Last Updated on August 29, 2024

When Should I Be Concerned If My Baby Is Not Lifting Their Head?

If your baby is struggling to lift their head by the 3-month mark despite consistent exercise and guidance, this could be a cause for worry. Children develop at different paces. Some take their time, while others are eager to show off. Babies typically gain the ability to lift their heads by their third month. Be keen on other developmental delays also (which we’ll tackle below).

For concerned parents, reach out to your trusted pediatrician as soon as you notice anything weird about your child’s development. Catching medical conditions early is crucial to your child’s development, allowing prompt interventions that would better promote their growth. An early diagnosis of your child’s condition could also help you pinpoint if any medical malpractice has caused your family’s distress.

Other Signs of Developmental Delay

Infant brains develop rapidly. Any interference with this development could potentially lead to long-term complications. As such, parents should also look out for other signs that their child is experiencing developmental delays. These signs include:

  • Poor responsiveness to stimuli (sounds, sights, touch)
  • Lack of social engagement (no smiling, poor eye contact)
  • Unusual muscle tone (overly floppy or stiff)
  • Limited physical movement or coordination
  • Absence of vocalization or cooing
  • Difficulty focusing on or tracking objects
  • Lack of interest in surroundings or objects

If none of these are present, then perhaps your baby is just not keen about lifting their head. Still, it’d be wise to get your child checked up to ease your worries. Give them more time and gradually introduce them to fun exercises if that’s the case.

Developmental Milestones in Babies

For concerned parents, it might also be helpful to understand the various development milestones in babies. Here’s a summary of these milestones based on various aspects of your child’s development:

Physical DevelopmentCognitive Development
0-3 months: Lifts head when on the stomach, follows objects with eyes

3-6 months: Rolls over, reaches for objects

6-9 months: Sits without support, starts crawling

9-12 months: Pulls to stand, may take first steps
0-3 months: Recognizes familiar faces, tracks moving objects

3-6 months: Responds to own name, shows curiosity about objects

6-9 months: Develops object permanence, explores objects with hands and mouth

9-12 months: Understands simple words, imitates gestures
Language DevelopmentSocial and Emotional Development
0-3 months: Coos and makes gurgling sounds

3-6 months: Babbles and laughs

6-9 months: Begins to understand "no," makes different consonant sounds

9-12 months: Says first words, understands simple instructions
0-3 months: Smiles at people, recognizes parent

3-6 months: Enjoys social play, distinguishes emotions in others' voices

6-9 months: May show anxiety with strangers, enjoys mirror images

9-12 months: Shows preference for certain people, maybe clingy with parents

Developmental delays in babies do not only occur in one specific area. Any delays in one area can also hinder the development of all the others. Such delays compound and get carried over to the baby’s childhood.

Envelope Icon

Is Your Child Suffering from Birth-Related Injuries?

Our team helps families hold negligent doctors accountable. We provide free non-obligatory consultations for victims of malpractice.

Contact Us

Potential Underlying Conditions

Struggling to lift their head may be one of the first few symptoms of an underlying condition your child may have contracted through improper professional care. Some of these more serious conditions include:

Cerebral Palsy

This is a neurological disorder that affects movement, posture, and muscle coordination. It can result from brain injury during pregnancy, birth, or early infancy. Symptoms vary widely – from mild awkwardness to severe motor impairment and intellectual disability.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

These are damages to nerves controlling arm and hand movement. It is often caused by excessive stretching during difficult deliveries. Can lead to weakness, loss of sensation, or paralysis in the affected arm – with severity ranging from temporary to permanent.

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

This is a brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation and reduced blood flow. It can occur before, during, or shortly after birth. May result in seizures, feeding difficulties, altered muscle tone, and long-term developmental delays or cognitive impairments.

Kernicterus

This is a severe form of jaundice causing brain damage in newborns. It results from excessive bilirubin levels – leading to hearing loss, intellectual disabilities, movement disorders, and vision problems. Proper monitoring and timely treatment of jaundice can prevent this condition.

Medication-Induced Developmental Delays

Certain medications taken during pregnancy or given to infants can interfere with normal development. Improper medications may result in cognitive impairments, growth issues, or specific organ dysfunctions. Careful consideration of risks and benefits is crucial when prescribing medications.

Any birth injuries acquired while under the care of a medical provider may constitute medical malpractice. Reach out to seasoned medical malpractice lawyers to have your case established and strengthened. For actual figures on birth injury-related settlements, please refer to our previous wins.

Speak to a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today

At the Porter Law Group, our team of proven medical malpractice lawyers delivers ideal results. We take pride in helping families rebuild after unfavorable circumstances. We operate on a contingency basis – meaning you do not need to pay us anything unless we win your case. Through this approach, we can better support families during their times of need.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, please reach out to us for a non-obligatory free case evaluation. You can also contact us at 833-PORTER9 or info@porterlawteam.com to schedule a consultation.

Written By
Eric C. Nordby
Personal Injury Attorney
Eric, with nearly three decades of experience in personal injury litigation, holds a law degree with honors from the University at Buffalo School of Law and a Bachelor's Degree from Cornell University. His extensive career encompasses diverse state and federal cases, resulting in substantial client recoveries, and he actively engages in legal associations while frequently lecturing on legal topics.
Legally Reviewed on August 29, 2024
Michael S. Porter
Personal Injury Attorney
Originally from Upstate New York, Mike built a distinguished legal career after graduating from Harvard University and earning his juris doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law. He served as a Captain in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, gaining expertise in trial work, and is now a respected trial attorney known for securing multiple million-dollar results for his clients while actively participating in legal organizations across Upstate NY.
This Article Was Professionally Reviewed
This page was Legally Reviewed by Michael S. Porter on August 29, 2024. Our experts verify everything you read to make sure it's up to date. For information on our content creation and review process read our editorial guidelines. If you notice an error or have any questions about our content please contact us.
PLG Personal Injury Logo

Get a Free Consultation

Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation meeting to discuss your case and to gain some peace of mind from having all of your questions answered.
Our mission is simple: to defeat the powerful insurance companies that will stop at nothing to take advantage of our injured clients and their families.

If you or a family member has suffered a catastrophic injury or death due to someone’s negligence, you get only one shot to hire the best law firm for your family—the one with the experience and proven ability to get our clients the justice they deserve. Choose the Porter Law Group.
PLG Logo
Albany Office
69 State Street
13th Floor
Albany, NY 12207
Buffalo Office
50 Fountain Plaza
Suite 1400
Buffalo, NY 14202
NYC Office
1177 Avenue of the Americas, 5th floor
New York, NY 10036
Rochester Office
510 Clinton Square, Rochester, NY 14604
Syracuse Office
100 Madison Street,
15th Floor
Syracuse NY 13202
Avoid sharing confidential information via contact form, text, or voicemail as they are not secure. Please be aware that using any of these communication methods does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

The information contained on this site is proprietary and protected. Any unauthorized or illegal use, copying or dissemination will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All content on this site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not, nor should it be taken as medical or legal advice. None of the content on this site is intended to substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Attorney Advertising.

We serve clients in every city and county in New York State. These include places like: The Adirondacks, Albany, Alexandria Bay, Amsterdam, Astoria, Auburn, Ballston Spa, Batavia, Beacon, Binghamton, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Canandaigua, Carthage, Cattaraugus, Catskill, Cayuga Lake, Cazenovia, Chelsea, Clayton, Clifton Park, Cobleskill, Colonie, Cooperstown, Corning, Cortland, Delhi, Delmar, Dunkirk, East Aurora, East Hampton, Elmira, Fayetteville, Finger Lakes, Flushing, Fredonia, Fulton, Garden City, Geneva, Glen Cove, Glens Falls, Gloversville, Gouverneur, Great Neck, Greenwich Village, Hamilton, Hammondsport, Harlem, Haverstraw, Hempstead, Herkimer, Hornell, Hudson, Huntington, Ilion, Ithaca, Jamaica, Jamestown, Johnstown, Kingston, Lake George, Lake Placid, Lewiston, Little Falls, Liverpool, Lockport, Long Island City, Lowville, Malone, Manhattan, Manlius, Massena, Medina, Middletown, Monticello, Montauk, Mount Vernon, New Paltz, New Rochelle, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Norwich, Nyack, Ogdensburg, Old Forge, Olean, Oneida, Oneonta, Ossining, Oswego, Penn Yan, Peekskill, Plattsburgh, Port Chester, Potsdam, Poughkeepsie, Queens, Rhinebeck, Riverhead, Rochester, Rome, Rye, Sag Harbor, Saranac Lake, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Seneca Falls, Seneca Lake, Skaneateles, SoHo, Southampton, Spring Valley, Staten Island, Stony Brook, Suffern, Syracuse, Tarrytown, The Bronx, Thousand Islands, Ticonderoga, Troy, Tupper Lake, Utica, Warsaw, Waterloo, Watertown, Watkins Glen, Wellsville, White Plains, Williamsburg, Woodstock, Yonkers, and many more communities throughout New York State.

Copyright © 2024, Porter Law Group. Personal Injury Lawyers
Made with 💛 by Gold Penguin
magnifiercross linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram