Head Control In Babies – When it Develops & How to Encourage

It is only after four months that your baby is able to hold/ lift the head up without much head support. During this time, your baby will try to raise his head while on his back during tummy time and even prop his elbows in a cobra pose. By the time he reaches six months of age, your little one develops strong head and muscle control and can look from side to side.

Causes of Poor Head Control in Babies

If your baby is not able to hold their head by the age of four months, you may need to see a pediatrician to get your baby evaluated. Babies develop at their own pace and some babies may experience a slight delay of a few weeks to develop head control. Most babies will be able to hold their neck on their own by the time they are six months old.

Post six months, if your baby is not still able to gain control over their head and neck, this may be a cause for concern.

There can be many causes for poor head control in babies. Some of them include

• Developmental delay in the motor skills of a baby can lead to poor head control.
• Disorders such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy can also result in babies not being able to hold their head on their own.

How Will Babies Develop Head Control?

Your baby will gradually try to develop head control over the first 6 months. Your baby will go through different stages of head control and will master the same as he grows. Here’s what to expect during the first 6 months of your baby as far as this milestone is concerned.

a. Head Support For Newborns

A newborn baby’s neck muscles are weak so they will have no head control. They will rely on their mothers to support their head and neck while being carried. This is probably nature’s way of helping the mother and child bond by developing close face-to-face contact.

b. One To Two Months –  Babies Lifting Their Head

During these months babies begin lifting their head and are also able to turn to one side or the other. Once they complete two months, they will try and raise their head when on their back. Also when you carry your little one on your shoulder, he will begin holding up his head very shakily and also not for a very long time.

c. Head Control In Three to Four Months Babies

Once your little one reaches this age, they will start to lift their head right up to 45 degrees during tummy time and even hold their head steadily. By this age, they are ready to be carried around in a baby carrier. A simple exercise that will help their neck muscles become strong is positioning them on their back and pulling them up with their hands in a sitting position. Slowly ease the back and repeat this a few times.

d. Five to Six Months -Steady Head Control

Once your baby is around six months old, they can hold their head up steadily and erect. This is the time when most babies are able to sit without much support and hold their heads up. Jogging strollers are ideal to be introduced at this stage.

Top 3 Ways To Encourage Head Control In Babies

There is not much that you can do to help your baby start developing head control. But in the initial months, you have to careful that you support your baby’s head and neck while you hold him. Make sure that you cradle your little one’s head each time you carry him, lift or hold him. You also need to exercise extreme caution till your baby develop proper head control. Try and see that the little one sleeps on his back most of the time. This is how you can encourage head control in babies:

1. Tummy Time

Tummy time is very important to help your baby strengthen his back and neck muscles so that he can hold his head up on his own. For this put your little one on his stomach while he is awake and give him attractive toys to make tummy time fun for your baby. This will help to strengthen the muscles of his neck

2. Sit-up Exercise

Once the little one is three months old, you can try to position him in a sitting posture on a sofa or your bed with adequate neck and head support. However, make it a point to never make him sit on the edge of the sofa or bed. Also never leave him unattended, as your baby may just topple over

3. Let Them Observe

Positioning him on your lap with his back resting against you is also a good way to help your little one develop head control as he grows. You can keep changing the spots where you sit so that your baby can see different things

What If 3 Months-plus Babies Can’t Lift up Their Heads?

If you notice that your baby is not even slightly holding their head up even after they are 3 months old, do mention it to your pediatrician on your next visit. Just keep in mind that each baby develops skills differently so they will also be reaching developmental milestones at different times. Some may attain these milestones more quickly than others. Head control is no different.

Also, if you have a premature baby, they may reach this milestone a little later than a full-term baby. So, there is nothing to panic about, just go ahead and check with your pediatrician.

What Is Head Lag In Babies?

Rarely, babies can have head lag. It means babies have underdeveloped neck muscles. Head lag can be due to a number of reasons like low birth weight, preterm birth, or cerebral injury (Source)

Head lag can make it difficult for your baby to support themselves. So, by four months, if you see that your baby is not able to keep their head in line with their body when you pull them to sit position, then check with your pediatrician to ensure that your baby’s neck muscles are properly developing.

Why Is Head Control In Babies So Important?

Proper head control lays the foundation for future milestones for babies. Once your baby develops good head control, they can move on to other milestones like sitting up, rolling over, crawling and walking. To be able to start solid foods and sit up in a highchair, it is essential that your baby has proper head control.

When to See A Doctor?

Babies do have their own pace of development and reaching milestones. But having said that, if your baby is not able to hold their head even at the slightest by their third month, you can mention it to your pediatrician on your next visit. They will let you know if any evaluation is needed or you can give your baby a few more weeks.

By the 6th month if you do not see any progress, you may need to consult with your pediatrician who may refer you to a specialist. The specialist may suggest occupational therapies and other treatments to help your baby make progress.

FAQ’s

1. How do I Know if my Baby Has Good Head Control?

Between 2 and 3 months of age, your baby should be able to hold their head at a 45 degree angle. After 3 months of age, your baby should be able to hold their head at a 90 degree angle. By 6 months, your baby should be able to hold their head on their own without any support.

2. How can I Improve my Baby’s Head Control?

Tummy time and sit up exercises are two excellent ways to help improve head control in your babies. You can also sit your baby in your lap and allow them to observe their surroundings. This activity too can help.