Tummy Time Tips: Encouraging Babies to Bear Weight Through Their Arms and Start Crawling
As a pediatric occupational therapist, one of the most common questions I get from families is, “How can I help my baby get ready to crawl?” Crawling is such an exciting developmental milestone—it's a sign your baby is becoming more independent, strong, and ready to explore their world! But before crawling happens, babies need to build up the strength and coordination to bear weight through their arms and eventually move forward.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s going on behind the scenes—and what you can do to help at home.
Step 1: Building Arm Strength Through Tummy Time
Tummy time is the foundation for crawling. When babies lie on their bellies, they start to develop the muscles in their neck, shoulders, arms, and back—everything they need to eventually push up, pivot, and crawl.
To encourage weight-bearing through extended arms, try these strategies:
🐾 Make it fun and interactive
Lie on your tummy facing your baby so they’re motivated to look up and engage with you. A smiling face is the best toy!
Place a mirror in front of your baby so they can see themselves. Babies love faces—even their own!
🧸 Use toys with just enough challenge
Try placing a small toy slightly out of reach in front of your baby to encourage them to push up on extended arms.
Use pop-up or light-up toys that activate when touched to motivate reaching and pressing.
🦒 Add a little support
Roll up a small towel or blanket and place it under your baby’s chest (with arms forward over the towel) for extra support.
Gently rock your baby forward over your hands while they’re on the towel roll. This helps them feel what it's like to bear weight through their arms without too much effort.
Step 2: Encouraging Forward Movement
Once your baby is comfortable lifting up on their arms and spending more time on their tummy, you might start to see early signs of crawling—like rocking, pivoting in a circle, or scooting backward. These are great steps!
To encourage forward movement such as army crawling or hands-and-knees crawling:
🐛 Move the motivation
Put a favorite toy or a small basket with toys just slightly out of reach on the floor. If it’s too far, your baby might give up—too close, and there’s no challenge.
You can also lay on your belly a short distance away and encourage your baby to come toward you.
✋ Provide a little resistance
Place your hands gently behind their feet to give them something to push off of. That tiny bit of resistance can help them generate the momentum they need to move forward.
🐻 Use tunnels or play tents
Crawling through a tunnel (or even under a blanket draped over two chairs) gives babies a natural reason to move forward and explore, while also supporting spatial awareness and motivation.
🤲 Get on the floor with them
Modeling crawling or scooting yourself and cheering your baby on can be surprisingly effective! Babies love to imitate and follow your movements.
A Note About Timing
Every baby develops at their own pace. Some start crawling at 6 months, others closer to 10 months. Some army crawl for weeks before they get up on hands and knees. All of these variations are okay! What’s most important is that your baby is getting regular time on the floor to build those muscles and learn how to move.
If your baby shows signs of discomfort with tummy time or isn’t interested in pushing up or moving after a few weeks of encouragement, it’s always a good idea to talk with your pediatrician or an occupational therapist for guidance.
Let’s Review: Top Tips
Tummy time several times a day is key!
Use toys, mirrors, or your face for motivation.
Add small supports like a rolled towel under the chest.
Encourage reaching, pivoting, and pushing forward.
Be patient—development is a journey, not a race!
