This article will be useful for young mothers, because in it we will tell you how to properly monitor the development of the child when the baby learns to keep his head.
The content of the article
Many parents are asked - when will their child be able to hold his head itself? What age does the child get to achieve? About this and talk in the article.
What age is optimal in order for the kid to hold his head itself?
We answer: this moment comes only when the muscles of the neck will be sufficiently strong. All because compared to the body, the baby head looks a little more and even slightly disproportionate. For the crumb, just that appeared on the light, such a "burnt" is unbearable, as the vertebrae and muscles are not yet developed as it should. In 2-3 weeks, the baby will make attempts to raise the head and hold it out of the position "on the tummy", but efforts will be in vain - it is still too early. Only a month and a half efforts may begin to bear fruit.
For those moms who come to delight, seeing that the kid after the first month could hold his head, want to make clarity: this is not a norm like children's "feats" should not be proud of. A faithful step will be an appeal to the children's doctor (better if it is a neurologist), which can determine what causes such a rapid "development". Most often, elevated intracranial pressure leads to anomalies in a child, which is fraught with unpleasant consequences for the nervous system.
Hold the head
Pretty large percentage of kids begins to hold the head in a vertical position, starting from three months. There are karapuses that are able to cope with a similar task for a little earlier, other - in a month four, reaching the age of 5-6 months, kids and babies are already firmly holding their heads, can turn it into any position. For example, hearing someone's voice or some other sounds, exploring the desire to look at their toys. Also, this skill is added to what the six months the baby is able to calmly tilt the head to the left or right, viewed on the items around it, react with the head to the parents.
The following is extremely important: during the first 3-4 months it is necessary to hold the baby head, carrying it on his hands (sitting or lying). The head should not be rejected back. Any sharp or careless movement can harm the weak cervical vertebrae, violating muscle tissue.
First you need to hold the head
What can affect the condition of the cervical muscles:
- Generic injuries - as a result of the damage obtained, the child develops physically more slowly.
- The posture in which the baby is in the hands of the parents or sleeps in the crib.
- The level of nutrient quality obtained by mom (the properties of breast milk depend on it). If the mother lacks vitamins or calcium in the diet, it affects the formation of the musculoset "corset".
How to make sure the muscles of the neck of the baby are developing at the proper level?
From an early age it is necessary to identify whether the development of the baby is normal. How? Conduct the child's ability to hold the head. For this, it is not necessary to visit the newborn medical institution - any of the parents will be able to check the baby without any assistance.
Watch for development
What are the actions to determine the development of the muscles of the neck:
- At the age of one month should be laid in the tummy.
- Take a rattle and "sell" her head over his head:
- If the nervous system is developed at the proper level, the baby will be able to raise the head slightly, trying to see the toy.
- If there are deviations in the development of the nervous system, it will not succeed. Parents will need to apply a visit to the children's neurologist to clarify the causes of the problem.
Exercises contributing to the strengthening of the cervical muscles of the child
A frequent diagnosis of a doctor who examined the baby is the following: the nervous system in order, the generic injuries are absent, but the physical development of the child needs attention. This is a reasonable explanation - a lack of classes with a child from parents, non-fulfillment of the mandatory exercise "lad out on the stomach".
In this case, it will help a simple a complex for daily workouts that will help the child learn how to hold the head.
The cervix muscles are strengthened if:
- Upon reaching the kid of three weeks old often put it on the tummy (When the crumb is not sleeping, does not eat, he can and need to be in this position). It turns on a congenital reflex that makes the karapusa raise the shoulders a little and try to turn head to the side. Regularly straining muscles, the baby contributes to strengthening them.
Pouch on the tummy
- Performance Massage for infants - simple, the result method makes muscles stronger. Soft movements, as if rubbing, should stroke the caller, carefully moving towards the heart area.
- Kid location control during sleep. Every week it is recommended to change the position of the child in the cradle, laying it every time in the other direction. Thus, the excessive tension of the cervix muscles on one side is preventing.
- Compliance with the following advice: follow the baby to do not sleep in the same position.
- Following the recommendation of pediatricians - as soon as possible to learn baby to swim. Immediately, how to heal the navel, you can start training. Swimming circle with a special design supports a baby head over the surface of the water. Floating, kid develops motor reflex. If the bathroom is warm enough and cozy, the child will receive true pleasure from the procedure.
- Required condition - rational nutrition of the mother In order for in breast milk to contain the required amount of calories and nutrients, otherwise, there will be no benefit from the feed from the resulting food. The baby will lose weight, which will adversely affect the development.
- The gradual teaching of the Karapuz to comply with the regime of the day for a successful weight gain, strong sleep and calm behavior.
- At the age of 7-8 weeks, you can carry out the following exercise with the child: wearing it, placing horizontally, the tummy of the book. One hand needs to keep the neck (so that the body formed a flat line), the second - to place under the stomach.
- In 2 months, parents can exercise with the child in this way: to raise the crumb in a vertical position, supporting the back of the head and carry it during a couple of three minutes (3-4 times a day).
- In half a year, the baby can already confidently keep his head, turn it on the sides. It's time for an exciting, useful game. The parent takes one of the favorite toys of the crumbs, puts it first to the left of him, then - on the right, forcing it, so the child turn the head in an attempt to consider the object. It is better to choose a bright, "sonorous" toy (ideally - rattle).
Train, playing
- One of the useful solutions will be the purchase of a fitness ball. Toddler training with someone from parents will help strengthen the muscles and provide psycho-emotional contact mom / dad with Karapuz. After consulting a pediatrician, you can stop the choice on several exercises suitable in the age category.
There are cases when in five or six months the child is not able to keep the head from the position "on the stomach", which, unfortunately, testifies to the presence of problems in the children's body. This may be due to the fact that parents ignore the Pediatrician tips, or with congenital pathology, or disadvantage of nutritional substances in the diet.
Now, knowing, at what age the baby is usually firmly holding the head and in the case of selected deviations from normal development, parents should immediately visit a pediatrician or a neurologist's children's doctor. Also worth performing complex exercises with the baby, in order to strengthen the cervical muscles, to play with him swimming and conduct training with a ball for fitness. Adhering to these simple techniques, parents will be able to preserve the health of the baby, directing its emotional and physical development towards a healthy and active lifestyle.