19 May Did you know that by 1 month old, babies should be able to hold their own head up when on their tummy?
Did you know that by 1 month old, babies 
should be able to hold their own head up when on their tummy?
Typically developing full term babies at birth would be able to lift their heads up slightly to clear their noses off the mat and some babies can lift their faces off the mat at 10-20 degrees briefly. With regular tummy time from birth, typically developing babies will very quickly learn to strengthen 
their neck muscles to turn their head from one side to the other when on their tummies. By 1 month old, when holding your baby on your chest, you will see that baby can hold their own head up and their upper bodies when you support their lower back and bottom. 
Regular Tummy Time can begin from Day 1 by placing baby on your chest while you are reclined at 45 degrees, and baby will likely be lifting their heads intermittently off your chest. Tummy Time can be carrying your newborn over your forearm at a 60-80 degree angle so that baby intermittently lifts their heads up 10 – 20 degrees. By carrying out regular frequent 10 – 15 mins of Tummy Time as described, babies will learn head control very quickly by 1 month old.
Early introduction of Tummy Time helps strengthen baby’s neck muscles for head control, making Tummy Time more enjoyable for baby. 
Tummy Time also prevents baby from getting a flat misshapened head.
If you have a newborn baby and you are struggling with Tummy Time, or if you noticed that baby has a flat head shape, reach out to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists at My Favourite Physio
on (02) 9790 4233 or DM us @myfavouritephysio. Let us help you give baby the best head start in life!
#tummytime #myfavouritephysio #earlyintervention #babymilestones #paedsphysio #kidsphysio #flatheadsyndrome #physio #physiotherapy #bankstown