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Infant Spine Development

A baby's spinal column goes through a variety of changes throughout infancy, especially in the vertebrae and cartilage. From birth to one month, the spine is primarily cartilage, with little bones. From one to six months, her spine is changing shape and reducing in cartilage, and from six months to a year, the spine continues to change shape, especially the lumbar area, where the spine curves in preparation for standing and walking.

  1. The Primary Cruve

    • The primary curve is the name we give to the C-shaped spinal column your baby is born with. The secondary curves will develop after the first few days of the infant's life.

    The First Secondary Curve

    • The first secondary curve to appear allows a baby to support her own neck. This will develop fully when the baby is several months old. Until then, parents must take special care to support baby's neck and head while holding him and when he's laying in a car seat or stroller.

    Helping the Spine During This Stage

    • Giving your infant tummy time is important in these months. Placing baby on her stomach allows her to arch her head up, strengthening her neck muscles. She will also flail her arms and legs around, which helps develop the next secondary curve: the lower back.

    The Next Secondary Curve

    • The lower back is the second secondary curve to develop. It will continue to strengthen throughout the "creeping and crawling" stage. For this reason, it is important that parents and caregivers do not rush baby to stand and walk before she is ready, especially since crawling helps with brain development as well. Parents should also use caution with carriers or walkers, as these can prompt baby to stand before he is ready, putting too much strain on the spinal column before his lower back is more developed. If your baby puts more weight on her spine than it can handle, she may develop spinal kyphosis, a condition where the lower back arch is flat. Babies should also not be left in swings or car seats for too long, as this puts his spine in the C-position, inhibiting development of his other spinal arches.

    Helping Spine Development This Stage

    • It is important to allow baby to move and crawl around as much as possible at her own pace. Confining her to a pen may limit movement, so try to designate a large baby-proof area for her to roam around in. If you use a carrier, be sure that baby's weight is distributed across the rear and thighs, just like when you hold her on your hip.

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