Infant Milestones: What to Expect in the First Four Months
As a Denver based Pediatric Chiropractor, I (Dr. Dani), see a LOT of newborns and new parents. The amount of information from Google and other well meaning parents can seem overwhelming at times, ESPECIALLY when it comes to what is and is not “ideal” with milestone development. There are ALWAYS going to be exceptions, variations, and grace periods so this is a general guide and NOT the end all be all. If you’re concerned your little one is a little behind… let’s chat! As always, this is meant to be informative, not anxiety or fear inducing. Every milestone is unique, JUST like your baby. So, here are a few basics on what to expect in those first few months!
First Month:
Newborn Physiologic Flexion: baby’s in a fetal position- arms and legs are close to the body and the knees are typically tucked up under them when on their tummy.
Baby’s head is typically positioned to one side (don’t find “midline” until ~3mo.)
Baby can only see about 6-8 inches away and respond best to parent’s faces and black and white. Get SUPER close and support their head/chin to help them focus on you!
Babies should NOT be holding their head up immediately after birth- this is a sign of tension (likely from in-utero positioning and/or birth). Pediatric Chiropractors are GREAT for assessing and working with this! We should be able to lift the head to rotate from cheek to cheek in tummy time, but not holding our head stable when in tummy time or while being carried.
2nd Month
Baby should be starting to lift their head off of their chest when supported in a seated position.
Baby should be interested and trying to reach for toys when on their back (it’s okay at two months if there’s a preference to use one arm - this is brief and is not a sign of arm dominance :P)
Baby should have a fair ability to keep their head from bobbling while being held (we still want to be supporting)
3rd Month
Baby’s head should be starting to find center when on their back
Baby should be interested in tracking, reaching for and holding toys
Baby should be bearing weight well through the forearms in tummy time
Baby should be beginning to bring hands and toys to their mouth
4th Month
Baby should be rolling from tummy to back
Baby should be able to sit with support
Baby should be able to straighten arms in tummy time
Baby should be shifting weight to one one arm while reaching with the other in tummy time
Why should my newborn see a Pediatric Chiropractor?
GREAT question! Pediatric Chiropractors (with additional training) are great for helping promote healthy milestone development. Chiropractors can:
make play and exploration easier and more comfortable through reducing tension that may limit range of motion.
help parents be proactive by discussing what milestones are coming up and offering purposeful play ideas.
identify any concerns or “lags” in milestones, address underlying causes, and/or offer individualized referrals when needed.
Why are milestones in the first months important?
Establishing good shoulder stability, trunk and head control are THE building blocks for all of the other milestones to come. Building these early patterns properly allows us to easily stack on top of this success later on! The better we (appropriately) promote development and the earlier we catch any potential limiting factors, the more we are helping babies thrive!
