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5 month baby head control issue
We have twin girls. They are 5 months 15 days now. One baby is head control by end of 4 months itself. But, other baby is not able to head control even now also. She is struggling during tummy time to lift her head. She is able to do for a minute stressfully and brings head down and tries after few seconds. Actually she did upside down or roll over in 4 th month 3-4 times on her own. After that she did not do again. Now she is trying, but not successful. We are trying tummy time only from last 30 days. I can see i some improvement from then to now. But, it is slow. We wanted to know if it will be a problem
Answers (4)
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Hello, I understand your concern
At 5.5 months, most babies are expected to have stable head control. Since one twin has achieved this milestone and the other is lagging despite efforts, this could indicate mild motor delay, but not necessarily a serious problem, especially since she’s showing some improvement with tummy time. However, it does warrant close monitoring and early intervention.
Next Steps
Continue supervised tummy time daily — multiple short sessions (3–5 minutes each, 4–5 times/day).
Encourage reaching and rolling by placing toys just out of reach while the baby is on her tummy.
Refer to a pediatrician or developmental pediatrician for physical examination to rule out:
Hypotonia (reduced tone)
Neuromotor delay
Vision or vestibular concerns
Physiotherapy referral may help — early intervention makes a big difference.
Health Tips
Red flags:
Poor visual tracking
No social smile
Stiffness or floppiness
Feeding difficulty
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Since your baby is showing gradual improvement, that’s encouraging. However, by 5.5 months, most babies do achieve good head control. The fact that she is still struggling indicates that close monitoring is needed.
Next Steps
I recommend getting a pediatric consultation to rule out any underlying tone or motor delay.
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Dr. Anjali Maini
Pediatrician
33 yrs exp
Gurgaon
There appears to be a significant difference between the twin sisters. It’s good that you are observant and trying the best way to help them develop in time.
Please have a physical check at a suitable clinic - a good paediatrician of your choice or a developmental paediatrician clinic to help you guide through the concern .
What you are trying to do is great - encourage the baby to go on a tummy time, preferably after each nappy change. What else can you do?
-Caregiver should carry the particular twin in an upright position
- Slowly lift the child from the lying down position holding at upper limb at the level of the axilla to a sitting position. Slowly put the child back in the lying position. This will stimulate to lift the neck up and hold the head (may be repeated 5min x 4times/day).
- In the prone position, if the child does not lift the head, gently stroke downwards over the back of the neck toward the mid trunk
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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.