Development of the child in the first months of his life - at the same time a stage both very interesting, and very responsible. During this period favorable conditions are put in order that the kid grew healthy and clever.
The ability to raise the head is one of the first serious stages of development of the kid, the first skills of management of a body. Healthy children try to lift a head approximately at monthly age – but at first there is enough puny strength only for several seconds. Neck muscles so far very weak, it is impossible to allow that the head dangled – there is a risk to injure cervical vertebras. And here if to the child month, but it strong holds the head, it should be shown by all means to the doctor is not sign of early development as young, inexperienced parents sometimes believe, and one of symptoms of the increased intra cranial pressure.
How "to teach" the child to hold a head
Kids are recommended to spread for a tummy, since two weeks or as soon as the umbilical wound completely healed. It is not really convenient to lie a nose in a pillow, and the child tries to turn the head sideways, slightly raises it. The vykladyvaniye in itself on a stomach is very useful: it will help to get rid of gases which can torment the kid in the first several weeks, and well trains muscles of a back and a neck. Than better the neck and a back become stronger, that rather a kid will begin to creep.
How many should the child train surely to hold a head? If the kid is healthy and developed according to norm, he will be able to master this skill approximately by 3 months. Until the child cannot do it well, the one who takes the kid on hands has to hold slightly his back and a nape to exclude an injury of cervical vertebras. At the age of the 3rd month the child is able to hold the head in vertical position also for a while. By 4 months he does it surely. And in 5-6 months the kids are capable to lift the top part of a trunk, lying at the same time on a stomach and having enclosed hands under itself. Certainly, all data on age concern only children who grow and develop without any complications.
To stimulate development of the child, parents can prilekat his attention - for example, to show the bright or sounding toys to which the child will pay attention and to try to turn the head in their direction
When it is time to see a doctor
How to be when the kid develops with some delay and at the age of 3 months cannot hold the head? For a start it is necessary to address good experts – the neuropathologist, the pediatrician. If the child, lying on a stomach, does not want to move the head, it can mean serious neurologic problems which should be solved by means of massage and complex medicinal therapy. Neurologic problems, heavy pregnancy with pathology, a low tone of muscles – any of these circumstances can cause an arrest of development. Happens and so that the child was just seldom spread on a stomach, and he did not manage to increase necessary muscles on a neck and shoulders. If it can hold the head only at an angle, consultation of the doctor is necessary – most likely, special massage will be offered. Sometimes the doctor suggests to use a special pillow for alignment of position of the head.
Council for young parents: if it seems to you that the kid behaves somehow incorrectly, first of all try to calm down. Most likely, situation is not so awful as it seems to you.
At any noticed deviations of the child it is necessary to show to the expert immediately. The earlier the problem is found, the it is simpler to cope with it without consequences for health of the kid.