Tummy Time to Crawling: The 12-Week Milestone Movement Plan

If you've ever felt stuck watching your baby struggle through tummy time—arching their back, getting frustrated after thirty seconds, or just not seeming to progress the way you hoped—you're not alone. Most parents know tummy time is important, but very few of us are given a real roadmap for how to do it well, how to progress it as baby grows, or what to actually watch for at each stage. This plan is designed to take the guesswork out. Over twelve weeks, you'll get specific positioning strategies, play setups, and movement cues tailored to where your baby is right now—whether that's day three or month five. You'll learn how to set up tummy time so it actually builds the muscles baby needs for rolling, sitting, and eventually crawling. You'll know which red flags to watch for (like uneven thigh folds or persistent head turning to one side) and when they matter. And you'll have a clear progression path so you're not wondering if you're doing enough, doing too much, or missing something critical. I'm Kaitlin, a pediatric physical therapist who's spent years helping parents feel confident in their baby's motor development. I created this plan because I kept seeing the same pattern: parents doing tummy time "by the book" but without the context to make it work for their specific baby. This isn't a generic milestone chart. It's a practical, week-by-week system that meets you where you are and gives you exactly what to do next—so you can stop second-guessing and start seeing real progress.