Lifts head during tummy time
Typical Timing & Development Window
Visual Timeline & Milestone Benchmarks
What these numbers mean
The average age babies first begin showing early signs of this skill. Before this, it's simply too early — there's nothing to worry about.
The midpoint age: half of babies have reached this milestone by here, half a little later. It's a typical target, not a deadline.
How spread out the timing is. About two-thirds of babies achieve it within one standard deviation of the median (the shaded band, wk 4–8). Wide bands mean a normal range of variation.
A gentle check-in point. If your baby hasn't shown this by around here, it can be worth mentioning to your pediatrician — most often it's still perfectly fine, just later.
About this milestone
The infant lifts their head to a 45-degree angle while lying on their stomach. This action strengthens the cervical extensor muscles, establishing the physical foundation for head control and subsequent postural development. It is the primary precursor to rolling and independent sitting.
- 1. Place the infant on a firm, flat play mat on their stomach for 2u20133 minutes, 3 times daily, immediately following diaper changes.
- 2. Position high-contrast black-and-white graphic cards 8u201312 inches in front of their face to encourage upward visual tracking.
- 3. Lay face-to-face with the infant on the floor, speaking in a high-pitched, engaging tone to motivate head lifting.
- 4. Place a small, rolled-up hand towel under their upper chest to provide gentle physical elevation if they are struggling.
- 1. Never leave the infant unsupervised during tummy time u2014 they cannot yet roll back independently.
- 2. Avoid starting tummy time immediately after a feeding session to minimize reflux and digestive discomfort.
- 3. Do not skip tummy time sessions entirely if the infant protests; instead, offer shorter, more frequent intervals to build stamina.