Question
My baby is now two and a half months old and prefers to be held upright. When held horizontally, they cry and fuss. Many people suggest reducing the amount of time spent in an upright hold, worrying about its impact on spinal development. Is it currently safe for the baby to hold them upright without affecting spinal development?
Answer
Babies can adopt an upright hold position when they are three months old, assuming they have good head control. Head control is a primary indicator of gross motor development, and typically by three months old, they can lift their heads to a 45° angle in the prone position, and to a 90° angle by four months old. If a baby cannot maintain stable head control or has an arched back and rigid body at three months old, it should be considered whether there were any high-risk factors at birth, before birth, or after birth, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy, hypoglycemia, etc. If there is a history of the above conditions and symptoms, it is important to bring the baby to a pediatric rehabilitation department for examination and receive necessary early intervention and rehabilitation treatment.