Don't worry if you touch those soft spots (called fontanelles) on his head — they're well protected by a sturdy membrane. And don't fret if your newborn's noggin flops back and forth a little bit while you're trying to perfect your move — it won't hurt him.
But a mistake usually won't be any sort of disaster. It's very scary to watch their little heads flop back and maybe see their back arch as the head goes back but the thing is, newborns really aren't quite as fragile as we think they are. If it's just one flop of the head, it's very unlikely to do any real harm.
Your baby's neck muscles are fairly weak when they're born. If you pull them up gently by their hands into a sitting position their head will flop back because their neck muscles can't support it . For the first few months, they'll rely on you using your hands to support their head and neck when you hold them.
"Babies are tougher than they appear and won't 'break' with normal handling. While it's important to support their head until they have the neck strength to hold it up on their own, their head won't fall off if you forget.
Your baby's head tilts to one side and chin tilts to the other side. Limited movement of your baby's head and neck. One of your baby's shoulders is higher than the other. Neck muscle tightness or stiffness.
When your baby is first born, they'll have very weak neck muscles. But soon they'll gain enough strength to hold up their head on their own. Babies start to hold their heads up by 2 months old, with most mastering the skill by 4 months old.
Their head flops when it's not supported – that's because their neck muscles aren't strong enough to hold it up yet. Shaking makes the head move backwards and forwards very quickly, with a lot of force.
Babies, especially very young ones, have relatively large heads, and weak neck muscles, so any kind of violent movement will cause a kind of whiplash effect. A baby's delicate, developing brain is much more sensitive to injury and serious damage than an adult's.
At birth, your newborn can't control their head because their motor skills aren't developed and their neck muscles are weak. For the first few months, you'll need to cradle your baby's neck and head when you lift them, hold them, carry them, or put them down. (For guidance, see our video on how to carry a newborn.)
For anything more than a light bump on the head, you should call your child's doctor. Your child's doctor will want to know when and how the injury happened and how your child is feeling. If your child is alert and responds to you, the head injury is mild and usually no tests or X-rays are needed.
Your baby's head and neck muscles are very weak for the first few months. If you pick them up by or under their arms, you risk injuring their arms or shoulders. Worse, their head will dangle and could flop around, potentially causing a brain injury.
Shaken baby syndrome does not result from gentle bouncing, playful swinging or tossing the child in the air, or jogging with the child. It also is very unlikely to occur from accidents such as falling off chairs or down stairs, or accidentally being dropped from a caregiver's arms.
Don't pick up a baby under their arms.
When held under their arms, most of a baby's body is hanging in space (rather than gathered in), there's no orienting support from underneath and the baby's head is not supported.
Since mom herself will be back on her period soon, there's no valid, medically-proven reason that someone's menstrual cycle would cause any harm to a newborn.
By the time your baby is about 4 months old, she will likely be able to hold up her head and chest as she supports herself on her elbows, giving her more freedom and control to look around her. This will be nice change for you, as you won't have to support your baby's head as much as you did before when carrying her.
At 1 month of age, babies' neck muscles are not developed enough to support their heads for long stretches of time. Babies can lift their heads only briefly when lying on their stomachs. Limb movements are influenced by newborn reflexes.
If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes, change the baby's position and try burping for another few minutes before feeding again. Always burp your baby when feeding time is over.
Try to keep your baby upright for at least 30 minutes after a feed. Try to avoid the upright seated position during this time as this position can increase pressure in the abdomen and trigger reflux. Avoid placing your infant flat on their back immediately following a feed. Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.
Head control, trunk control, and later on even word formation can be traced back to the rhythmic jaw and neck strengthening of the very first breastfeeding.
Some of the first signs of cerebral palsy in infants include stiffened muscles and/or joints, excessive drooling, high-pitched crying, feeding issues, overextended neck and/or back, and delay of developmental milestones.
Babywearing Counts As Tummy-Time!
It's a serious workout! Wearing your baby in the Baby K'tan or other infant sling carriers and wraps will allow your baby to exercise his neck, head and back muscles. You can also hang a small toy from the side of the carrier to help your little one develop his motor skills.
If your child experiences a knock, bump or blow to the head, sit them down, comfort them, and make sure they rest. You can hold a cold compress to their head – try a bag of ice or frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel. Seek immediate medical advice if symptoms such as mild dizziness and a headache get worse.
If they fell on their head and have anything more than a minor bump – or if your child isn't acting normally – call their doctor immediately or take them to the emergency room. Serious head injuries are rare, but your child may need to be evaluated or monitored.