When can babies hold their head up?

Learning to hold their head upwards is a process that tin can last until your baby is 6 months onetime. Your babe volition develop this crucial skill lilliputian by lilliputian over the months.

At birth, your newborn tin can't command their head because their motor skills aren't developed and their cervix muscles are weak. For the first few months, you lot'll need to cradle your baby'south neck and head when you lift them, hold them, carry them, or put them downwards. (For guidance, run across our video on how to carry a newborn.)

Here's a timeline of how your baby volition main holding their head upward:

Newborn

Your infant will rely on you to back up their head and neck for at least the starting time calendar month. Perhaps it'due south nature's way of making certain you have lots of time to gaze into each other's optics and bail as you cradle your baby in your arms.

i to 2 months

By the end of the outset month, your baby will likely be able to lift their caput briefly and plough it from side to side when lying on their tummy. At effectually 6 to 8 weeks, if your baby is especially strong and coordinated, they'll enhance their head while lying on their back.

When you lot carry your baby on your shoulder, they'll take plenty command to hold their head upwards shakily, only not for long. Your babe will also be strong enough to hold up their caput while sitting supported in a motorcar seat or forepart pack. If y'all behave your infant in a sling, make sure their face is visible since they tin can't easily move their head to breathe.

three to iv months

You'll observe a definite improvement in head control past at present. Your baby will exist able to raise their head to 45 degrees while on their tummy and keep it up steadily. Many 4-month-olds volition practice a "mini pushup" – holding their head and chest upward by pushing off the footing with their arms. Also past 4 months old, your baby volition probably hold their head steadily when placed in a sitting position.

5 to six months

By vi months old, your baby will likely exist able to hold their head strong and steady. If they're pulled into a sitting position, your babe will bring their head forward. Wait until your little one can hold their head up well, without whatsoever support from you, earlier putting them in a jogging stroller or baby backpack.

cartoon chart

How to assist your infant learn head control

Ii words: Tum time. Although your infant should e'er sleep on their back, requite them enough of time to exercise on their tummy when they're awake.

At first, they may struggle to keep their head up – and wail nonstop. Equally guilty as you feel watching your baby weep, keep in listen that short tummy time sessions throughout the day are crucial! Breadbasket fourth dimension not simply strengthens your infant'due south cervix and shoulder muscles, it also improves paw-eye coordination and motor skills and helps prevent flat spots from forming on your baby's caput.

Here are a few ways to encourage tummy time and head command:

  • Start stomach time early; the 24-hour interval your babe comes domicile from the infirmary or soon subsequently.
  • Keep it short at first: Newborns tin do just a minute or two of stomach time; piece of work up to sessions of well-nigh three to five minutes.
  • Sit down near your baby during tummy time and encourage them to look up by waving a rattle or toy. Sing, talk, or read a lath volume to your baby. Use a stomach-fourth dimension mat or activeness mat with fun toys, lights, and sounds.
  • From 3 to vi months old, prop your baby in a sitting position – in a safe identify, with enough of cervix and caput back up. (Use pillows, or sit your baby on your lap with their back against yous.) Have your infant sit in unlike spots around your habitation so their view changes. Never go out your baby sitting unattended, though, because they could topple over.
  • From 3 to 6 months quondam, try this simple exercise: Place your baby on their back and slowly pull them up by their easily to a sitting position. Carefully ease them dorsum downward and repeat.

What to do if your baby doesn't hold their head up

Babies' heads are disproportionately big (and heavy) for their bodies, so it takes fourth dimension to develop the coordination and strength to keep their heads up.

If your babe seems to struggle to lift their head up even slightly at 3 months old, mention it at your baby's next doc visit. But keep in listen that babies develop skills differently, some more than quickly than others, and head command is no exception. Premature babies may reach this and other milestones later than their peers – check with your child'south md if you're worried.

After your baby tin concur their head up, what'due south next?

After your baby masters head control, they tin can move on to sitting up, rolling over, and crawling. Head control is besides necessary for eating solid foods and sitting in a highchair.

In one case your infant has stable head control, you may notice them turning their head toward sound or other stimuli, such as a ball rolling across the floor. You can help further strengthen their neck muscles by playing games that encourage them to turn their head to encounter y'all.