Pushes up on elbows
Typical Timing & Development Window
Visual Timeline & Milestone Benchmarks
What these numbers mean
The average age babies first begin showing early signs of this skill. Before this, it's simply too early — there's nothing to worry about.
The midpoint age: half of babies have reached this milestone by here, half a little later. It's a typical target, not a deadline.
How spread out the timing is. About two-thirds of babies achieve it within one standard deviation of the median (the shaded band, wk 15–19). Wide bands mean a normal range of variation.
A gentle check-in point. If your baby hasn't shown this by around here, it can be worth mentioning to your pediatrician — most often it's still perfectly fine, just later.
About this milestone
While lying on their stomach, the infant pushes their upper body upward, supporting their weight on their forearms and elbows. This action strengthens the shoulder girdle, upper back, and pectoral muscles. It expands the infant's visual field and prepares them for reaching and rolling.
- 1. Place colorful, crinkly toys just out of reach in front of the infant during tummy time to encourage forward weight-bearing.
- 2. Position a baby-safe floor mirror in front of the infant, prompting them to push up to view their own reflection.
- 3. Gently guide the infant's elbows directly under their shoulders to help them establish a stable, supportive base.
- 4. Recline on your back and place the infant on your chest, encouraging them to push up to look at your face.
- 1. Avoid keeping the infant in passive containers like swings or bouncers for more than 15-20 minutes at a time.
- 2. Do not leave the infant unsupervised on elevated surfaces such as couches or changing tables during these physical attempts.
- 3. Avoid pushing the infant's arms into position if they show physical resistance or signs of exhaustion.