When Can Babies Hold Their Head Up & Tips To Encourage Them
Babies’ necks are usually strong enough to hold their heads up by three to five months.
Specialty: PediatricsExperience: 20 yearsDr. Mubina Agboatwalla is a well-known pediatrician, practicing paediatrics since the last 20 years in Karachi Pakistan. She is the head of the department of Pediatrics in Karachi Liaquat Hospital, as well as her private practice in three specialist clinics in Pediatrics.
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In This Article
A baby’s ability to hold their head upright is a crucial developmental milestone that aids in other vital developments such as rolling over, crawling, and eating solids. Hence, many parents are eager to ask the question, “when can babies hold their heads upright?”
Generally, babies are born with soft neck muscles that don’t have the strength to support their heads. At around three months, most babies learn to control their heads when they sit with support (neck holding) (1). However, only by six months does a baby’s neck muscles become strong enough to turn their head from side to side and hold it up. If your baby fails to hold their head up by five months, consider consulting a pediatrician.
Read on to know how babies develop head control, how parents can help babies hold their head up, safety measures to take while helping them, and what happens after babies develop reasonable head control.
How Does A Baby Develop Head Control?
Neck holding is a gradual process. A newborn can’t hold their head without support, and their head will flop back as their neck muscles are weak. You may have to use your hands at the back of the neck to support your baby’s head while holding them during this period.
Babies may try to lift their heads when they lay on their stomach by the end of the first month (2). They may also try to turn their head towards sounds. Between the end of the first and third month, most babies try to raise their heads when lying on their tummy. Therefore, mothers are encouraged to put their babies on their abdomen.
A three-month-old baby can lift their head and chest with their hands’ support while lying on their stomach. They may also hold their head up when they are on a baby sling or a car seat. However, each baby achieves developmental milestones at an individual pace. You may have to wait for about five to six months for your baby to hold their head without support.
How To Encourage A Baby To Hold Their Head Up?
You can encourage your baby to hold their head from the third month onwards. The following methods may help your baby to hold their head up (1).
- You can lay the baby on their back and slowly make them sit by gently pulling their hands. Initially, the head lags back but as time passes the neck muscles become stronger and a little bit of neck holding starts. This method may help a four- to five-month-old baby exercise and develop control of their head.
- You can hold them next to your shoulder while sitting on a chair. It may help your baby raise their head easily.
- Five- to six-month-old babies develop good control over their heads. You may encourage them by making sounds or calling them from other directions. The baby may lift their head or move it from side to side to follow your voice.
- You can increase your baby’s tummy time since they tend to hold their head up when they lay on the tummy. Keep some toys near your baby to make them lift the head to reach it. This encourages neck holding.
- You can place your five- to six-month-old baby in a supported chair or your lap. It may make it easier for the baby to hold their head in the sitting position.
- You may try multiple activities for better exercise and development of the baby’s head control.
Precautions To Take While Helping The Baby To Hold Their Head Up
You should not try head control methods on a newborn baby (baby younger than three months). It may be dangerous. Support your baby’s neck and head with your hand until they develop head control.
Babies may roll over while trying to move their heads. Therefore, place the baby on a sheet on the floor when trying various encouragement activities. Babies lying on bed or dressing table without rails may have an increased risk of falling while moving their heads and bodies towards sounds or toys.
What To Expect After Holding Their Head Up?
Head control is one of the major developmental milestones for a baby since it facilitates the achievement of other abilities. After developing head control, your baby will gradually learn to roll over, sit up, crawl, and walk.
Babies also require head control to eat solid food since they have to sit up and keep their heads up to consume solids. You can begin to wean your baby after six months of exclusive feeding; that is the time when most babies usually develop good head control and sit without support (3).
When To Worry If A Baby Can’t Hold Their Head Up?
You may consult a pediatrician if your five-month-old baby cannot hold their head up. Although most babies develop head control by the age of five to six months, skills may vary in each baby. Therefore, do not panic if your baby does not seem to have the same head control skills as their peers.
Head control is often assessed periodically, along with other movements and posture. Pediatricians may inform you if there are any concerns about it and may arrange a follow-up visit. However, if neck holding does not take place beyond six months it should raise some concern.
Premature babies (babies born before 37 weeks) may reach this milestone later than other babies. Speak to the pediatrician for timelines of developmental milestones according to your premature baby’s adjusted age.
What Is Head Lag In Babies?
Head lag is when a baby’s head is not righted and lags behind their trunk due to poor neck and head control. A baby with head lag will have a droopy or floppy head when pulled to sit from a laid-back position. An infant without head lag will keep their head in line with their shoulders when pulled to sit (4).
Preterm infants tend to have head lag more than full-term babies (5). Head lag may indicate developmental problems, including delays in cognitive and motor development. Sometimes, a head lag may indicate autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it can only be confirmed by the age of two years (6).
Although head lag at the age of six months may indicate poor motor development, some babies may achieve good head control a little later without any consequences. Be watchful for other developmental milestones of your baby. Headlag maybe one of the first signs of developmental delay which maybe simply motor or cognitive or social. This delay invariably is followed by delay in rolling, sitting etc. If you have any concerns, speak to a pediatrician.
Head control is an essential motor skill and paves the way for other developmental milestones of your baby. Most babies can hold their heads up easily by six months, which is also the age when they can sit unsupported and eat solids. Adequate play and tummy time provide plenty of exercise and encouragement for your baby to hold their head up gradually.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it normal for my two-week-old to hold his head up?
Some babies may try to lift their heads from the early weeks of birth for short periods. However, better head control is achieved later when the neck muscles are fully developed. Before that, babies try to lift their head or hold it up, especially during tummy time.
2. How do I know when my baby is holding his head up?
Babies begin to normally hold their heads up from three to four months of age (6). They begin to master keeping the head steady by six months. You may see them lifting their head and chest and leaning on elbows during tummy time.
New parents often wonder when babies can hold their heads upright. Babies are born with soft neck muscles that can’t support their heads. Although most babies learn to control their heads at around three months, their neck muscles become strong enough to turn their heads only by six months. Hence, you can encourage your child to hold their head upright from three months of age. However, strictly avoid trying head control methods if your baby is less than three months old and take precautions to prevent any mishaps.
Key Pointers
- Babies first hold their heads up while laying on their abdomen.
- Hence, caretakers should assist the babies in achieving this milestone when on their backs.
- Gently pulling their hands while on their backs and performing neck-strengthening exercises may be helpful.
- When a baby’s head droops behind their trunk due to poor neck control, it may be a sign of head lag.
References
2. Important Milestones: Your Baby By Two Months; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3. Important Milestones: Your Baby By Six Months; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4. Roberta G. Pineda, et al., Head Lag in Infancy: What Is It Telling Us?; The American Journal of Occupational Therapy; NCBI
5. Growth And Development After Prematurity; Tommy’s
6. Screening and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
7. Ihianle E, et al.; Infant Head Lag; National Library of Medicine
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Read full bio of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla
