10 Tips for Tracking Baby Kicks During Pregnancy
Tracking baby kicks is one of the most effective things you can do to monitor your baby's health during pregnancy. A daily kick count takes just a few minutes and gives you a direct window into how your baby is doing — no equipment or appointments required.
Whether you're just starting out at 28 weeks or looking to improve your routine, these ten tips will help you get the most out of every kick counting session.
1. Start Around Week 28
Most healthcare providers recommend beginning daily kick counts at 28 weeks — the start of the third trimester. By this point, your baby has developed a regular sleep-wake cycle, and their movements are strong enough to track reliably.
If you have a high-risk pregnancy, your provider may suggest starting earlier, sometimes as early as 24 to 26 weeks. Follow their guidance on timing.
For a complete walkthrough of the process, see our full guide on how to do a kick count.
2. Pick a Consistent Time Each Day
Choose a time when your baby is typically active. For most babies, this is:
- After a meal — a rise in blood sugar often stimulates movement
- In the evening — research shows fetal activity peaks between 9 PM and 1 AM
- When you're resting — your daytime movement can rock your baby to sleep
Counting at the same time each day makes it much easier to spot meaningful changes in your baby's pattern.
3. Get Into the Right Position
Your position affects how easily you feel your baby's movements. For the best results:
- Lie on your left side — this improves blood flow to the uterus and can encourage movement
- Or sit reclined in a comfortable chair
- Minimize distractions — put your phone aside, turn off the TV, and focus on what you feel
- Place your hands on your belly to pick up subtler movements
Avoid counting while standing, walking, or multitasking. Movement during activities can mask your baby's kicks and give you an inaccurate count.
4. Use the "Count to Ten" Method
The standard approach recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is simple:
- Note your start time
- Count every distinct movement — kicks, rolls, jabs, stretches, or flutters
- Stop when you reach 10 movements
- Record how many minutes it took
Most healthy babies reach 10 movements in 15 to 30 minutes. The clinical threshold is 10 movements within 2 hours. If your baby consistently takes longer, mention it to your provider.
5. Know What Counts as a Movement
Not everything you feel during a session should go toward your count:
| Counts ✅ | Doesn't Count ❌ |
|---|---|
| Kicks | Hiccups (rhythmic, involuntary) |
| Rolls | Braxton Hicks contractions |
| Jabs or punches | Your own muscle twitches |
| Stretches | |
| Flutters | |
| Pushes or nudges |
A common question: do hiccups count? No — fetal hiccups are involuntary diaphragm contractions and don't reflect your baby's deliberate activity. They feel like a rhythmic pulse at regular intervals in one spot. For more on what counts, see our guide on how many kicks per hour is normal.
6. Track Your Sessions Over Time
A single kick count tells you your baby is active right now. A week of tracked sessions tells you what's normal for your baby — and that baseline is what makes kick counting so valuable.
Use an app like TinyKicks to log each session with a single tap. The app tracks your time automatically and builds a history so you can spot trends, compare days, and share concrete data with your care team.
Recording consistently helps you answer the question every provider will ask: "Has your baby's movement changed recently?"
7. Don't Panic About Quiet Periods
Babies sleep in the womb in cycles of 20 to 40 minutes, and sometimes up to 90 minutes. A short quiet period during your count is completely normal.
If your baby seems unusually still, try these gentle prompts before worrying:
- Drink a glass of cold water or juice
- Eat a small snack with natural sugar
- Gently press on your belly
- Change positions — shift from sitting to lying on your left side
Then restart your count. In most cases, your baby will respond within a few minutes.
8. Watch for Changes in Your Baby's Pattern
The single most important thing kick counting teaches you is your baby's unique rhythm. What matters isn't hitting a specific number — it's noticing when something changes.
Pay attention if:
- Your baby takes significantly longer than usual to reach 10 movements
- A typically active baby becomes noticeably quieter
- Your baby doesn't reach 10 movements in 2 hours after trying prompts
- Movement drops off suddenly after a period of normal activity
Any of these changes is worth a call to your healthcare provider. For detailed guidance on what to do, see our article on decreased fetal movement.
9. Share Your Records with Your Provider
Bring your kick count logs to every prenatal appointment. This gives your care team:
- Objective data about your baby's activity patterns
- A baseline to compare against if concerns arise later
- Early warning signals that might not be obvious in a single visit
If you're using TinyKicks, you can show your session history directly from the app — no paper charts needed.
10. Trust Your Instincts
You spend more time with your baby than anyone else. After a few weeks of daily kick counting, you'll develop a strong sense of what's normal. Trust that knowledge.
If something feels off — even if the numbers look fine on paper — call your provider. Healthcare professionals expect and welcome these calls. It's always better to check and be reassured than to wait and worry.
Remember: There is no such thing as calling too often about your baby's movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a kick count session take?
Most babies reach 10 movements in 15 to 30 minutes. The maximum window is 2 hours. If your baby consistently takes longer than an hour, or if a session that normally takes 20 minutes suddenly takes over an hour, contact your healthcare provider.
Is it normal for kick counts to vary from day to day?
Small day-to-day variation is normal. Your baby may take 15 minutes one day and 25 the next. What you're watching for is a significant change — like jumping from 20 minutes to over an hour, or a normally active baby becoming consistently quiet.
What if kicks feel painful?
As your baby grows in the third trimester, kicks can become genuinely uncomfortable — especially when they target your ribs, bladder, or cervix. Painful kicks are normal and a sign of a strong baby. For relief strategies, see our guide on why baby kicks hurt.
Should I worry if my baby moves a lot?
No. A very active baby is almost always a healthy baby. There's no upper limit for fetal movement. However, if your baby's activity suddenly and dramatically increases from their normal pattern, it's worth noting. Learn more in our article on increased fetal movement.
Kick counting is a small daily habit that gives you real peace of mind. By tracking consistently, you'll know your baby's patterns better than anyone — and you'll be the first to notice if something changes.
Start tracking today with TinyKicks — a free kick counter app designed to make daily fetal movement tracking effortless.
