Head control
At birth, your baby has little control over his head because his neck muscles are fairly weak. He'll develop this crucial skill, which is the foundation for all later movement — such as sitting up and walking — little by little during the first six months of life.
When it develops
Your baby will probably be able to lift his head when he's about a month old, and hold it up when placed in a sitting position at around 4 months. His neck muscles and head control should be strong and steady by age 6 months.
How it develops
Newborns
Your baby will rely on you to support his head and neck for at least the first month or so. Perhaps it's nature's way of making sure you have lots of time to gaze into each other's eyes and bond as you cradle your baby in your arms.
1 to 2 months
By the end of his first month, your baby should be able to lift his head briefly and turn it from side to side when lying on his stomach. At around 6 to 8 weeks, if he's especially strong, he'll raise his head while lying on his back. When you carry him on your shoulder, he'll have enough control to hold his head up shakily, but not for long. He'll also be strong enough to hold up his head while sitting in a car seat or front pack. Wait until he can hold his head up steadily without any support from you to use a jogging stroller or a backpack, though.
3 to 4 months
You'll notice a definite improvement in head control by this time. Your baby will be able to raise his head to 45 degrees while on his tummy and keep it up steadily. For a fun game that also develops his neck muscles, place your baby on his back and slowly pull him up by his hands to a sitting position. Slowly ease him back down, and repeat. At this age, he should be able to hold his head in line with the rest of his body as it's pulled up. Your child may be ready for a jogging stroller at 4 months, but stick to smooth pavement for now. Running trails will be too bouncy for him at this point, unless he can hold his head up well and is able to sit up.
5 to 6 months
By 6 months, your baby will be able to hold his head steady and erect, and he'll flex it forward when he's pulled into a sitting position.
What's next
Once your baby establishes good head control, he can move on to sitting up, rolling over, and crawling. Head control is also necessary for swallowing solid foods and sitting in a highchair.
Your role
You don't have to do much to encourage the development of head control, but you do have to be careful until it's well established. For the first few months, especially, you'll need to cradle your baby's neck and head when you lift him, hold him, or carry him. Although your baby should always sleep on his back, put him on his tummy frequently while he's awake — lifting his head and chest to see you or his toys will strengthen his neck muscles.
From 3 to 6 months, you may want to prop your baby in a sitting position — in a safe place, with plenty of neck and head support. Use pillows, or set him on your lap, with his back against you. Have him sit in different spots around your home so his view changes. Never leave him sitting unattended, though, because he could topple over.
If you're a runner, avoid taking your baby out with you in a jogging stroller until he masters head control. When you think he's ready, pick a jogger with a five-point harness, which offers the most support.
When to be concerned
If your baby seems to struggle to lift his head up even slightly at 3 months, mention it at your next doctor visit. Babies develop skills differently, some more quickly than others, and head control is no exception. Premature babies may reach this and other milestones later than their peers — check with your child's doctor if you're worried.
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