Count your baby’s kicks during pregnancy and time how long it takes to feel 10 movements with the count-to-10 method. A clear reminder sits alongside: contact your maternity unit about any reduced movements.
If your baby is moving less than usual, the pattern has changed, or a count is taking much longer than normal, contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away — at any time of day or night. Never wait, and don’t rely on this tool to reassure you. Reduced movement is always worth checking.
Get comfortable, then tap the button each time you feel a movement (kick, roll, flutter or jab). The timer shows how long it takes to reach 10.
Kick counting is usually suggested from around the third trimester, and is best done at a time your baby is normally active. Follow whatever method your own midwife or doctor recommends.
This is a simple counting aid, not medical monitoring and not a substitute for professional care. It does not assess your baby’s wellbeing. Always follow your provider’s advice, and contact your maternity unit immediately about any reduction or change in movements.
How to Count Baby Kicks During Pregnancy
Start the timer, tap the button for each kick, roll, flutter or jab, and stop at 10. If 10 movements take 12 minutes, the tool shows an average of 1:12 per movement. Compare that with your own earlier sessions. If movements have slowed down, changed or stopped, contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away.
- Get comfortable at a time your baby is usually active, often in the evening, lying on your side.
- Press Start and tap once for each movement you feel.
- Stop at the 10th tap: for example, 10 movements in 12:00.
- Read the average: 12 minutes ÷ 10 = 1 minute 12 seconds per movement.
- Compare the time with your usual pattern.
How the Kick Counter Works
The tool times the classic “count-to-10” method and nothing more. It’s a simple tracking aid, not a diagnostic device.
Formula: Movements counted = the number of times you tap the “Tap when baby moves” button, up to 10. Elapsed time = the time between starting the timer and reaching the 10th tap (pausing with the Start/pause control stops the clock without losing your count). Average time per movement = elapsed time ÷ number of movements counted so far. There is no separate scoring or pass/fail formula; the calculator only reports these two numbers.
- Tap when baby moves: the button you press for each kick, roll, flutter, or jab you feel
- Start / pause timer: starts or pauses the elapsed-time clock without resetting your count
- Reset: clears the count and timer back to zero to begin a new count-to-10 session
Example Scenarios
| Movements Felt | Elapsed Time | Avg Time per Movement |
|---|---|---|
| 10 (session complete) | 12:00 | 1:12 |
| 10 (session complete) | 20:00 | 2:00 |
| 7 (session in progress) | 9:30 | 1:21 |
| 10 (session complete) | 30:45 | 3:05 |
| 10 (session complete) | 6:00 | 0:36 |
Kick Counts in the Third Trimester: Learn Your Baby’s Pattern
Kick counts are most useful for learning what normal looks like for your baby, since every baby has its own rhythm of active and quiet spells.
- Count at a time your baby is usually active.
- Kicks, rolls, swishes and flutters all count as movements.
- Compare with your own earlier sessions, not with friends’ babies or online averages.
Does kicking slow down in the third trimester? It is a myth that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy. If you notice movements have slowed down, changed or stopped, contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away, day or night, rather than starting another session on the baby kick counter.
Don’t use a home heartbeat monitor or app to reassure yourself either; hearing a heartbeat does not mean your baby is well. A kick counter is a prompt to pay attention, not a medical test.
The NHS guide to your baby’s movements explains what to report and why, and it is worth reading before you start counting.
Common questions about counting baby kicks
When should I start counting baby kicks?
Kick counting is usually suggested from around the third trimester, once movements are established and more regular, but always follow whatever timing your own midwife or doctor recommends for your pregnancy.How long should it take to feel 10 kicks?
This tool doesn’t set a pass/fail time, because what’s typical varies a lot between pregnancies and even between days. What matters is your own pattern: if a count takes much longer than it usually does for you, contact your midwife or maternity unit right away.Does kicking slow down in the third trimester?
It is a myth that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy. If movements slow down, change or stop, contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away, day or night.What counts as a “movement” for the count-to-10 method?
Any kick, roll, flutter or jab you notice counts as one movement. Hiccups are usually not counted the same way since they feel different and repetitive.What should I do if movements feel less than usual or a count is taking much longer than normal?
Contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away, at any time of day or night. Don’t wait to see if things pick up, and don’t use this tool’s timer to reassure yourself instead of getting checked, because reduced movement is always worth reporting.Does this tool tell me if my baby is okay?
No. It’s only a counting aid that times how long 10 movements take. It does not assess your baby’s wellbeing and is not a substitute for professional care, so take any concern about movement to your maternity team.Related Calculators
Kick counting is most often used in the later stages of pregnancy, so the pregnancy week calculator can help you confirm which trimester you’re in, and the fetal weight calculator lets you log estimated growth alongside your movement counts. If something feels different earlier on, the early pregnancy symptoms guide covers what’s commonly reported in the first trimester.