Healthy newborn: general information, birth weight, concepts of premature and postterm newborn

Healthy is considered newborn, born at 37 - 42 weeks, weighing at birth 2.5- 4.0 kg, who does not need resuscitation and at the first examination by a neonatologist in the delivery room does not reveal any physical defects.

If the baby was born at 36 weeks and 6 days or earlier, he is considered premature, if more than 42 full weeks - post-term. The gestational age is calculated from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period and is measured in weeks. Conditions of prematurity and postmaturity are often associated with many different diseases, including life-threatening ones, so such children must be observed by an experienced neonatologist.

Babies weighing less than 2.5 kg are underweight, while those over 4 kg are large. Even if the baby was born on time, its weight may not be normal. Such children also require closer attention and in-depth examination.

2. Height, circumference of the head and chest of the newborn

In addition to body weight in the delivery room, a newborn is measured with a stadiometer and centimeter tape for body length and circumference of the head and chest. These indicators allow us to evaluate the harmony physical development child, to identify some hereditary diseases, endocrine pathology and damage to the central nervous system.

Normally, the growth of a newborn at birth is 45-56 cm. On average, about 50 cm. It is logical that premature babies have a lower height - this is not a sign of inharmonious development.

The circumference of the chest is measured with a centimeter tape, which is applied behind the corners of the shoulder blades (the lowest point of the shoulder blade), and in front above the nipples. The normal values ​​for the circumference of the chest of a full-term newborn are 33-35 cm.

To measure the circumference of the head, it is necessary to put a centimeter tape on the back of the most protruding point of the back of the head, and draw it in front directly above the eyebrows. Normally, this figure is 33 - 37.5 cm, it should not exceed the circumference of the chest by more than 2-4 cm. Head measurement is an indispensable procedure in the diagnosis of diseases of the central nervous system. During the first week of life, the head should be measured every day. Normally, during the first month of life, the head grows no more than 3-4 cm, if the head grows more intensively (more than 0.3 - 0.5 cm per day) - this indicates the development of hydrocephalus, a very serious disease. This rule does not work for children of the first days of life. During the first 24 hours, the circumference of the head may increase by 1.0 - 1.5 cm - this head restores its normal shape after passing through the narrow birth canal.

3. The first cry of a newborn

Immediately after birth, the child freezes for a few seconds, does not respond to any external stimuli. This condition is called "catharsis" of the newborn. Some philosophers believe that it is at this moment that the soul is laid in the child. After that, the newborn takes the first breath and makes the first cry. The first cry of a newborn should be sonorous and emotional. And most importantly, the baby should scream within the first 30 seconds after birth. If this does not happen, he needs resuscitation.

4. Apgar score

At the end of the first and fifth minutes of a child's life, a neonatologist assesses the child's condition on the Apgar scale according to 5 signs: skin color, breathing, heartbeat, muscle tone and reflexes. The maximum possible score is 10 points. A newborn with Apgar scores greater than or equal to 7/7 is considered healthy. If the score is lower, the child needs urgent resuscitation. This means he may need supplemental oxygen to breathe, mechanical ventilation and chest compressions. In these cases, the baby is taken away from the mother and the whole complex of resuscitation continues until the child's condition stabilizes.

5. The first acquaintance of the newborn with the mother: skin-to-skin contact

Immediately after birth, a healthy newborn is wiped dry with a diaper, put on a hat and socks to prevent heat loss and laid on the mother's stomach. The mother and child are covered with a common blanket, so that the contact between them is “skin to skin”. Such close contact must continue for at least 1.5-2 hours. Everybody necessary procedures associated with the first toilet of the newborn can be postponed, and the first examination by a neonatologist takes place right on the mother’s chest. This simple procedure has been reliably proven to reduce morbidity in the neonatal period, promote the production of milk in the mother and the formation of the maternal instinct.

6. First feeding of a newborn

Being on the mother's stomach, the newborn usually finds the breast on his own or with the help of a midwife within the first half hour and begins to suck. The first feeding should not be forced: the breast should be offered forcefully, but not aggressively. Some babies are not ready to start eating right away, just holding them to the chest is enough.

7. Body temperature of the newborn

The body temperature of a newborn is usually measured 15 minutes after birth, and then 2 hours later, when the mother and child have already been transferred to the shared room. Normal body temperature is 36.5-37 C. In the first hours after birth, the child is prone to hypothermia. To avoid this, the newborn always wear a hat and socks. Loose clothing and skin-to-skin contact will also help keep you warm. And tight swaddling and bathing, on the contrary, contribute to hypothermia of the newborn, so these practices have already been abandoned in many maternity hospitals.
In the following days, the child is already more prone to overheating. If a newborn has a fever, first of all it is very necessary to evaluate: is he dressed too warmly?

8. Skin color of a newborn

Immediately after birth, the skin of a newborn has a bluish tint. The first breath saturates the blood with oxygen and the skin begins to turn pink. In the first hours of life, a slight blue of the hands and feet may persist, which gradually disappears. After an hour and a half, many newborns have bright red skin. This is not a pathology, but is associated with the peculiarity of the development of capillaries. In full-term newborns, redness disappears on the second day, in premature babies it lasts longer. The most frightening sign is the pallor of the skin. White skin in newborns is always a severe pathology.

9. Head shape and fontanel

In a newborn, the head is often asymmetrical (only babies born by caesarean section can boast of a perfectly even head). Often a large dense bump is noticeable on it. This is the so-called "birth tumor". It will resolve on its own in a few days without any treatment. Single points of hemorrhage on the birth tumor are not a cause for concern. The same small hemorrhages can be in the eyes, especially if the birth was long and difficult. They also go away on their own over time.

Slightly above the forehead along the midline of the head, the newborn has a soft pliable area - a large fontanel. In this place, the cranial vault is not yet fully ossified. The normal size of a large fontanel is 1-3 cm. bigger size can occur in premature, immature children, as well as with an increase in intracranial pressure (in this case, it also swells). Children with a small fontanel usually develop normally, only in some cases this leads to the development of a neurological problem. Some neuropediatricians prescribe to such children "crying for 5 minutes - 3 times a day." During crying, intracranial pressure rises and the bones of the skull "diverge", contributing to the growth of the head.

10. Breath of a newborn

The newborn breathes irregularly. Breathing may be absent for several seconds, and then replaced by a series of very rapid respiratory movements. Sometimes the child takes a convulsive breath, followed by a noisy long exhalation. Over time, these breaths become less and less. The respiratory rate is normally 30-60 per minute. The number of breaths more than 60 per minute indicates severe lung damage.

11. The concept of the tone of the newborn: "embryo position" and hypotonicity

Normally, the arms and legs of the child are in a bent position, symmetrical, the hands are clenched into fists, the head is somewhat brought to the body, this is the “fetal position”, characteristic of the first months of life.
If the child is lethargic, "soft", arms and legs hang freely - this is an unfavorable symptom, which is called "muscular hypotension". It can be found in diseases of the nervous system, infections of the newborn and other serious diseases.

12. Sleep and wakefulness

A newborn baby sleeps up to 20 hours a day. Waking periods are usually limited to feedings. An awakened child randomly sorts out his arms and legs. The eyes may be closed for the first few days. If they are open, the eyeballs move as if the child wants to fix the gaze, but he does not succeed. Sometimes a slight strabismus can be noticed, which goes away on its own by the end of the first week and does not require treatment.

13. First stool and urination

A baby's first stool is called meconium. It is viscous, black, reminiscent of tar. Normally, meconium should pass on the first day, if meconium has not passed, doctors choose expectant tactics on the second day. If the intestines are not emptied even then, the child is additionally examined to identify the causes of this pathological condition and its correction. Very rarely, in healthy children, meconium leaves on the third day.

Sometimes meconium passes prematurely while still in the womb. In this case, gynecologists talk about "dirty amniotic fluid." This often occurs with intrauterine infection of the fetus and if the mother received narcotic painkillers or "medicated sleep" during childbirth.
This is a rather dangerous condition, since meconium can enter the respiratory tract and disrupt the respiratory activity of the newborn.

In the first 3 days, the newborn rarely urinates, 2-4 times per day. The first urination usually takes place between 12 and 24 hours of age. Gradually, the number of urination increases, reaching 20-25 times by the 7-10th day of life.

14. If the newborn is sick?

What if the newborn does not meet the health criteria above? Do not panic! Many diseases of the neonatal period, if treated on time and correctly, pass without leaving consequences for the unborn child. Trust the health of your children to qualified professionals, but do not forget about your role. Any neonatologist will confirm that 90% of success in treating a newborn is proper care, care and attention from the mother and other relatives, and only 10% falls on the shoulders of a specialist.

15. Health - what is it? WHO definition of health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) gives a very wise, philosophical definition of "health". According to WHO, health is not only the absence of physical defects and diseases, but a state of complete physical, psychological and social well-being. WHO experts focus on the second part of the definition and emphasize that the love, care and attention of loved ones are indispensable in maintaining the health of children. Even a sick child, surrounded by motherly affection, has a chance to feel healthy.

A newborn baby develops very quickly. It would seem that recently he just started to hold his head, and suddenly he is already turning over on his side, on his back and on his stomach.

This is truly a great event in the life of the crumbs!

Not all parents know when the child begins to roll over on his stomach or on his side. Most often, the baby is in the same position - lying on his back. This allows him to see only those objects that are located on top or on the sides.

Gradually, the newborn has a desire to touch the toy or reach out to the mother. At this time, the baby begins to master the turns.

First attempts

So, when does a baby start to roll over from back to tummy and back again?

By 3 months, the baby should be able to:

1. Make head turns while lying on your stomach. The baby reacts to the sound of interest to him: to the melody of a toy or phone, to his mother's voice, and so on.
2. Raise and also fix the shoulders and head in one position. The baby does this, usually lying on his stomach and leaning on the arms bent at the elbows.
3. Feel your body. During this period, the movements of the baby become more coordinated.
4. Perform flips on the stomach and on the side. Of course, from the outside it looks more like an attempt to slide down.

After mastering rollovers, the baby will rarely lie on his back. A young mother will have to monitor how her child sleeps and in what position he plays.

The baby will learn to really do a coup after the muscles of the neck and back are strong enough. This moment comes in 4 5 months.

If the child has made more than one independent coup, then in the process of changing clothes, it is necessary to hold his body with one hand. If the bed is without sides, then the baby may fall. And this is fraught with injuries and unpleasant consequences for a fragile body.

First coups

After 3 months the baby begins to examine the objects around him with interest. To see better, he tries to raise his head.

Most of all, the crumbs at this age are interested in the legs. He tries to bend them at the knee joints and pull them to his chest. It is at this moment that the first opportunity appears to make a coup and change the position of your body.

Most often, the baby tries to move with the whole body. Gradually, he manages to make a coup on his side. This is the first attempt at learning a new skill.

By the age of 5 months, the baby can already, as well as rise on the arms bent at the elbows, while lying on his stomach. At this age, babies try to arch their backs and sway.

Lying on his stomach, the baby can easily make several coups, while pushing off with his legs.

At this age, many children are already good at doing a coup from the stomach to the back and vice versa. The main thing is not to leave the baby alone at such moments.

When the child begins to roll over from his stomach to his back, the muscles of the neck, back and arms become stronger. This is necessary for mastering a new skill - sitting and crawling. This important point in development. After the baby learns to roll over well, he will try to sit or crawl.

Help from parents

In order for the baby to learn how to do a coup, you can help him. Experts recommend doing gymnastics with children. It is enough to start with simple exercises. Any lesson should be conducted in the form of a game.

If the baby has Bad mood, and he is naughty, then you should not force him. During the game, you can attract the attention of your child with a bright and interesting toy and then put it neatly on its side. The baby will want to take it in his hand and try to make a coup.

In order for the classes to give results, it is worth observing a few rules. You can start gymnastics if:

1. The baby holds the head well, being in the position on the stomach.
2. The baby has a desire to play in this form with his mother.
3. The baby has developed the habit of lying on his stomach. At the same time, he holds his head well and can rise on the handles.

Advice: If the baby does not want to lie on his tummy, then you can entertain him with a bright object. It is enough to put it in front of the baby. You can also shake the baby on a gymnastic ball.

A simple flip exercise

When the baby rolls over on his stomach on his own, this is a real event for young parents. If desired, they can help their child. In order for the child to start doing coups, it is worth doing gymnastics with him. It is worth doing the following exercises with him regularly:

1. The baby should be placed on its back.
2. The right leg of the baby needs to be clasped right hand, and fix the second so that it does not bend.
3. The following movements should be performed carefully. The right leg of the child must be pulled down and in the direction of rotation. Do not make sudden movements and make efforts.
4. The right foot should be above the left. In a state of rotation, the baby should stay for 10 - 15 seconds.
5. After such a turn, the baby's hand may be under the body. Don't rush to get it. Let the child do it himself.

If your child begins to act up, then you can help the child a little. Such coups can be repeated up to 5 times during the day.

Attention! All movements must be smooth and careful. Otherwise, you can seriously harm the child.

Possible problems

What to do if a child at 5 months does not roll over on his stomach or on his side?

First of all, parents should not panic. Maybe coups in your child just do not work. There are several reasons for this phenomenon:

1. The character of the baby. Some children are temperamentally inactive.
2. Lack of incentive. Perhaps the baby simply does not need to make coups on the stomach or on the back. If parents, on demand, fulfill all the desires of their child, then this reduces him motor activity. Try to attract the attention of the baby with a bright toy.
3. neurological diseases. Such ailments can greatly affect the activity of the child. One of these deviations is uneven muscle tone. This neurological disease manifests itself early, which makes it possible to identify the disease in time. This problem can be solved with the help of a special set of exercises and massage.
4. Often, children have problems with coups due to physiological characteristics. During childbirth or during pregnancy, the child could be injured.
5. Problems can arise from complications such as infection, hypoxia, or asphyxia. In such situations, a highly qualified pediatrician should deal with the treatment of the disease. Young parents will not be able to solve the problem on their own.

In the presence of neurological and other ailments, various drugs can be prescribed. The choice of drug depends on the disorders. In some cases, children are prescribed massage and therapeutic exercises.

In conclusion

A newborn child learns a certain skill every day. Starting from the first month, the baby learns to hold his head. During this period, the baby can be laid out on the stomach.

After his muscles get stronger, the baby can be laid out on the tummy. At this time, there is a desire to make a coup, get to a toy or see where a funny melody is playing.

At 4-5 months, the child can already confidently change the position of his body. During this period, you can not leave the baby unattended.

At what age does a child start sitting

Approaching the age of five months, the baby becomes very active and inquisitive. The baby stares around, turning its head in different sides, confidently grasps and holds toys with ease . Some kids even try to sit up, which becomes a reason for pride and admiration for parents, because every mom is looking forward to that happy time when their child starts to sit on the ass.

When does a child start to sit up on their own?

According to pediatricians, the child should develop and sit down approximately according to the following indicators:

• at 6 months - sits with support;
• at 7 months - sits without support;
• at 7.5 – 8 months. – easily sits up on his own and can lie down from this position.

It happens that active and physically strong children sit down a month and a half earlier. In other babies, this happens a little later. According to doctors, such indicators are also considered normal.

If you ask an experienced doctor the question of how many months old children usually start to sit down, he will answer that everyone little man due to the fact that the path of development of each child is individual and unique.

Is it possible to seat a child on purpose?

The opinion of pediatricians and orthopedists about a popular question from young parents "Is it possible to help and seat the child" unequivocally: the vertical position of the spine is unnatural for a child under six months of age. Artificially seating the baby would-be parents can harm the health of the little one. Already in school age this can backfire with serious problems with the spine. If the back muscles are not sufficiently strong, then the baby will not sit down on its own because it is not yet ready for such a serious load.

Another thing is if the child sat down on his own earlier than he was six months old. But even in this situation, the baby should not be in the “sitting” position for more than 1 hour a day.

The moment when you can sit down a child comes when the little one is 6 months old. I emphasize, do not sit down, but sit down.

A series of exercises with a child to strengthen the back

What should parents do to help the baby learn a new and necessary skill for him?

Daily from 3 months old age, perform gymnastics and massage with a child, swim in a bath or pool (in large cities there are pools for joint visits with children early age). Thus, the muscular corset will be well strengthened.

Exercise 1. The child lies on the table. As soon as he stretches his arms to his mother, stretch him index fingers. The baby will try to sit up, grabbing his mother's fingers. The back of the child comes off the surface by 45o, in this position the baby is held for several seconds and again returns to the “lying” position.

Exercise 2. "Airplane". Put the baby on the tummy. Raise the child, supporting him under the chest with one hand, under the legs with the other. The legs rest against the chest of an adult, the buttocks and back are tense, the head is raised. Fix the position for a few seconds.

How to teach your baby to sit down (video)

It is recommended for the physical development of the crumbs to hang rings over the crib, for which he can grab and try to rise. While laying on the stomach at a short distance in front of the baby, place a bright object (toy), to which he will try to crawl.

It is important for every young mother to know how to seat the child correctly (this has already been said above) and what not to do.

If the child does not sit down on his own, then you can not:

1. Seat him in pillows;
2. Carry in a stroller in a sitting position (you can fix the back of the stroller at 45º)
3. Carry in various carriers like "Kangaroo" in the "sitting" position;
4. Sitting on your hands (you can keep on your knees in the “reclining” position).

The child sits down for the first time (video) 🙂

Boys and girls: assumptions and facts

In the philistine environment, there is an opinion that boys can be seated before girls. In fact, regardless of gender, planting earlier than six months is harmful for both.

In addition, when girls start to sit down early, in the future this can lead to deformation of the pelvic bones and serious problems of the female reproductive system. Therefore, pediatricians of the older generation often express the opinion that a girl should not be seated at all until the baby is 6-7 months old. Modern sources take a less categorical position: it is believed that there is no great fear if the little princess decides to sit down on her own before six months, and grandmothers' fears about this are greatly exaggerated.

Also, the age at which the baby sits by itself does not depend on gender. Everything is individual, only the physical development and mental maturity of the crumbs matter.

When boys or girls suddenly sit down before the age of six months, this event serves as a reason for parental pride and even boasting to other mothers. Do not rush things. Your baby is inimitable and unique, therefore the path of his individual development will also be inimitable and unique.

Healthy and smart children and happy motherhood, dear mothers!

Video on the topic when the child begins to sit:

Visual perception is a psychophysiological process of processing data coming from the outside world. Every day a person receives up to 90% of information through vision. The perception of colors, sizes, shapes of objects depends on the development and normal functioning of the eyes. It is in the first months after birth that the child's visual apparatus is formed. Therefore, every mother should clearly ensure that at this stage there are no problems. When do newborns begin to see?

At what point does a newborn begin to see?

The development of the visual system begins at about 3 to 12 weeks of gestation.

The development of the entire vision system begins even when the baby is inside the mother, at about 3-12 weeks of pregnancy. Since vital organs are laid during this period, the behavior and habits of the mother can have a serious impact on the child's body.

Immediately after birth, the eyes of the newborn are closed, as it takes some time to adapt. The first one who makes the baby look at the world is a neonatologist. He checks the visual system for malformations (glaucoma, cataracts, strabismus). On their own, the child opens his eyes already in the arms of his mother. From this moment begins the knowledge of the world through the eyes.

It is believed that the fetus begins to see already from the 20th week of intrauterine stay. However, this does not happen in the usual sense in which we generally understand this process. But the baby is able to open the eyelids already at 26 weeks, and by the 33rd week the pupils are reduced depending on the intensity of the light penetrating the walls of the uterus.

Features of the visual system in the first months of life

The ability to see in infants is very different from that of adults. Among the most important features are the following:

• the cornea of ​​the eye is not yet completely transparent, it has a smaller diameter (usually 9 mm);
• the pupils are still poorly responsive to stimuli, for example, to light. Their width is about 2 mm. BUT! Almost complete blindness after birth is compensated by the ability to determine the presence and absence of a light source. In this regard, the reaction must still be, otherwise the doctor can diagnose blindness;
• slight farsightedness (from +1 to +2.5 diopters). This is explained by the lower curvature of the cornea of ​​the eye, and, consequently, a more limited refractive power. However, this does not mean at all that the baby focuses his gaze only on objects that are far away. Usually this distance does not exceed 20 cm. If you take a newborn in your arms, then he will be interested only in your face and nothing else;

• visual acuity is very poor. The retina is still poorly formed, so everything is devoid of clarity and has color various shades gray
• the eyes can be directed in different directions, but a little later, after 2-5 weeks, the newborn will learn to control them well and fix his gaze on one object.

The results of many studies say that the most interesting image for a newly born baby is the image of the mother. This is due to repetitive contrasting light stimuli: the arrangement of hair strands, hairstyle. That is why it is not recommended to go for radical changes in appearance immediately after childbirth. This will help your child learn to recognize you sooner.

Is it true that a child sees everything upside down after birth?

There are many myths about vision in newborns. One of them is that immediately after birth, a person sees the world upside down. Let's try to understand everything in order.

Schematic of how the brain flips an image

Initially, all images projected onto the retina are inverted. But then our brain automatically unfolds the picture in the position we are used to. This is due to the specifics of our visual perception and the laws of optics. The same effect is used when projecting a lens in a camera.

Despite the fact that the baby still cannot analyze the image and see in the literal sense of the word (he does not need this at the first stages of development), this does not mean at all that the picture presented to him in the penumbra differs from the one that an adult would see .

In 1897, American scientist George Malcolm Stratton designed glasses that helped to see the world in its original perspective. First there were problems with spatial orientation, but by the 8th day, the researcher began to realize less and less that he was looking at everything a little differently. After the termination of the experiment, the familiar picture quickly recovered.

Visual perception at different ages

Let's take a closer look at how vision is formed in babies in the period from 1 to 12 months.

Age	Development features
1 month	The eyes are still weakly sensitive to light (it is permissible to leave the lamp on even during sleep, so that additional training of the visual organs occurs upon awakening). Like out of a fog, objects begin to clear up and take shape. The newborn has difficulty focusing on them, as the ciliary (ciliary) muscle is very weak. Often even the pupils are not fixed together. The gaze may squint a little (this is not at all dangerous if it is weakly expressed), because the development of the nerves has not yet been completed. Gradually, the baby adapts: he tries to follow the mother's gaze and her movements, as well as objects that are far away. Of the colors, only black and white are distinguished.
2 months	At 6 weeks, the fixation of vision on the object becomes quite stable. But all objects are seen so far in two dimensions (length and width). The kid manages to follow the subject not only with his eyes, he can turn to the thing of interest to him. The sensitivity of the retina increases fivefold from birth. During this period, he begins to recognize colors and distinguish halftones. It is recommended now to captivate the child with colorful bright toys and educational cards.
3 months	Time to sum up the first results and visit an ophthalmologist. The glands begin to produce tears. They play an important role in the functioning of the eye: they nourish the cornea, improve its optical properties, and disinfect the eye space. At the end of the second - beginning of the third month, photoreceptors are able to capture the colors of the long-wavelength part of the spectrum: red, yellow, orange. At this age, you can already hang a mobile or toys on the crib (it is better to place them not in front of your eyes, but on the sides). Now they will cause genuine interest, not fear. To train vision, you need to turn the baby on the tummy. And also try to draw his attention to objects. Name them. With the help of this, a more holistic view of the objects will be formed.
4 months	Objects acquire three-dimensionality and depth of perception. The newborn begins to master the measure of volume, as well as measure the approximate distance to the thing. He is no longer an outside observer, but an "active player". He tries to reach out and grab onto toys, coordinates his actions with the help of handles. The gaze becomes directed. A connection is established between vision and hearing. The baby can turn to the irritant and find it with his eyes. He now recognizes his mother (parents) not only by smell, voice and touch, but also by face. At this time, more serious educational games will be appropriate.
5 months	Visual abilities are improving. Small details become especially attractive, so you should not scold the child if he began to pick up, for example, candy wrappers, and put them in his mouth. All this is part of the process of knowing the surrounding space. Babies are very fond of playing with their own arms and legs. It's time to learn the well-known "patties".
6 months	The time of the next examination with a specialist. You need to be sure that both eyes work in harmony and see the same way. Now there is still the possibility of detecting congenital diseases if for some reason they were missed or could not be diagnosed earlier. The central part of the retina and visual centers in the cerebral cortex are actively formed. This improves visual acuity. The child learns facial features different people and even understands facial expressions. With more confidence, we can say what colors the baby is able to distinguish: all the same yellow and red, but now this is being proved in practice.
7 months	Vision is almost completely formed. The baby can distinguish between tones and semitones, as well as the colors of the short-wavelength part of the spectrum: blue, green and purple. Moreover, personal preferences begin to take shape. For example, you will notice that he likes to play with toys of certain colors, or he just enjoys them more, shows some emotions. Images of objects are imprinted in detail in memory. Now your child, seeing the handle of the mug, is aware of how it looks completely.
8 months	As a rule, during this period, both boys and girls can already sit without support. The level of development of vision corresponds to the level of the child preschool age: Objects are three-dimensional and clear, excellent sharpness. The kid is able to distinguish the shapes of objects (a ball from a cube or a ring).
9 months	By this time, the iris acquires the color that the child will have throughout his life. Usually this is the shade of the eyes of one of the parents. But heredity is an unpredictable thing, so it is quite possible that the genes of more distant relatives will be able to show themselves. The consequences of "newborn farsightedness" can still be noticeable: it is easier for a baby to observe objects at a distance.
10 months	The main goal in given period- to consolidate all the skills acquired by the child earlier. This is the stage when vision needs to be stimulated. Now, when cognizing the world around it, it works in tandem with all the senses. Show your child more bright objects to remember. Get outdoors more often to teach your baby to recognize and distinguish between shadows. Parents should think about the correct lighting of the room. At night, it is better to turn on a sconce or a special night light so that sleepy eyes are not very irritated.
11 months	The child is old enough, he observes objects with interest. However, if earlier vision was directed more at tracking horizontally moving objects, then being in a vertical position allows him to concentrate his eyes on what moves up and down or in a circle.
12 months	The time of the next appointment with the ophthalmologist. The process of formation of the visual apparatus is almost completed. This will be done in full only by 5-6 years. The field of view is still narrow. However, minor shortcomings are smoothed out by acquired knowledge about the subject.

This vision development table is a classic ("ideal") version. Your child does not have to follow it exactly, because his body is unique. There is some idea of ​​the norm, and small deviations in one direction or another are always acceptable. However, it is important to be vigilant and not miss a visit to the ophthalmologist.

Dr. Komarovsky about the vision of babies (video)

The baby's vision is imperfect. But he should not be underestimated. Nature took care that in the first days of life the baby did not experience fear of the world that opened up to him. During the first year, the visual apparatus will develop rapidly. During this period, scheduled inspections should not be neglected. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Be healthy!

When new parents are alone with a newborn for the first time, many questions immediately arise.

One of them - when does a newborn begin to hold his head?

This is no coincidence, since the mother has to constantly take the baby in her arms in order to feed, soothe, and bathe.

Weak neck muscles are not able to hold the head, and mom needs to be very careful.

Why do moms worry about when the newborn will start to hold his head

The excitement of young parents is understandable. Yes, immediately after birth, the baby's head resembles a bud on a weak stem: without support, it leans in all directions. But this is completely normal and nothing to worry about.

First of all, the nervousness of the mother is instantly transmitted to the baby, and he turns from an angel into a capricious.

Secondly, each human baby has a certain schedule of growing up: physical, nervous, psychomotor, emotional. Therefore, you will have to wait before proudly showing the world a ruddy peanut confidently holding his head.

But to take a baby in your arms in the first days and weeks of life, you really need to be very careful. The delicate head must be held with the palm of your hand to protect it from injury. Before a defenseless baby learns to hold his head on his own, adults are responsible for his health.

The fact is that with a sharp deviation of the head in one direction or another, the cervical vertebrae can be seriously damaged. The child cannot control the muscles, and therefore is not able to hold the head due to their strength. Therefore, "hanging" the head is unacceptable. Rocking the baby or holding hygiene procedures, feeding or laying in the crib, the mother should gently support the head. Sharp deviations, jerks are unacceptable.

But not everything is so scary: the instincts of babies are very strong, and any adult in the prime of life can envy the “margin of safety”. And this is another reason not to worry especially about when the newborn will start holding his head. Everything has its time. Adaptation mechanisms have already been launched, otherwise the baby would simply not be able to overcome the difficult road from his mother's tummy to the light of day.

Note:if a newborn is laid out on his stomach a few days after birth, he will reflexively turn his head to the side. This works a wonderful instinct of self-preservation, thanks to which the smart organism of the crumbs knows what to do so that mechanical suffocation does not occur. So do not worry, but be happy to follow the wonderful daily change of the baby.

By the way, if the baby “pleases” the mother too early by holding the head upright on his own, this is actually a reason to urgently contact a pediatric neurologist. This can manifest as increased intracranial pressure, causing severe discomfort to the infant and requiring neurological treatment.

What happens in the first two months of a newborn's life

In the first days of life, the movements of a newborn are built on reflexes. All mothers know: if you touch the baby on the cheek, he will immediately turn his head in this direction, and if you put a finger in a tiny palm, he will immediately grab it with all his fingers. An attempt to lift a newborn for the first days of life from a prone position, holding the handles, will end with a tilting of the head. In the early days, the child can neither hold his head nor roll over. He sleeps almost all the time (up to 20 hours a day), waking up occasionally to eat. When does a newborn begin to hold his head?

It will take some time to make conscious movements or learn to control muscles. The psychophysical development of each child is individual, but in general, by the age of three weeks, a baby who has been laid out on his tummy will make more and more confident attempts to rise to raise his head. Literally for a few seconds, he will succeed.

In a month, a newborn gains weight well and already knows how to keep his head upright for some time. The hold lasts literally 5-10 seconds, but this is already serious progress.

By one and a half months, the baby will be able to stubbornly hold his head, lying on his tummy and looking up at an angle of 45 degrees. The baby can hold out in such a difficult position for about a minute. It is too early to wait for the newborn to hold his head more freely and for a longer time.

From the second month of life, the muscles of the newborn become stronger so that they are already able to hold their head without tilting back for a minute. If a two-month-old baby is placed on his stomach, he will easily turn his head to the voice of an adult, rise on his arms, holding both his head and chest. During this period, the newborn already distinguishes loved ones by voices, responds with pleasure to bright objects trying to grab and hold them.

From the age of nine weeks, the question of when the newborn will start holding his head is no longer so worrying for parents. Most babies who have crossed the two-month milestone already know how to keep their head on the same level with the body without tipping over. True, the muscles of the neck and back are still very weak and get tired quickly. An adult's safety net after a minute of "free swimming" is required.

When does a newborn begin to hold his head confidently?

At three months of life, the baby is already well controlled with his arms, legs, body and head. Prepared kids, with whom mothers are engaged in physical education, have already learned to roll over on their side from a prone position. They watch with interest what is happening around them, pull their fingers and all the objects that they managed to grab into their mouths. The child needs communication, and he is happy to “talk” with his parents, gossip.

At the age of three months, a newborn in the arms of an adult is able to hold his head upright for quite a long time, for five minutes. You can make a real journey with him, which will cause a storm of delight. It is important not to forget about insurance.

If you put the baby on the tummy, he will try to rise on his hands. And if you pull it by the handles from a supine position, then the head will not throw back, but will remain on the same axis with the body. It’s hard for a baby to stay in this position for a long time, but for daily workouts such lifts will be just right.

When does a newborn begin to hold his head confidently? From four months, the duration of holding the head becomes longer and longer. The baby easily raises his head, even lying on his back. By the fifth month, the mother's fears are completely dissipated, and she supports the baby more out of habit than seriously fearing injury.

At six months, you can absolutely not be afraid for the condition of the cervical vertebrae and stretched muscles. Physically, the child by this age becomes strong and already looks like a textbook peanut. half year old baby not only confidently holds his head, but also turns it around with interest. The kid turns and tilts his head in different directions, looks around when he hears a sound that interests him or looks for a toy.

When should you worry about a newborn not holding his head?

A newborn baby is still in the maternity hospital being examined by a pediatrician. An experienced doctor will immediately notice all the features of the development of the crumbs. If something worries the mother, then after being discharged from the hospital, she can turn to the local pediatrician. Including about when the newborn begins to hold his head.

If by four or five months the child is not able to hold the head, then it must be urgently shown to a neurologist. The reasons may be the following:

The baby was born prematurely and simply lags behind in development. The body will recover over time, nothing terrible happens;

The baby lacks nutrients and is therefore seriously retarded in development. It is necessary to review the diet of the newborn, taking into account possible permanent malnutrition;

At birth, the baby received a birth injury;

A newborn is diagnosed with muscle paresis of the neck, weak muscle tone or torticollis;

The child suffers from a neurological pathology;

Mom does not do baby gymnastics with the baby, does not put it on her tummy.

After examination, the neurologist will prescribe therapy. Usually this is a combination of therapeutic massage, drug treatment and special gymnastics. Massage for a child can be a real salvation from many neurological problems. But you can only trust experienced massage therapists who work specifically with babies. It may take 2-3 courses to completely get rid of the pathology.

Do not be afraid of drugs. The doctor prescribes them not to "heal" the child, but to help his body adapt, to relieve symptoms of discomfort and restore muscle activity.

As for therapeutic exercises, her mother can do it herself. The doctor will give a schedule of classes, and then everything is in loving maternal hands.

How to teach a newborn to hold his head?

To help a newborn develop correctly from the first days of life, parents must learn a few simple rules for daily care of the baby. A prepared mother will not have to puzzle over when the newborn begins to hold her head, because all the processes of physical development will be age-appropriate.

It is necessary to lay the newborn on the stomach between feedings from the third week of life. Not only is this very useful for the normal functioning of the intestines, but it also makes the baby strain his back and neck in an attempt to rise up reflexively. A trained baby will hold his head perfectly by two to three months.

The baby needs a daily massage, in no case should it be neglected. Gentle strokes soothe, rubbing the muscles makes them more elastic and stronger. Massage develops strength, improves overall health and nervous system in particular. The massage scheme can be found in any newborn care book.

Swimming perfectly strengthens the muscular frame. A newborn can buy a special circle that will hold the head above the water. Swimming, the baby will receive not only tremendous pleasure, but also strengthen the muscles. In addition, swimming guarantees the baby (and therefore the nursing mother) a long night's rest.

From two months it is very useful to carry the crumbs in your arms in an upright position. Of course, be sure to hold your head with your hands. This is also an excellent and safe neck muscle workout.

Another very useful posture is the horizontal position of the body on the mother’s arm with the tummy down. With the other hand, you need to hold the neck and head to avoid jerks and maintain a straight position.

Remember the main thing: the child will definitely begin to hold his head, and you should not worry about this. All babies develop differently. But if by six months the neck muscles remain weak, you should definitely consult a doctor.