

Similarly, everyday life naturally stimulates the senses – when your baby hears your voice and turns to look at you, squeezes your finger, or is rocked in your arms for comfort.

Here are some tips for supporting good play habits in everyday life:

Everyday Routines

Include small motor- and sense-stimulating games in daily routines such as diaper changes. Examples: tracking an object with the eyes, holding or reaching for toys, or gently rolling your baby from side to side on the changing mat.

Remember, play and presence should be enjoyable – not a task. Although movement and sensory stimulation are important, what matters most is that you enjoy the time together. Follow your baby’s signals and invite play when they are alert and content.

Creating Good Conditions for Play

Toys: Look for toys with clear color contrasts, different textures, and possibly sounds when moved. These catch your baby’s attention and motivate them to reach out, feel, and explore.

Environment: Place toys within your baby’s reach so they are easy to grab and hold. As movements become more coordinated, vary toy placement to encourage further movement.

Mix familiar elements with small variations in your baby’s toys and surroundings. This balance creates both comfort and curiosity.

For example, place the baby nest or carry cot in different rooms or switch out the toys on the play gym every few days.

The lying stage forms a crucial foundation for motor development. When lying on the back or stomach, your baby gains body awareness, strengthens muscles, and stimulates the senses – all of which later form the basis for rolling, crawling, creeping, and walking.

As a parent, you play a central role in supporting this development through presence, play, and simple daily activities that give your baby opportunities to explore, feel, and move. This way, you help your child lay a strong foundation for further motor and sensory development.

Lie & Look

Laura Mittet | Motorikland

Laura Mittet (34) is a mother of three girls, pediatric physiotherapist, and holds a master’s degree in Educational Psychology. She has many years of experience with children – in public institutions, private practice, and child psychiatry.

In 2022, she became part of Rødovre Physiotherapy and Health Center and co-founded Motorikland – a universe for babies, children, pregnant women, and parents in the postpartum period. Here, physiotherapy, group courses, and workshops are offered with focus on movement, play, presence, and professional guidance.