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Developmental stage
My 5 month old babies (twins + premature) born at 32 week still not started rolling and have no full head control.so is it safe to start sitting them with support?
Answers (6)
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Your babies' corrected gestational age is around 3 months.
At this age rolling over is not expected. Neck holding however should have started and should be well established by 4 to 5 months of age.
Rolling over is expected at 5-7 months CGA, in case of your babies, it may be 2 months delayed.
Early stimulation may work
Next Steps
See a developmental pediatrician for a neurodevelopmental assessment.
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Your babies were born 2 months early, so developmentally, they’re just like full-term 3-month-olds now. It’s expected that some milestones like rolling and full head control will take a little longer.
So their corrected (adjusted) age at 5 months is only 3 months. Milestones should be tracked based on corrected age, not calendar age, until at least 2 years
At this age: Beginning head control (not yet full)
Bringing hands to mouth
Responding to voices and faces
Some tummy time tolerance
Not rolling or full head control at corrected 3 months is normal
Preterm infants need regular developmental follow-up
Growth should also be tracked by corrected age using preterm growth charts
Ensure adequate nutrition, iron, and Vitamin D supplementation
Next Steps
Supervised tummy time: Start with 2–3 minutes, 3–5 times a day when awake, Gradually increase duration
Helps strengthen neck, shoulders, and core muscles
Interact: Talk, smile, play face-to-face
Use soft toys, contrasting patterns, gentle music
Place toys just out of reach to encourage reaching and head lifting
Health Tips
Red flags:
No head control by 4–5 months corrected age
Not making eye contact or responding to sound
Very floppy or very stiff muscles
Not smiling socially
If any are present, or if no progress over the next 1–2 months, a developmental pediatrician or early intervention physiotherapist should evaluate.
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Since your babies were born prematurely at 32 weeks, their developmental milestones should be assessed based on corrected age (i.e., their age minus the number of weeks born early). At a corrected age of approximately 3 months, it is normal for head control and rolling to still be developing.
It is not recommended to start sitting them even with support until they have gained good head control, as premature sitting may strain their neck and spine
Next Steps
Encourage tummy time while the baby is awake and supervised to build neck and upper body strength.
Continue monitoring for developmental progress.
Follow up with a pediatrician or a developmental pediatrician for milestone assessment and early intervention if needed.
Health Tips
Premature babies often reach milestones later than full-term babies — using corrected age helps in accurate tracking.
Avoid use of infant seats or unsupported sitting until adequate neck and trunk control is achieved.
If concerned, ask for a physiotherapy referral to support motor development
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Dr. Venkatesh Badugu
Pediatrician
9 yrs exp
Hyderabad
Wait for 1 more month
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Dr. Anjali Maini
Pediatrician
33 yrs exp
Gurgaon
Good evening parent!
Ideally age correction is done keeping a 40 weeks of gestational period. The head control is achieved by 3 months of corrected age but then takes another 1-2 months for a stronger neck muscle control where there is no head bobbing and the baby can also turn the neck sideways to follow an object while keeping the neck erect, effectively preparing the baby to sit up.
So your babies seem to be doing very well if some degree of head control is there. Rolling over will also take time - maybe another 2 months
Next Steps
Encourage tummy time while babies are awake and spaced in time away from feeds. Even a few minutes provides great benefits
Massage gently, back and limbs, stretch and exercise arms and legs. Use the time for cuddle and play. Talk to them in your mother tongue
When they are lying on their back, hang colourful objects at 30 cm above them. Use rattles / squeaky toys
It’s good to place the babies in different positions while awake - sitting position on your lap with chest and neck supported as required, holding up in the arm, or a stroll in the stroller. Take them outdoor for audiovisual stimulation too. It will all activate the neuromuscular development
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Dr. Prathibha Reddy
Pediatrician
12 yrs exp
Hyderabad
As baby is preterm . Acc to corrected age mile stones r normal . You can wait for 1 month more for roll over to attain .
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