Head up! Holding their head up is a hugely important milestone for babies. Head and neck control is a prerequisite for many other important milestones, like sitting up and eventually walking. Your baby will start working on holding their head up from day one, and may begin to lift their head briefly as early as 1 month old. Around 3 to 4 months, you’ll see a major improvement in your baby’s head control. And by 6 months, your baby will probably have mastered the art of keeping a steady head.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- When can babies hold their head up?
- How to help your baby learn head control
- What to do if your baby doesn’t hold their head up
- After your baby can hold their head up, what’s next?
When can babies hold their head up?
Learning to hold their head up is a process that can last until your baby is 6 months old. Your baby will develop this crucial skill little by little over the months.
At birth, your newborn can’t control their head because their motor skills aren’t developed and their neck muscles are weak. For the first few months, you’ll need to cradle your baby’s neck and head when you lift them, hold them, carry them, or put them down.
Here’s a timeline of how your baby will master holding their head up:
Newborn
Your baby will rely on you to support their head and neck for at least the first month. Perhaps it’s nature’s way of making sure you have lots of time to gaze into each other’s eyes and bond as you cradle your baby in your arms.
1 to 2 months
By the end of the first month, your baby will likely be able to lift their head briefly and turn it from side to side when lying on their tummy. At around 6 to 8 weeks, if your baby is especially strong and coordinated, they’ll raise their head while lying on their back.
When you carry your baby on your shoulder, they’ll have enough control to hold their head up shakily, but not for long. Your baby will also be strong enough to hold up their head while sitting supported in a car seat or front pack. If you carry your baby in a sling, make sure their face is visible since they can’t easily move their head to breathe.
3 to 4 months
You’ll notice a definite improvement in head control by now. Your baby will be able to raise their head to 45 degrees while on their tummy and keep it up steadily. Many 4-month-olds will do a “mini pushup” – holding their head and chest up by pushing off the ground with their arms. Also by 4 months old, your baby will probably hold their head steadily when placed in a sitting position.
5 to 6 months
By 6 months old, your baby will likely be able to hold their head strong and steady. If they’re pulled into a sitting position, your baby will bring their head forward. Wait until your little one can hold their head up well, without any support from you, before putting them in a jogging stroller or baby backpack.
How to help your baby learn head control
Two words: Tummy time. Although your infant should always sleep on their back, give them plenty of time to exercise on their tummy when they’re awake.
At first, they may struggle to keep their head up – and wail nonstop. As guilty as you feel watching your baby cry, keep in mind that short tummy time sessions throughout the day are crucial! Tummy time not only strengthens your baby’s neck and shoulder muscles, it also improves hand-eye coordination and motor skills and helps prevent flat spots from forming on your baby’s head.
Here are a few ways to encourage tummy time and head control:
- Start tummy time early; the day your baby comes home from the hospital or soon after.
- Keep it short at first: Newborns can do just a minute or two of tummy time; work up to sessions of about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Sit near your baby during tummy time and encourage them to look up by waving a rattle or toy. Sing, talk, or read a board book to your baby. Use a tummy-time mat or activity mat with fun toys, lights, and sounds.
- From 3 to 6 months old, prop your baby in a sitting position – in a safe place, with plenty of neck and head support. (Use pillows, or sit your baby on your lap with their back against you.) Have your baby sit in different spots around your home so their view changes. Never leave your baby sitting unattended, though, because they could topple over.
- From 3 to 6 months old, try this simple exercise: Place your baby on their back and slowly pull them up by their hands to a sitting position. Carefully ease them back down and repeat.
What to do if your baby doesn’t hold their head up
Babies’ heads are disproportionately large (and heavy) for their bodies, so it takes time to develop the coordination and strength to keep their heads up.
If your baby seems to struggle to lift their head up even slightly at 3 months old, mention it at your baby’s next doctor visit. But keep in mind that babies develop skills differently, some more quickly than others, and head control is no exception. Premature babies may reach this and other milestones later than their peers – check with your child’s doctor if you’re worried.
After your baby can hold their head up, what’s next?
After your baby masters head control, they can move on to sitting up, rolling over, and crawling. Head control is also necessary for eating solid foods and sitting in a highchair.
Once your baby has stable head control, you may notice them turning their head toward sound or other stimuli, such as a ball rolling across the floor. You can help further strengthen their neck muscles by playing games that encourage them to turn their head to see you.
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