Week 18: Kicking play helps your baby learn to roll

Your baby is figuring out that their legs and feet are parts of their body. When they kick, they start to understand that their body can create noise or movement. They are also building important neck strength by tucking their chin to look down at their legs and feet. This “chin tuck” helps build strength for rolling over from back to side, and then eventually from back to belly.

Here are some fun ideas for kicking play:

• Buy a couple of helium balloons and tie them loosely to your baby’s ankles

• Wedge the edge of some tissue paper under a couch cushion for your baby to kick

• Put your baby on their back on the floor, with rattle socks on their feet, and show them how they can make crinkle or rattle noises by shaking their legs

• Place them on their back, with their feet over the Making Sounds flap of The Play Gym

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