Teach your baby to hold their head up!

You’ll find that newborn babies have very little control of their neck muscles, usually from birth up until they’re a few months old. This is because the muscles and fine motor skills for your neck are not yet developed. But don’t worry; within a few months, most babies will naturally gain the ability to hold their head up. You will see this is the first step for setting the foundation for the development of other fine motor skills, such as sitting and walking.

It’s important to carefully monitor your baby’s progress, so you can gauge their progress, help them develop and understand the next steps for them. Taking action or assisting your baby won’t always be necessary, of course. They’ll definitely figure out a lot on their own naturally.

Around 1 month, you’ll probably notice your baby making a gesture like they want to lift their head (though most attempts are unsuccessful until the baby is around 2 months old). By second month, you will start noticing that your babies try to slowly pop up their head during tummy time, though initially they’ll seem pretty unstable and it will only last a few seconds. If babies do not like tummy time, don’t stop practicing, as this is vital for the development and growth of their upper body and neck muscles.

The baby’s head support and stability will improve steadily within next few months, but they may still need some support holding their head up (especially while feeding, playing and cradling). Most babies won’t require additional support at or around 4 months of age. At this time, the baby will likely to raise the head while lying on back and may try to prop up on elbows during tummy time just like a mini cobra. By the time your baby is six months old, their neck muscles should be fairly strong and developed.

What Can You Do in the Development of Baby’s Head Control?

Be supportive - You might eagerly be waiting to interact with your child to share your bundle of joy but be careful while dealing with their floppy head which requires support until they gain total head control. Support your child’s neck and head by using your hands or by crooking your arm and avoid completely any jarring movements in their initial months.

Encourage child during tummy time - Newborns have a natural instinct to raise and move their head so they can look around and see their environment. If your baby is fussy during tummy time, don’t worry. It’s very natural for them to look upset or uncomfortable for a while, since most babies don’t want to be in a position that takes extra work to move around and support themselves. Just be sure to encourage them and offer support. Make tummy time a positive and fun experience so they become acclimated.

Play neck-strengthening games - Shake a rattle on both the sides of your baby’s head. This will encourage the baby to turn their head to both sides. Using a flashlight can also help you baby move their head side to side. Encourage the head movements by gently stroking the baby’s cheek with fingers.

Make a photo of your baby lying on their tummy and holding their head up, upload it to the App. Write whether your baby likes the exercise.