Heads up: your baby's growing control
Your baby has gradually been developing control of their head, being able to hold it in the centre when lying on their back or tummy and holding it more steady as you hold them. Now, if you pull them gently from lying to sitting they will mostly be able to keep their head straight with only a slight lag of their head as they are pulled upwards.[1]
Increasing neck and head control
Your baby is gradually developing control of the muscles in their neck, which is the first step towards them developing the strength and control that they need to maintain a good posture as they sit, stand and move.
As your baby becomes stronger, they will be able to hold their head straight as you pull them gently from lying on their back to sitting. Once they are upright, they will be able to hold their head in line with their body and might be able to lift their head a little to look at you.[2]
What is head lag?
Head lag is when your baby’s head flops backwards. Their head is large compared to the rest of their body and the muscles in their neck are not strong enough at first to support it.[3]
The development of your baby’s muscles follows what is described as a 'cephalocaudal sequence'; this means that they gain control from their head to their toes. As their neck muscles become stronger you will notice that they can hold their head in line with their body for longer.
Head righting reflex
As your baby’s neck muscles develop, they will be able to support their head and when pulled gently from lying to sitting their head will no longer flop backwards. Your baby’s control is due to stronger muscles and also a postural reflex known as the head righting reflex.[3]
Postural reflexes emerge as your baby’s brain develops – they are mediated by the midbrain, unlike the primitive reflexes which are mediated at the brainstem.[4]
The first postural reflex to develop is the head righting reflex; its role is to keep the head in an upright position or to move the head into an upright position. The head righting reflex happens when the balance system recognises that your baby's head is not upright and this results in the contraction of muscles in the neck to hold their head upright.[5]
The righting reflexes are important as they support physical development, helping your baby to control their head, and then to roll, sit, crawl and stand.[5]
What's to come?
Your baby will continue to develop strength and control of their muscles, they will be able to lift their head, and turn to look at things that interest them. In the next few months, you will notice that they can hold their head steady for longer, they will begin to hold themselves up on their arms during tummy time and then roll over.
References:
[1] Sheridan, M., Sharma, A and Cockerill, H. (2014). Mary Sheridan’s from birth to five years. Children’s developmental progress. (4th edn.). Abingdon: Routledge.
[2] Versfiled, P. (1st January 2018) Development of head control: newborn-10 weeks. [Online] Available at: Development of head control: newborn-10 weeks | Task Oriented Movement Therapy (skillsforaction.com)
[3] Osagie IE, Givler DN. Infant Head Lag. [Updated 2021 Oct 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567782/ (Accessed on 22nd October 2021)
[4] Goddard-Blythe, S. (2004). The Well Balanced Child: Movement and Early Learning. Stroud: Hawthorn Press.
[5] Tatjana Adamović, Aleksandra Jurišić-Škevin, Dejan Madić, Mirjana Sovilj, Ljiljana Jeličić, Slavica Maksimović & Miško Subotić (2020): Head righting reflex in newborns as the predictive factor of early child development: a longitudinal study, Early Child Development and Care, DOI: 10.1080/03004430.2020.1798419