At 3 months the child does not hold his head well - what to do?

In the first weeks of the baby's life, it should be constantly maintained in the back and neck area, so as not to injure the muscles of the neck. The ability to keep the head without the help of the parents is considered an important achievement in the development of crumbs. He begins to manage his body on his own, and my mother can easily take it in his arms. If at 3 months the child does not hold his head well, many parents begin to panic. Is there really cause for concern?

Gaining a new skill

A newborn baby does not know how to control the neck muscles. All movements have a reflex character. When parents take the crumb in their arms, his head throws back. Gradually, he learns to control his own body. The first achievements can be observed already in the second and third weeks of life. Lying on his stomach, the baby begins to make attempts to raise his head. This is a kind of natural protection instinct to not suffocate.

Further development of the neck muscles proceeds according to the following scheme:

• In 5-6 weeks the child tries to keep his head at an acute angle. In this position, it can remain about 30 seconds or a full minute.
• At 8 weeks old, the newborn struggles to keep his head in a horizontal position. If you pull it slightly by the handles, it will no longer tilt it back.
• In 2.5-3 months the skill is finally fixed. Sitting on the hands of the parents, the crumb can hold his head long enough. In the position on the abdomen, he tries to lift his shoulders, lean against him.

Naturally, all time parameters are conditional. When at 3 months the child does not hold his head well, it is not worth worrying. However, the consultation of a neurologist in a child is not a problem.

Why contact a doctor?

The cause for concern can be a situation where the child does not even try to raise his head at this age. This should be reported to the pediatrician. He must prescribe a referral for an additional examination from another neurologist. Based on the results of the tests, the doctor will be able to explain to the parents why in the 3 months the child is not holding his head well, what to do in the current situation. After a few weeks, the baby should be brought for a second examination.

The main causes of the violation

Neurologists identify several factors that can interfere with a newborn's control of the neck muscles:

1. Prematurity.
2. Low body weight.
3. Weak muscle tone.
4. Birth trauma.

At a small weight of the newborn it is necessary to address for consultation to the doctor who specializes on questions of children's feeding. If the baby has not enough breast milk, you can enter the supplementary formula with the mixture. Special massage will increase muscle tone and strengthen the neck.

How can I help my baby?

If a child at 3 months does not hold his head well, you need to deal with it at home. First of all, you should often put the baby on your stomach. He will instinctively try to turn his head to fully breathe. To accustom the crumb to such activities should be gradual. It is better to start from 1 minute. The procedures must be abandoned if the child has recently eaten or is ill.

When the carapace reveals discontent and unwillingness to lie on a changing table, a bright toy must be put in front of him. The process of training parents should turn into an exciting game. To do this, you can periodically change the fabric on which the crumb lies. It is necessary to lay out around him bright and diverse objects, constantly communicate.

Often an infant (3.5 months) does not keep a good head because of the underdevelopment of the neck muscles. Therefore, pediatricians recommend exercises on the gym ball. The first exercises are the simplest of rocking. They relax the muscles and develop the vestibular apparatus. Then the exercises should be gradually complicated.

Water is the best assistant

To strengthen the muscles of the neck of the baby, swimming in the pool is very effective. You can enroll in courses for swimming moms with children. At what age do I start classes? Pediatricians recommend starting water procedures when the child is almost 3 months old. Poorly he keeps his head, most likely, only on land. In water, infants quickly adapt, and the problem with strengthening the neck muscles is easily solved. First, the child will learn how to properly hold his head in the pool, and then quickly transfer this skill to normal life.

Stimulate the correct development of the cervical apparatus and can be at home. This is suitable for a normal baby bath. Such trainings should deliver crumbs exclusively positive emotions. To diversify the procedure, you can use colorful inflatable balls, balls and other toys. Distracted by these items, the child will not think about how to stay afloat. Everything should be done on an intuitive level. Meanwhile, the head and neck of the baby will turn toward the moving objects.

Wrong head restraint

Often parents turn to a neurologist with a complaint that a child at 3 months does not hold his head well and tries to turn it at an angle. Such symptoms usually indicate a paresis of the muscular parts of the neck. Otherwise, the pathology is called torticollis. To exclude this violation, consultation with an orthopedist is needed. Fortunately, torticollis is a rare phenomenon that develops in a complicated pregnancy. For her treatment, physiotherapy is used. In other cases, doctors advise parents:

• At home doing a light massage for the baby;
• Daily conduct water procedures;
• Follow the position of the head of the child during sleep, put under it a special orthopedic pad.

It is extremely rare for the treatment of torticollis to require surgical intervention.

Early head restraint

Many parents worry that a premature baby (3 months) does not hold a head well. Timely appeal to the neurologist allows you to correct this violation. Often pediatricians observe the opposite picture. It's about situations where children are good at keeping their head in 5 weeks. Parents start to rejoice, believing that the child is developing rapidly and even slightly ahead of their peers. In fact, everything is not so beautiful.

In this situation it is advisable to consult a neurologist. Early development may indicate increased muscle tone or intracranial pressure. However, do not panic immediately. With the health of the crumbs, everything can be all right.

Doctors advice on prevention

To the baby to develop properly, you need to deal with it from birth. For the timely acquisition of the habit of holding the head, one must adhere to simple rules:

1. Periodically lay the newborn on the stomach.
2. Daily engage in gymnastics using a special ball. Warm up the muscles helps to strengthen them.
3. During bathing, distract the attention of crumbs with bright objects and toys, so that the kid actively turns his head.

If a child starts to hold the head in the proper time, then it develops correctly. Do not all parents dream about this? If you see any violations, or at 3 months the child does not hold his head well, you should immediately contact the pediatrician. The doctor always calms down if the parents are in vain experiencing. Also, he will be able to choose the right treatment when it is really necessary.