On March 7, we hosted a Live session on Instagram with Caroline, physical therapist and founder of the CAPP, a multidisciplinary holistic support center for women and families in Tassin-la-Demi-Lune near Lyon. During an hour and a quarter of in-depth and insightful discussion, we talked about free movement (gross motor development) for babies and young children up to age 3.
ARTICLE SUMMARY
- What is free movement?
- Prerequisites: a safe environment and... that's it
- Baby starts walking: free movement in practice
- Classic baby gear: not always suitable
- Free movement in a nutshell
What is free movement?
Free movement is a gentle, supportive concept that has regained popularity in recent years. From birth up to age 3 and beyond, the idea is to let babies move freely as often as possible. Unhindered, they develop in an environment that supports the development of body awareness, gross motor skills, and independence at their own pace.
Prerequisites: a safe environment and... that's it
As Caroline showed us during the Instagram Live available on our account @elhee_us, practicing free movement with your baby is truly for everyone and comes with nothing but benefits. Since the main principle is to let the infant—right from birth—be free to move and first discover their body and then their environment, you need virtually no equipment, just attention.
Your new essential? A rather firm floor mat without accessories. Free movement leaves behind the soft play mat with its pastel-colored arch, instead focusing on a much simpler, plainer type of mat.
Did you know? Until about 3 months old, babies see in black and white. Red and green colors emerge around 3 months, and others follow gradually around 5 or 6 months.
Do you practice yoga or work out at home? If so, you might use those smooth mats that are non-slip and easy to clean. That's exactly what your baby needs! From the very first weeks, lying on their back, your baby looks around, listens, and freely turns their head to the right and left when you speak to them.
To fully benefit from this and keep your baby safe, clear the space around you. Remove anything that could fall or be grabbed, and keep pets away during these alert periods. These moments will be all the richer for the interactions with your child.
Baby starts walking: free movement in practice
Around 12 to 18 months, babies start getting up and trying to move around and explore their world. Mats and cushions remain important for cushioning any falls, but the rest of the space should be kept clear to make first attempts easier.
Meanwhile, secure the furniture (especially corners and doors), remove any dangerous or fragile items for a while, and make sure to block access to the stairs: it will give you peace of mind. Shoes are still optional at this stage—let your baby go barefoot to help them develop their senses, muscles, and reflexes. If needed, on tile or outdoors, try ultra-soft slippers.
First steps coming soon? It's finally time for that first pair of shoes! Choose flexible baby shoes designed for first walkers—easy to put on, with reinforced toes and a non-slip sole.
Finally, keep in mind that self-confidence plays a crucial role in learning to walk. Encourage your child, applaud their efforts, and celebrate every little achievement!
Classic baby gear: not always suitable
Some popular baby gear actually contradicts the principles of free movement because it is too restrictive, too rigid, or sometimes just unnecessary. Want to practice free movement with your baby? As a physical therapist, Caroline recommends storing away, selling, or never buying the following items :
- the play mat, which is too soft and restricts babies' movements and ability to get around,
- the bouncer, where infants are strapped in with limited movement, and are often in a semi-upright position that isn't right for them,
- the play gym arch and mobile hold a baby's gaze and attention in just one spot, while babies need to be stimulated from all sides and move around freely,
- the infant car seat used as a stroller or a crib: outside the car, where it is useful, it completely restricts babies' ability to move,
- clothing that is too big, too tight, or too stiff which makes it hard for babies to move around.
Don’t want to give these things up completely? One solution is to reduce the time they are used or save them for special occasions, so your baby still enjoys long stretches of free movement.
Free movement: health benefits
The essence of the free movement philosophy is to avoid suggesting or forcing any movement a baby hasn't yet learned on their own. For example, it is not recommended to put a child in a sitting position if they can't do it themselves without help. To master sitting, a baby first needs to go from back to tummy and master crawling. Only then should they try sitting upright by themselves.
In short, to really develop complete body awareness (recognizing and knowing how to use both arms, hands, and legs—things they are unaware of at birth), a baby needs experimentation, which is exactly what free movement offers. If toys are always placed in a baby's right hand, on the right side, they'll tend to favor their right hand only, because their body map remains incomplete. If always placed under a play gym right above, there's never a reason to turn their head to the right or to the left.
This way, a baby who always turns the same way in their crib (because the door or window is always on that side) or is left lying on their back without moving their head enough is at risk of developing plagiocephaly—a common condition also called flat head syndrome. By creating free movement spaces at home, you can help avoid or minimize these symptoms. Encourage your baby, for example, by talking to them from the other side, changing the orientation of their crib, or turning them on the mattress if it's up against a wall.
Through free movement, every baby and child learns to move in harmony with their own abilities, learns from failures, from falling down, but above all from their victories. It’s the foundation for a child to trust their own body.
You’ll save money!
That isn’t really the main goal, but free movement can also help you save money. As Caroline explains perfectly in our video, much of the baby gear you find on the market isn't truly needed or is not really suitable for babies, simply because it gets in the way or restricts their movement too much.
Free movement in a nutshell
You get the idea—free movement lives up to its name. For you, it means observing and letting your baby move and develop as they wish. Your main role? Ensuring your little one’s calm and safety during each activity period. To practice, it’s easy. Learn to spot the 5 main stages of gross motor development: lying on the back at birth, rolling over and tummy time, baby crawling and then moving on all fours, and finally standing up, which leads to walking.
- Respect your child’s pace and don’t intervene : offer, provide access, but don’t force or do things for them.
- Give them a supportive, safe, and unconstrained environment with a firm floor mat set up in a comfortable and secure room for your baby.
- Your child gains confidence : step by step, victory by victory, on the path to independence.
That’s it! Free movement is a little of all that—learning to feel their body and use it on their own, at their own pace, and growing in self-awareness from birth.
