From how many months does the child begin to hold his head

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

One of the signs of normal development of a child under the age of one is the ability to keep his head up. At how many months does the child begin to do this on his own?

Optimal timing

It is impossible to say unequivocally at how many months the child begins to hold his head on his own. This happens when the baby's neck muscles are strong enough.

This rule is true whether it is a boy or a girl. The baby's head is quite large compared to the rest of the body, and therefore it seems impossible to hold it in the first weeks of life.

At the age of 2-3 weeks, the child tries to raise his head while lying on his tummy. However, these attempts have so far been unsuccessful. Until the baby is one and a half months old, this task will definitely not be able to him, and regardless of the level of development.

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If a month-old baby holds his head, this may be a symptom of neurological diseases, and therefore his parents should consult a specialist. The fact is that in some cases it is a manifestation of high intracranial pressure.

But is it possible to determine the time frame after which the inability to hold the head is defined as a pathology? To deal with this, let's analyze the following features that must be taken into account:

1. Most babies acquire the ability to keep their head upright at 3 months. Some people master it a little earlier, others can learn it only by 4 months. Both options can be considered the norm.
2. At 5-6 months, the child manages to confidently hold the head, as well as turn it from any position, for example, when he wants to look at a toy or after hears a sound.
3. Another important skill is that at 6 months, a baby can look at the environment around him, bright toys, or turn his head to look after his parents.
4. In the first 3-4 months, when carrying a baby in your arms, you must definitely support his head. It should not lean back.

Any sudden movements must be excluded, as this can lead to damage to the vertebrae, as well as the tissues of the muscles of the neck.

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The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky

The well-known pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky is of the opinion that the development of the baby is directly influenced by the efforts made by the parents. This, among other things, directly depends on how many months the child begins to hold his head on his own.

If adults use the exercises and do it correctly, then self-elevation of the head will occur within normal times. What should be done for this?

Doctor Komarovsky focuses on the fact that, starting from the first days of a child's life, and it does not matter whether it is a boy or a girl, it should be laid on his stomach. This stimulates the toddler to try to raise his head and look at his surroundings.

Do not be afraid if the child at first cannot raise his head and buries his nose in the diaper. In this case, you can help him, insure him, but he must put it on his stomach. In addition, most babies, after they feel the diaper on their face, reflexively turn their heads to one side.

It is important to choose the right time for this exercise. It should be spread on the stomach before meals or an hour after feeding. This also contributes to the elimination of gas, as well as regurgitation of air, which can serve as a source of discomfort.

Gradually, the duration of this exercise can be increased. For the first time, it is enough to put the baby on the tummy for 30 seconds. You can lay it out without clothes if the room is warm.

It is important that the surface on which the baby is placed is neither too hard nor too soft. It should be covered with a clean flannel diaper. You can collapse it several times. Soft surfaces must be avoided because the child's muscles may not work properly under such conditions.

When is it necessary to see a pediatrician?

Do not worry if, after laying on the tummy, the baby begins to be capricious. This is a completely natural phenomenon. To reduce the level of anxiety, you can select a time for exercise when the child is in a good mood.

In the period 3-4 months. the child must hold his head confidently. It is impossible to name this period more precisely, since each child develops according to his own individual plan.

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But if this did not happen within the specified time frame, it is necessary to seek advice from a pediatrician, who, in turn, can refer to related specialists, for example, a neurologist.

The problem can occur if:

• the baby was born prematurely;
• he has a birth injury;
• he is not gaining weight well enough;
• the baby has weak muscle tone.

Sometimes it is possible to speed up the child's development process and normalize muscle tone with the help of a special massage. In any case, parents shouldn't worry too much, because most of the problems that arise are solvable. The main thing is to pay attention to them in a timely manner and follow exactly the recommendations of specialists.

Sometimes in the question of how many months a child begins to hold his head on his own, one can hear the opinion that girls learn this skill later. It's a delusion. The ability to hold the head does not depend on the gender of the child.

Summarizing

1. According to experts, a child should learn to hold his head in 3-4 months.
2. Earlier or later mastery of the ability may indicate neurological problems and require specialist advice.
3. Often, performing the exercises recommended by the pediatrician, following his advice in combination with a special massage, can solve the problem.