Developmental Milestones

Gentle, Holistic Physio Support for Your Child’s Development

Achieving developmental milestones ontime show that children are developing strength, balance, coordination, and movement skills as expected. Whilst every child grows at their own pace, knowing what to expect—and when to seek support—can give parents confidence and peace of mind. When children don’t meet their milestones as expected, it can be a sign to seek support.

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A woman with blonde hair and a maroon sweater kneeling on the floor, smiling as she watches a young child with blonde hair and a striped sweater playing with a colorful educational toy on a bed.

Why are Milestones Important?

Each milestone achievement is reflective of a child achieving the underlying competencies required to do the big movement. For example, for children to be able to roll, they need to first develop visual tracking skills, balance systems, strength in their shoulders, neck and trunk to initiate and complete the movement. When children are delayed in their gross motor milestones, it is often an early sign that a child has tightness or weakness. Seeking support early can prevent continued delays and support development

Comprehensive Paediatric Physiotherapy to Nuture Development

At Canberra Children’s Physiotherapy, our Paediatric Physiotherapists are here to help you navigate your child’s motor development with evidence-based guidance and early intervention when needed. If you have any concerns—or simply want reassurance—our team is here to help. Contact us to book an assessment for confident movement from the very beginning.

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When do Babies achieve each Developmental Milestone?

  • Rolling Tummy to Back

    Rolling from tummy to back usually happens around 4-5 months and should be symmetrical in both directions. We’re expecting children to do this with their chins tucked towards their chest from a propped-on elbow position. Arching to achieve this movement can be a sign of tightness or reduced strength.

  • Rolling Back to Tummy

    Children roll from back to tummy happens after rolling tummy to back at around 6-7 months. Children should be able to do this in both directions and should initiate the movement by reaching across their body with one arm, lifting their hips and rolling to their side and then onto their tummy. A common sign of tightness is when children do this movement by arching their neck and back to leverage themselves onto their tummy.

  • Crawling

    Babies can usually get into 4 point kneeling around 6-7 months and start crawling confidently at 8-10 months. Commando crawling prior to this is common, but we really want to see hands and knees moving together to classify it as meeting the crawling milestone. We see crawling as an essential developmental milestone as it supports development of shoulder neck and hip strength.

  • Standing

    Babies should be pushing into the ground with their feet when held from 3 months, supporting their whole body weight when held in standing from 6 months, standing at a small table from 10-11 months and standing independently at 11-12 months.

  • Walking

    Babies can usually walk with hands held from 11-12 months, starting to take independent steps between 12-13 months and walking independently as their main mode of transport at 14-15 months old. When learning to walk, babies fall very often (but good news is that they’re close to the ground, so it’s not far to fall!).

  • Premature babies

    Premature babies are those born earlier than 37 weeks gestation. As they entered the world before their body systems had fully developed, they can require physiotherapy to support their development.

Gentle, Thorough Assessments
for Your Baby’s Best Start

Your baby’s physiotherapy assessment begins with a warm conversation about their birth, development, sleep, and feeding before we complete a gentle, head-to-toe evaluation of their movement, muscle tone, and joint function. We explain our findings clearly, create a personalised treatment plan with practical strategies for home, and collaborate with your GP or specialists—arranging scans or further referrals when needed—to ensure your baby receives the most comprehensive and supportive care.

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1. Initial appointment

We start with a chat! We talk about baby’s birth and how they’ve been developing since being earthside. We delve into their sleep and feeding patterns, any concerns that have arisen and may ask more specific questions about your presenting concern. We will usually also ask when they’ve achieved their current developmental milestones to date.

2. Thorough assessment

We always do a ‘Head-to-Toe’ Assessment to fully assess baby’s muscles and joints. We look at how baby is moving in different positions.  We explain what we are observing throughout our assessment and why it’s relevant

3. Develop a treatment plan

Once we have assessed your child, we will summarise our findings and discuss a treatment plan. This may include stretches, strengthening exercises, sensory based interventions, positioning and movement advice. We rarely advise to practice rolling to improve rolling or practice crawling to improve crawling as we believe that there is always an underlying reason that they aren’t initiating the movement on their own – usually tightness or weakness!

4. We collaborate

We like to link in with your GP or specialist to coordinate our treatment approach if needed. We want the best outcome for your baby which requires everyone on the same page.

5. Referral to other therapists

Sometimes we may need to refer your baby for a scan or to another specialist to get some more information to help with a diagnosis or treatment plan.

Questions, Answered with Care

Navigating movement concerns for children can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Explore our FAQs to learn what baby physiotherapy involves, who it can help, what sessions look like, and how we support families every step of the way.

  • If you can, baby’s blue book can be helpful for us to look at as it contains baby’s growth trajectory and birth history. 

    Dress baby in something they can move in that is easy to take on and off as we often look at baby’s hips, spine and feet during our assessments.

  • Most government websites will list 18 months as the ‘red-flag’ deadline of when to get your child assessed if they aren’t walking. This is the age where they are considered to be definitely delayed.

    What we see in clinic is that usually if a child isn’t walking before 15 months, there is tightness or weakness.

    Our experience if that when treatment is delayed, children need treatment more intensely and for longer. Delayed movement also impacts other skills such as speech, play skills and social development as children aren’t able to engage with peers as easily.

  • We recommend coming to see is if your child hasn’t developed the gross motor milestone within a month of the expected timeframe.

  • You don’t require a referral to see us – you can book online or call the clinic to speak with our reception team.

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    In physiotherapy, we focus lots on the development of the musculoskeletal system – looking at muscles, joints/bones, sensory and neurological systems. We usually are setting specific play-based exercises, stretches or strengthening tasks for you to complete with your child.

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    Since the release of the international position statement on spinal manipulation and mobilisation in children aged under 2 years old, we know that hands-on intervention to the spine or soft tissue adjacent to the spine has been contraindicated (not recommended) due to the increased risk of adverse reaction comparative to other evidence-based therapies.  It can be considered once children are over 2 years old, however is still discouraged until around 6 years of age and should only be done by a very experienced therapist. See consensus statement HERE:

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  • Our initial appointments are around 1 hour and follow up appointments are around 45 minutes.

Have questions? Go to our FAQs

Help Starts Here!

If you're seeking care for your child's physical development and well-being, we're here to help. We are committed to providing compassionate and effective treatment tailored to your child's unique needs. Whether your child is experiencing difficulties with mobility, balance, coordination, or other physical challenges, we're here to support them on their journey toward improved strength, function, and independence.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward unlocking your child's full potential.