Should Your 4 Month Old Be Able To Push Himself Up?
In this Article
Your little darling has already mastered the art of raising his/her head up, making you a proud mama. You were delighted when he learnt to rest on his forearms. But time is passing and he seems to have remained in that phase. Calm down, your little learner will pick up the next task of pushing himself up soon enough. As parents, it’s important for us to understand the expected time line of this developmental milestone and figure out if there’s a way we can help.
As moms to little babies, this is a common concern for many of us – “Is it normal that my 4-month old baby doesn’t do a mini-push up yet?” Don’t worry, we’re here to put your fears to rest!
When Can Babies First Push Themselves Up
Studies show that babies learn to push themselves up at about 4-5 months. However, every baby takes his own time. Even though the average age to do a baby push-up is recorded as 4 months, many paediatricians state that more and more babies only get there at 6 months. If your child prefers to go slow and steady, do not worry much, you’ll see progress in no time.
Possible Reasons Your Baby Isn’t Pushing Himself Up Yet
1. Babies Sleeping On Their Back
According to two studies, 6 month old babies who were put to sleep on their backs showed less advanced motor skills. In case you have a back sleeper, this might be the reason your child hasn’t learnt to push himself/herself up yet.
2. Belly Movements Like Rolling Over
Pushups may be slightly delayed in babies who sleep on their backs. If your baby is accustomed to sleeping on his/her back, let it remain that way. It is actually safer for babies to sleep on their backs. With a little patience, your little angel will manage to support himself/herself.
3. Comfort Sometimes Isn’t the Key
While technology and the big booming baby product industry has made motherhood more comfortable, we may be susceptible to buying products whose consequences we cannot foresee. Infant seats and swings that have full support can be the culprit when it comes to lack of upper-body muscle development in your baby. This can delay the time before he learns to do a pushup.
How You Can Help Your Baby With His First Push Up
As a mommy, there’s no one in the world your baby trusts more than you. With gentle action, you can ease your baby into spending more time on his/her tummy. While infant seats are comfortable and convenient, babies need their normal tummy-time to encourage muscle development. This is why it is recommended that the average infant seat or swing time should be limited to one hour only.
Placing your baby on the tummy also helps develop the muscles in the neck, shoulders and upper back, giving your baby the aid he needs to push himself up. So, practice tummy-time as often as you can during this stage.
It is important to understand that all babies grow differently. So, whether you have an early bloomer or a wise one that likes to think every action through, cherish the uniqueness of your darling! If you are still concerned, a visit to your paediatrician will help you feel a little less stressed and a lot more relieved.
