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Small babies and lifting head up
in Baby
Hi ladies
Olyvia is 13 weeks old but has a corrected age of 9 weeks. She is still very small (8lb 11oz last week) and has really good head control and has been lifting her head up since 2 weeks old (not corrected age) when on us. However, when she has tummy time she hardly ever lifts her head up and pretty much lies with her face in the playmat or to one side. Is this ok/normal for a 13 weeks old (or perhaps rather a 9 week old) and do you think it might be because she's so small? Looking at other ladies pics from Born in Jan she seems far behind in lifting her head up but like I said her head contorl is really good when we're holding her.
She is making progress when we go swimming with holding her head up and I'm not overly concerned but wanted to check. Sometimes I think it may be because she's SO small that her neck isn't really long enough for her to get her head up - does that make sense!?
I give her some tummy time everyday and like I said we go swimming every week. Is there anything else I can do to help her?
Thanks, NN and Olyvia xxx
Olyvia is 13 weeks old but has a corrected age of 9 weeks. She is still very small (8lb 11oz last week) and has really good head control and has been lifting her head up since 2 weeks old (not corrected age) when on us. However, when she has tummy time she hardly ever lifts her head up and pretty much lies with her face in the playmat or to one side. Is this ok/normal for a 13 weeks old (or perhaps rather a 9 week old) and do you think it might be because she's so small? Looking at other ladies pics from Born in Jan she seems far behind in lifting her head up but like I said her head contorl is really good when we're holding her.
She is making progress when we go swimming with holding her head up and I'm not overly concerned but wanted to check. Sometimes I think it may be because she's SO small that her neck isn't really long enough for her to get her head up - does that make sense!?
I give her some tummy time everyday and like I said we go swimming every week. Is there anything else I can do to help her?
Thanks, NN and Olyvia xxx
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Replies
Then last weekend (at 14 wks) I put her down in front of a mirror and she lifted her head right up (like a mini push up) until it was pretty much 90 degrees to the floor! We were really surprised as it just came out of nowhere, but I'm sure it was the mirror that helped.
Babies do develop at different rates and sometimes they just suddenly learn how to do something, Lyvi could be like this. But if you want to help her along, I'd recommend a mirror. The one we used was the one off the mantlepiece in the front room (so quite big) propped up in front of the sofa.
mrs_ed
I wouldnt worry Nat, I am sure Olyvia will do it in her own time
Joanna x
Gemma, Ryan and Alfie 24 + 1
like Olyvia, Monty (a bit younger than Olyvia at 7 weeks) has good head control if upright. He loves peering around when I burp him. He's not so thrilled about tummy time (but loves sleeping on his tummy on me!!!) and doesn't make an effort when on his mat. I'll definitely try the mirror idea though
however she constantly wants to be sat upright on my knee and has pretty amazing head control when like that.
she's also still very small (only 10lbs at 10 weeks), so under the 25th centile, so maybe it is harder for little babies to do it when they're on their tummies? or maybe she just doesnt want to yet. my LO is a terror when she doesnt want to do something lol
It wont hurt for a few mins a day xxx
I tried rolling a blanket up and putting it down in a c shape and placing him on it but he didn't really enjoy it much. He can hold his head up perfectly so maybe he just doesn't see the point? my hv told me tummytime doesn't hav to be vertical on the floor as long as he's on his tummy it can be on your chest for example at an angle and you can gradually increase the angle untill you're laying flat x