When Do Babies Hold Their Head Up?
Summary
- Holding the head up is a 0-3 month motor milestone for babies.
- Babies may start attempting to lift their head while on their tummy as early as 1 month, and should be able to do this easily around 3 months.
- The ability to hold their head up while sitting often comes after that, but can vary.
If you’re doing Tummy Time, playing with, or just holding your newborn, you may notice in the early weeks that they have difficulty holding their head up on their own. After all, baby’s head is big in relation to the size of their body! It takes a lot of neck and body strength to hold up their head. So you may wonder, when do babies hold their head up on their own?
Baby holding their head up is a gross motor skill, and even though it may seem simple, it’s a big challenge for them! They have to develop back and neck muscles to hold their head up, and develop balance in their trunk, head and neck. Not so easy after all, huh? Learn more about when baby should hold their head up, and how to encourage this skill!
When do babies hold their head up on their own?
While lying on tummy, baby lifts and holds head up is a 0-3 month motor milestone. That means baby should start lifting and holding their head up by 3 months. They will raise their head at a 45-degree angle while on their tummy, and their chest may slightly come up off the ground as well. If baby is having difficulty lifting their head by 3 months, speak to a healthcare provider.
Around this time or soon after, baby will start to be able to hold their head up while in a supported sitting position as well. Head control will help them master sitting up on their own, a 4-6 month milestone that also helps with baby’s feeding development.
Baby may not have full head control yet at this age. Full control of their head happens closer to 6 months of age. If baby has poor head control or is unable to lift their head by 6 months, talk to a healthcare provider.
How long should baby be able to hold their head up?
As young as 1 month old:
- Baby might show signs they’re trying their best to hold up their head, and may even get it off the ground for a second or two while on their tummy.
- Baby may start to briefly lift their head up to turn it from one side to another. Once again, this may just be a few seconds— but it’s a promising sign baby is getting stronger and gaining more head control!
By 3 months old:
- Baby should be holding their head up while on their tummy with some ease. There’s no specific length of time they should be able to hold their head up, but baby shouldn’t be struggling and should be able to hold this position.
- As their head control improves, they should be able to hold their head up with ease.
By 6 months old:
- There won’t be much of a time limit on how long baby can hold their head up.
How can I help baby hold their head up?
Tummy Time is the best way to let baby strengthen the muscles needed to hold their head up on their own. You can try these activities during Tummy Time to help baby lift their head:
- Do the Eye Level Smile position. Get down on your stomach facing baby and look at their face! Smile to engage them.
- Talk to baby while they’re on their tummy. They will be engaged by your voice and try to look towards you!
- Use mirrors during Tummy Time. Baby loves seeing their own face!
- Play with toys during Tummy Time. Move the toy around baby so they watch it. This helps with visual tracking too!
See these activities to help baby lift their head up!
What should I do if baby isn’t doing this?
Remember that this is a 0-3 month milestone, so baby should be holding their head up by 3 months of age. They may struggle to hold their head up at an earlier age, and that’s ok! Baby is just getting stronger and mastering this skill. If baby is older than 3 months and is still not able to hold their head up, speak to a healthcare provider to learn more about why this might be happening.
