Baby Physical Development: Newborn Supporting Own Head

Babies don't have much strength in their necks for the first few months of their lives. Add to that fact that a baby's head is large relative to her body, and, presto, you have a baby with a wobbly head! Not to worry. As baby's physical development progresses, you'll notice that she'll have more and better head control. By 4 months of age, her head will be noticeably less shaky; by the time she's ready to crawl (around 6 months of age), she'll be the master of head control.

Until your baby has achieved sufficient neck strength to control her head, you have to take care in how you carry her. Make sure you cradle her head and neck in the palm of your hand as you support the rest of her body with your forearm. To help her achieve adequate neck tone (and keep her head nice and round), place your baby on her belly a few times a day for several minutes when she's awake. While she's down there, get face-to-face with her and play and talk to her, occasionally moving from side to side. She'll follow you with her head during tummy time, which is another great time to bond and have fun with your baby.