When does a baby start holding his head? Exercises, norms and recommendations

When does a baby start holding his head? Exercises, norms and recommendations
When does a baby start holding his head? Exercises, norms and recommendations

Video: When does a baby start holding his head? Exercises, norms and recommendations

Video: When does a baby start holding his head? Exercises, norms and recommendations
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Many parents often wonder when the baby starts holding his head. After all, all mothers remember that reverent fear when you hold your newborn baby in your arms for the first time. A small, fragile and very vulnerable little man who so needs love and respect for loved ones! He still knows almost nothing, he has a lot to learn. One of the first skills a newborn develops is the ability to hold his head.

When does the baby start holding his head?
When does the baby start holding his head?

When does a newborn begin to hold his head? Skill Development Stages

Holding the head upright is a very important body skill. The baby does not learn this right away. This process takes place in several stages:

  • Two to three weeks after birth, when the baby is placed on the tummy,his natural instinct for self-preservation kicks in, and he raises his head, laying it on his side. This action is a good exercise for training the muscles of the neck. Therefore, the baby should be placed on the tummy every day, which also contributes to the discharge of gas.
  • When does the baby start holding his head?
    When does the baby start holding his head?
  • At a month and a half, the baby begins to lift and hold his head for about a minute, lying on his stomach. In addition, when the child begins to hold his head lying down, he tries to do this while in an upright position.
  • At the age of about one month, the little one learns to use this skill when he is in a horizontal and vertical position. However, at 3 months, not all babies can already do this for a long time, so you need to support the head in time.
  • At the age of four months, the baby already confidently uses this skill, being upright. And lying on his back, he holds not only the head, but also the upper body.
  • At five months old, the little one already fully masters the skill described here. When the baby begins to hold his head, he becomes very inquisitive and turns it to the side, looking at everything around.
  • When does the baby start holding his head?
    When does the baby start holding his head?

Exercises designed to teach your baby to hold his head

In order to help your baby develop the ability to hold his head, you need to lay him on his tummy more often so that he raises his head and lays it on his side. This should be done before feeding or half an hour after it. Inif the little one does not like to be in this position, you should distract him by stroking his back and gently say something. In this case, the child will initially hold his head for several seconds. Gradually this time will increase. There are also special devices in the form of pillows and rollers, which, if necessary, are prescribed by a doctor.

When does a newborn begin to hold his head?
When does a newborn begin to hold his head?

When does a baby start holding his head? Skill Test

Mom should stand in front of the lying baby (about half a meter away). At the same time, she should attract his attention with a bright toy, a rattle or with her voice. In the case when the baby begins to hold his head for several minutes, lying on his tummy, leaning on his forearms and lifting the top of his body, we can say that this skill is already well developed. Usually such a skill is formed by three months. Lying on the tummy is very useful for babies not only to develop the above skills, but also to form the correct posture and improve blood circulation in the brain.

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