What is the condition when a baby's neck is stiff? Do I need to practice? How to check and things to be careful about

A baby grows little by little every day. After a few months, the baby will reach a period of ``head rest''.
What is the condition of having a stiff neck and when does it occur? Is my child already sitting on his head? If you are concerned, we will also show you how to check.

How can I tell if my neck is still?

Newborn babies are unable to support their heavy heads on their own because their muscles and skeletons are underdeveloped. If you don't support your baby with your hand when holding him, his head will wobble.

As the baby grows, the neck becomes firmer, and when the baby is able to hold the head straight and move it freely on its own, it is called ``seated''.
The age at which a child's head can sit up varies from person to person, but it is generally between 3 and 5 months old.

There are several ways to check to see if your neck is sitting still.

A confirmation method called ``causing'' is often used in medical examinations.
Lay your baby on his back, put your hands under his armpits and slowly raise his upper body. If you raise your upper body to about 45 degrees and your head follows along with it, your neck is probably sitting upright. Another checkpoint is whether you can keep your head facing forward without letting your neck fall forward when you raise your body up to 90 degrees.

The phrase ``pull the baby's arm to wake him up'' is often found in information on the Internet, but it is not recommended to pull the baby by the wrist or arm as there is a risk of dislodging joints such as the elbow or shoulder. Hold your armpits and pull yourself up.

 

Other important points to determine whether your child is able to sit upright include whether they can lift their head while lying on their stomach, and whether they can move their neck to change the direction of their head.

Don't shake your baby just to see how strong the baby's neck is. Absolutely avoid shaking your head too quickly as this can damage your neck and brain.

What steps do you take to get your head back?

Babies grow day by day and become able to do various things little by little, but their ability to sit on their heads will gradually progress over a period of several weeks to several months.

Around 2 months old, your baby will begin to lift his head when placed on his stomach, and his neck will become more stable when held vertically. This is a sign that your baby is starting to sit upright little by little.
As your child's emotional growth progresses in addition to their physical development, they will begin to be able to change the direction of their faces and face the person they want to see.

At 3 to 4 months old, your baby will be able to hold his head upright for longer periods of time, and will be able to hold his head straight without support while being held vertically.
If the dog can lie on its stomach and move its head freely while still holding it up, it is considered to have completed the sitting position.
In most cases, children will be able to sit upright between 3 and 5 months of age, but the speed of growth and development varies from person to person, so there is no need to be overly concerned if your child is not keeping up with other children.

At the 3rd and 4th month checkups conducted by the local government, we check the baby's development and development, including how far the baby is sitting. Since this is a time of great change when development progresses significantly, we recommend that you actively seek medical attention.

Do I need to practice neck sitting?

There is no need to practice sitting on your head as your child's body naturally develops, but if you can have fun practicing it, it is a good idea to incorporate it as part of your daily communication.

We recommend playing face down.
Lying on your stomach has the benefit of strengthening the muscles of your neck, shoulders, back, arms and legs, and can also help you prepare for things like rolling over and crawling.
However, if you do it for too long, it will put a strain on your body, so try increasing it gradually from a short period of time. Start with about 10 seconds at first, and limit it to 1 to 2 minutes at a time when you are younger (2 to 3 months). Until you can turn over on your own, it will only last for 3 to 5 minutes at most.

The important thing is to always do this while your baby is awake and to keep an eye on your baby. Keep an eye on your child to make sure he or she is having difficulty breathing. Be especially careful before sitting on your head, as there is a risk of suffocation if your face is pressed against the bedding or floor.

Are there any other good ways to practice?

It is also said that holding your dog vertically can help you practice sitting on your head, as holding your dog upright also stimulates the muscles. Of course, the child's head is still not able to sit upright, so don't forget to support it with your hand.

You can also practice holding your baby while sitting and leaning your baby over.
First, mom and dad sit on a chair and hold the baby while sitting on their laps. Make sure there is a gap of one or two fists between mom and dad, and hold them facing forward so that they are both facing the same direction.
Support your baby's body with one hand and place your other hand behind your knee, then slowly lift your knee and tilt your upper body back. If a child's neck is not held upright, the head will fall back, but as the muscles and nerves gradually develop, the child will begin to try to support the head on its own by putting strength into the muscles of the neck and back.
This will help you practice neck sitting, but don't overdo it.

On the other hand, it is possible to practice leaning forward slightly, but unlike backward leaning, where mom and dad's bodies act as a stopper and you don't have to worry about your head shaking or falling over, you need to be careful because there is no support in the front.
When it comes to sitting on your head, it's not always better to do it sooner, and there's no need to worry about comparing it to the kids around you or the average. Please be sure not to force your baby or perform any dangerous exercises or test movements.

What should I do if I am slow in sitting up?

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's Infant and Child Physical Development Survey (2010), 11.7% of all children are able to sit upright by 3 months of age, but this increases to 63% by 4 months of age, more than half, and 93.8% of children are able to do so by 5 months of age.
This data was compiled based on the criteria of ``if you hold the person with both hands and pull them up, does the neck follow without delay?'' If the child is delayed, the test is re-examined, and if the child is still delayed, it is judged as ``unable.''

Based on these research results, it is generally accepted that most babies will be able to sit upright after 5 months of age.
Moms and dads may be worried if their necks are not sitting up even after that period, but there is also data that shows that babies who are born prematurely or have large heads tend to have a late neck, and there are cases in which children with weak muscle tone appear to be squishy but are actually well-developed and are able to sit up.
First, check to see how far the child is sitting on his or her head, whether he is not putting any effort into it, or whether he is able to support himself for a while.

If your child's neck doesn't seem to be strong at all, such as when you raise your torso from your back and your child's head drops backwards, when you raise your torso vertically and your child's head falls forward, or if you can't lift your chin at all even when you lie on your stomach, it may be a good idea to have your child's neck checked by a pediatrician.
If you were able to do it once, but now you can't do it anymore, you may need to have a more detailed examination, so please consult your doctor.

What should you be careful about before sitting down?

Being able to sit up refers to the development of the muscles, skeleton, and nerves around the neck.
In other words, they are not fully developed before the child is able to sit upright.
Babies don't have the strength to support their own heads yet, so when picking them up, you need to firmly support them by placing your hands on their necks and heads.

Even small babies have heavy heads, so picking them up without supporting them can put a lot of strain on their necks and cause their brains to shake inside their skulls, potentially damaging their cervical vertebrae and brains.
Also, when you hold your dog vertically, if the chin continues to drop, the airways become narrowed, making it difficult to breathe properly, which can lead to a lack of oxygen. Brain damage can occur if the brain does not receive enough oxygen for a long time.

Newborns who have just been born and babies who have yet to sit upright should be held horizontally with their bodies almost horizontal. Of course, support around the neck is important even when holding the baby sideways. The mother and father holding the baby make a circle with their arms and firmly support the baby by placing their elbows under the back of the baby's head and the back of the knees.

Once your baby's neck is seated, you will be able to hold your baby vertically without any worries, but even if your baby's neck is seated, his or her body is still developing. If you suddenly have to support your head on your own for a long period of time, your body will become stiff and tired from exerting too much effort. If necessary, help your baby to rest.

Can I use the baby carrier before I sit down?

There are many situations where it is convenient to use a baby carrier, such as when going out or doing housework while putting your baby to bed. I'm wondering if it's okay to use a baby carrier before the baby is able to sit up.

If you wish to use a baby carrier before the baby is in a sitting position, you should choose a baby carrier suitable for side-carrying, such as a sling, or a product that is designed to protect the baby's neck and head and clearly states that it can be used before the baby is sitting on the baby's neck.

BABY&Me's BELK-S first set has a head support that gently wraps around your baby's head and firmly supports the neck area, allowing you to hold your baby face-to-face even before they sit down.

In addition, you can change the parts according to your baby's growth and lifestyle, and it can be used as a waist belt type carrier or a hip seat carrier.

The hip seat can be used alone, so it can be used for everything from breastfeeding and putting your baby to sleep during the newborn period, to holding your baby after they start walking. Since it can be used for a long time without purchasing or replacing it, it is also cost-effective and recommended.