Question
When a four-month-old baby’s head wobbles when held upright and is unstable when lying on its stomach, what is meant by the term “lifting the head 90 degrees” if a pillow is placed beneath its chest to allow it to lie face down?
Answer
Babies have relatively soft skeletons, so it is not advisable to be too impatient when training them to perform various movements. Generally, babies can start practicing lying on their stomachs and lifting their heads around 2 to 3 months old, but each baby’s development status is different. As long as all the baby’s developmental indicators are up to standard, training can proceed. When the baby is lying on its stomach, you can gently touch its spine at the back of the neck with your fingers to help it lift its head.