Holding a 4-month-old baby upright is generally not harmful, but it may cause neck, spine and thoracic spine injuries if not properly cared for.
The cervical vertebrae of 4-month-old infants can already stand upright and can be held vertically, but at this time the thoracic spine and lumbar spine are not well developed. If you hold the baby vertically, you need one hand to support the baby’s head, neck and shoulders, and one hand to support the sacrococcygeal region and buttocks to prevent unnecessary injuries.
1. Neck: Infants’ neck muscles have no strength and their necks are soft, so if they are held vertically, their necks may be injured, causing cervical spine injuries, and the neck, shoulders and hips must be kept in a straight line when holding them, and it is important not to hold infants vertically.
2. Spine: 4-month-old babies should not be held vertically for too long, so as not to cause the baby’s spine overload, not conducive to the growth and development of the baby.
3. Thoracic spine: 4-month-old babies held vertically, because of the role of gravity or posture problems, may compress the sternum or ribs, resulting in deformity, so be sure to pay attention to the care of babies held vertically.
The physical development of small children is immature and prone to external injuries, it is recommended to consult a professional pediatrician for any feeding problems.