{"id":"2ea3fb2b933bcf27b44c5b23101c09e3","slug":"2monthold-turn-his-head-side-during-tummy-time-and-wont","question":"Why does my 2-month-old turn his head to the side during tummy time and won't lift it?","answer":"At 2 months, your baby's neck muscles are still developing their strength, so tilting the head to one side during tummy time is pretty common—he's not yet able to hold his head steady or lift it consistently. Tummy time does help build the neck strength he'll need, though the research shows that combining it with face-to-face interaction while he's on his back (like practicing \"pull to sit\" movements) gives the best boost for head control development.\n\nThe head-turning itself isn't a concern at this age, but it's worth watching: if his head consistently tilts toward one side even outside tummy time, or if he seems to favor turning the same direction repeatedly, mention it to your pediatrician at his next visit. Catching any early tightness in the neck muscles early makes a real difference. In the meantime, varying his positions during sleep and play—tummy time, back time, and side-lying—helps his head develop evenly and keeps him from getting a flat spot from lying in one position too long.\n\nKeep offering tummy time in short stretches while you're watching, and don't worry if he's not lifting his head yet—that comes with time.","sources":"[{\"pmid\":\"28375778\",\"title\":\"Impact of Parent Practices of Infant Positioning on Head Orientation Profile and Development of Positional Plagiocephaly in Healthy Term Infants.\",\"journal\":\"Physical & occupational therapy in pediatrics\",\"year\":\"2018\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28375778/\",\"score\":0.78},{\"pmid\":\"28574316\",\"title\":\"Imaging of congenital torticollis in infants: a retrospective study of an institutional protocol.\",\"journal\":\"Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics\",\"year\":\"2017\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28574316/\",\"score\":0.78},{\"pmid\":\"37030250\",\"title\":\"Another look at \\\"tummy time\\\" for primary plagiocephaly prevention and motor development.\",\"journal\":\"Infant behavior & development\",\"year\":\"2023\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37030250/\",\"score\":0.78}]","thread_json":null,"topic":"tummy-time","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-10-28T23:01:24.758Z"}