Key points:
- At 3-4 months old, babies will have more control over their head and be able to hold it aligned with their body.
- They will also improve their eye movement and sight, making it easier to track objects and follow movement.
- Activities such as gently pulling the baby to a sitting position and placing cushions behind them on a sofa can help foster head control and exploration of their surroundings.
- It is important to supervise babies during these activities and allow them to discover new things while providing a safe environment.
Today we’ll briefly explain baby head control at 3 and 4 months. Keep reading to learn the basics.
After the first couple of months, you might start seeing that your baby has more control over their head. They will probably be able to lift it and align it to the rest of their upper body. At around 3 months old, you will start to notice that, when you carry them, they will be able to hold their head a tiny bit more, and during tummy time you might witness how they support themselves upright with their arms.
Something that is also a characteristic of this stage is the improvement of eye movement, which means it’s easier for them to track objects. This, in addition to head control, will help your baby follow objects more easily. When playing together, you might notice that, if you move around, they will easily follow you with their eyes; or maybe they will stare at a curious object, like your car keys. When this happens, you can shake them in front of them and watch them get excited and follow the keys around with their eyes.
In addition to eye movement, they will also improve their sight. All of these factors can make it a great moment to boost their curiosity and movement and help them reach some of the next milestones.
Tips to foster head control at 3-4 months
- Gently, pull your babay to a sitting position and then slowly lay them down. If you repeat this exercise, their neck and back will continue to grow stronger.
- At this stage, they might be strong enough to be placed on a car seat but still too wobbly to sit down by themselves. To improve this and help them progress, sit them down on a sofa and place cushions on their back. This will support their head while encouraging them to look around and explore their surroundings.
Some of these activities can foster the acquisition of skills they will need in order to learn how to sit down. Remember to have fun and always supervise they are in a safe position while giving them a chance to discover new things and prove themselves.
