When a baby begins to hold their head up on its own, it’s an exciting developmental milestone. It’s evident that their muscles are growing stronger and that they are becoming more adept at controlling their body. Seeing this development as a parent or caregiver can be comforting and exciting at the same time.
Babies usually start to hold their heads up when they are placed on their stomachs while they are awake, a practice known as "tummy time." They may not be able to raise their heads very much at first, but with practice, they will be able to do so for longer and longer stretches of time. While every baby is unique, this development typically begins between one and three months of age.
Knowing when and how this milestone happens will enable you to provide your baby with the best possible growth support. It’s always a good idea to speak with a pediatrician if you have any concerns or questions about your baby’s development to make sure they’re meeting their milestones at a healthy pace.
| Age | Developmental Milestones |
| 1-2 months | At this age, babies may start to lift their head slightly when lying on their stomach. They will have limited control and may wobble. |
| 2-3 months | Babies begin to gain more head control. They can lift their head and chest while on their stomach and hold it up for short periods. |
| 4-5 months | Head control improves significantly. Babies can hold their head steady while sitting with support and during tummy time. |
| 6 months | Most babies can hold their head up steadily and confidently in most positions. They can sit with minimal support and have good head control while playing. |
- Development of skills
- At what age can children hold their heads themselves?
- Norms for premature babies
- Deviations from the norm
- The baby holds his head up already at 1 month
- At 3 months, the child, lying on his stomach, does not hold his head up
- We conduct the test at home
- Actions in case of delay
- Exercises to strengthen the neck muscles
- Massage and nutrition
- Video on the topic
- When a child begins to hold his head on his own?
- When a child begins to hold his head
- When a child begins to hold his head and roll over ?
- How to teach a baby (infant) to hold his head
- How a baby should hold his head, muscular torticollis. Neck distortion.
- When a child holds his head on his own. How to teach a child to hold his head
- When a child begins to hold his head on his own?
Development of skills
Babies in their first month of life cannot hold their heads up because they lack the ability to control their neck muscles. Because of their reflexive movements, lifting a baby by the arms will cause its head to fall back, endangering the health of its vertebrae. Adults should therefore support the baby by the back of the head until the child is able to hold his head for extended periods of time on his own.
- In the second or third week of life, when laid on his tummy, the baby begins to try to lift his head.
- In the second month of life, the child can lift his head while lying on his stomach (the head is at an acute angle) and is able to hold it like this for 30-60 seconds.
- In the third month of life, the baby already holds his head upright, but the neck muscles are not yet fully strengthened, so adults should still insure the baby. In the prone position, the baby already lifts both the head and the shoulder girdle, and if you lift the baby"s body from the supine position by pulling the baby by the arms, the head and neck remain in one line.
- In the fourth to fifth month of life, the baby already holds his head well enough and turns it to the sides.
At what age can children hold their heads themselves?
By three months of age, the majority of healthy children are able to hold their heads. Some babies pick up this skill as early as two months, but others take a little longer to catch on, and by the time they are four months old, they can hold their heads well.
Norms for premature babies
From two to three months of age, premature babies start to hold their heads. These babies don’t try to hold their heads in the prone position until their second month of life, and they soon grow weary of trying. Many premature babies have been holding their heads up for a while now, at 4 months of age.
Deviations from the norm
The baby holds his head up already at 1 month
When a baby exhibits excessive head holding between the ages of 4 and 6 weeks, it may indicate elevated intracranial pressure, hypertonicity of the neck muscles, or other neurological issues. Therefore, you should take the baby to the pediatrician for an examination, special massage, and treatment if the child is a month old and can already hold his head up.
At 3 months, the child, lying on his stomach, does not hold his head up
This circumstance may result from:
- Prematurity of the child.
- Suffered birth trauma.
- Weak muscle tone.
- Torticollis (with this problem, the child cannot hold his head upright).
- Poor weight gain. Control weighing will help confirm this reason.
- Rare laying on the stomach or no laying at all in the first months of life.
We conduct the test at home
You must lay the infant on his back, take him by the arms, and gently pull him to sit up in order to assess the child’s head-holding ability. For as long as the child maintains a straight head for thirty seconds, this development indicator is functioning properly. The baby’s head can swing in this instance.
After that, turn the baby back onto his back, grab him by the arms, and gently raise him so that he hangs. When a baby’s holding skill develops normally, his or her head stays on the line of the spine for two seconds after lifting and only then does it fall.
Actions in case of delay
If a mother has any doubts about her child’s ability to develop this skill normally, she should see a pediatrician first. After hearing about the concerning symptoms, the pediatrician will examine the child and recommend that they be seen by a neurologist for further testing. A CT scan and other neurological tests may be recommended by the physician.
The child is prescribed the required medications and local procedures based on the results of the examination. Treatment for neurological pathologies should begin as soon as possible in order to accelerate the course of their recovery.
It is worthwhile to speak with another expert if the mother has concerns about the doctor’s recommendation. It’s critical to keep in mind that you cannot massage a child experiencing nervous system issues by yourself. It is preferable to make use of a licensed massage therapist and enroll in a massage school. A neurologist can prescribe specific exercises that you can perform at home with your baby.
Exercises to strengthen the neck muscles
- Start laying the baby on his tummy as soon as the umbilical wound has healed. Usually this is done before eating for a few minutes, gradually increasing the duration. Staying on the tummy helps to master the skill of holding the head.
- Carry the baby in your arms in a tummy position. Hold the baby"s head with one hand, place the other under the baby"s tummy. This way you will stimulate the baby"s desire to look around and hold his head for this.
- As soon as the child has learned to hold his head for at least a few seconds, carry the baby vertically, supporting the back of the baby’s head with your fingers.
- Take the baby in your arms so that one of your hands holds the baby under the chest, and the other is under the baby"s legs. The baby"s face will be facing down. Lift the baby in the air and lower it down, and also arrange a "swing" for the baby – take turns lifting his pelvis, and then his head.
- Roll the baby on a fitball. Let mom hold the baby by the wrists, and dad supports the pelvis. Together, you need to gently swing the baby back and forth and to the sides.
- Play with the baby with a sound source. Attract the baby"s attention with music or a rattle so that the baby turns his head in the direction of the sound and at the same time trains the muscles of the neck.
Most babies begin to hold their heads up on their own by the time they are 2 to 4 months old, which is a milestone that indicates their growing neck and upper body strength. They can now raise their heads while lying on their stomach and have more control over their head movements. This progression is critical because it establishes the foundation for later motor skills, such as sitting up and rolling over. To assist their child in developing these muscles and reaching this developmental milestone, parents should promote tummy time.
Massage and nutrition
Using stroking and rubbing motions, a baby can be massaged at home provided they do not have neurological issues. Mother ought to caress the infant’s arms, stomach, back, and legs.
Experts point out that a baby’s motor development is greatly influenced by their diet. If the mother is nursing her child, she needs to watch what she eats. A nursing mother’s diet should be well-balanced in terms of calories and nutrients, and it should contain sources of vitamins and minerals. If your diet is boring, you might want to consider taking extra vitamin complexes.
It’s an exciting milestone to watch your baby gain the ability to hold their head up on their own. This ability usually begins to show between two and four months. Since each child is different, some may or may not reach this stage sooner or later. It’s critical to keep in mind that this variation is entirely typical.
Your baby will gradually become more adept at controlling their head and neck movements as they get older. More head lifting during tummy time and greater stability when being held upright are frequently signs of this progress. Giving your infant lots of tummy time during these formative years can support this development by strengthening their neck muscles.
Celebrate each of these tiny successes as soon as it occurs. Every developmental milestone—from lifting their head to sitting and crawling—represents a step toward your child’s overall growth. Do not hesitate to contact your pediatrician for individualized guidance and support if you have any concerns regarding your baby’s development.
