Patient's question:
A friend of mine has a child who is already four and a half months old, but the child still doesn't sleep well with their head. So, I'd like to know what the standard for the gross motor development of babies is.Doctor's answer:
Babies typically learn to lift their heads between 3 and 4 months, and head lifting is a key indicator of early gross motor development. Head lifting refers to the ability of a baby to hold their head up without support when being held upright, without shaking their head side to side, or to lift their head 30 to 40 degrees when lying face down, and to turn their head left and right to follow objects. Between 4 and 8 months, some babies who develop earlier may learn to roll over as early as 4 months, while others may not learn to roll over until they are 8 months old—all of which are normal. When your baby frequently lifts their feet, their body naturally leans to the side, and their lower body starts to twist, it indicates that your baby has begun to learn how to roll over.