Knowing when babies hold their heads can help you better understand your child's development, as it is one of the first milestones for newborns. Control over your own body marks your growth in every way and that they are able to support their own head is essential.
Watching your own baby grow up is one of those wonderful things about motherhood, because enjoy each moment in a unique way and special. It is enormously exciting to see how they begin to control their gaze towards colors that attract their attention, how they attend to the sounds of the most important voices and, without a doubt, the moment to see that they begin to control their body, starting with their own head.
Babies' heads, when do they hold it?
Usually, towards the end of the first month of life the baby He is able to raise his head when lying on his stomach. At first it takes only a few seconds, but your baby's neck and back muscles will get stronger. Until around 6 months, the baby will be able to fully support his head.
This is not something that can be achieved immediately, it is a progressive work that will go through different phases. First, when the baby is on his tummy at a few weeks, you will be able to move your head to the sides and you will be able to lift it up a few seconds. Then, at 3 or 4 months, your child should be able to keep his head straight when he is sitting in, for example, the child restraint in the car or when you hold him in your arms.
Finally, around the sixth month, the little one will be able to raise his head while lying on his back and will be able to keep it that way in any position. This is a general pattern about him physical development of the baby in its first months as far as the head is concerned. However, it should be remembered that each baby is different and that these times can vary.
When should i worry
Holding the head is one of the first milestones in the development of babies and for this reason pediatricians already observe it in the first check-ups of the newborn. In some cases, this can be delayed for natural reasons, since all babies are different and not all progress at the same time. However, there are some cases in which the situation should be analyzed in depth. Since the baby can not hold his head at a certain age, it may be an indicator of a problem.
All babies are born with what is known in medical terms as axial hypotonia. That is to say, they do not have strength in the trunk and neck musculature and therefore cannot control the weight of their head. This begins to change soon and before two months, it is normal for the baby to be able to move his head, lift it up and turn it to the sides. If your baby is not able to make these movements in his first months, it is very important to consult with the pediatrician.
Especially if it has not been achieved by the sixth month, since there may be a hypotonia problem that must be corrected and treated as soon as possible. The sooner you start working, the better., since in most cases it is possible to solve it with physiotherapy, massages and specific exercises. It is also very important to work with the baby at home to help him strengthen his muscles and get him to be able to support his head.
You just have to put it upside down on the bed or a firm but soft surface. A few minutes a day will be enough, since it is not necessary to force the posture. With this, you will get the baby to make an effort to raise his head and little by little he will strengthen the muscles of his neck and back. Nevertheless, If the months go by and you notice that his head is still lax, you should go to the pediatrician's office to assess the situation.