Back Arching and Flat Head

This online course is for your baby who shows signs of back arching, can’t get out of the skydiver position on their own or has a flat back of the head. All exercises are based on current professional standards and are based on physical therapy, i.e. muscle strength training to restore a healthy muscular balance. Therefore, you can safely use these exercises regardless of whether your baby has mild or pronounced symptoms.

Back arching is not a medical diagnosis, is not dangerous for your baby and is not a sign that something is seriously wrong in the long run. However, it is a functional diagnosis that can challenge motor development due to a muscular imbalance. This imbalance occurs because the extensor muscles in the back of your baby’s body are stronger than the flexor and rotator muscles in the front. For proper and natural motor development, this should ideally be the other way around. In fact, our entire stabilizing muscle system depends on strong rotational muscles. Back arching therefore slows down your baby’s ability to discover rotational movement patterns, which are fundamental to rolling, pivoting, belly crawling and crawling on all four.

All exercises are thoroughly described, ordered by priority, and are illustrated with pictures and videos so you are never in doubt about how to perform them. When I update any content based on new research results, you will have immediate access to it, when you log back in, so you will always have access to the latest knowledge.

If you have any further questions about the program or are unsure about anything, please send me a message (maybe attach a short video of your child) via my Instagram @develobaby or by email at maria@develobaby.com.

Note: if your baby has no back arching symptoms, I recommend that you consider the alternative program Tummy Time.
Note: if your baby is able to roll from back to tummy and can pivot (change direction in tummy position), I recommend that you consider the alternative program Belly Crawling.

The most common signs of back arching?

• The baby overextends the back and neck, e.g. when they are held close in a hug or during breastfeeding.
• The baby rolls (tips over) from tummy to back early and involuntarily.
• Flat head in the middle of the skull (brachycephaly). Often, back arching babies prefer to sleep with their head in a central position.
• The baby has difficulty with tummy time and quickly becomes tired and restless when lying on their tummy.

• The baby does “The Skydiver” in the prone position. They lift their arms up and extend them backwards.
• The baby often lifts the bottom up in the supine position and may push themselves back.
• When sitting, the baby will extend the arms back opening the chest and bringing the shoulder blades together.
• The baby likes to stand up from an early age (<6 months).
• The baby rolls from back to tummy with an overextended neck.

• The baby does straight sit-ups from the supine position.
• Later in development, back arching babies will often use what’s called a “centered belly crawl” using both arms and legs at the same time (without crossing movements). Here I would recommend my Belly Crawling exercise program, which also has a strong focus on rotational activation.
• Many babies who belly crawl without cross movements will later sit themselves up and bum scoot forward in a centered movement.

Frequently asked questions to Back Arching and Flat Head

What is back arching?

Back arching occurs because there is more firing (activity) in the muscles that stretch the joints of the body and in the muscles that work in the center of the body, i.e. straight movements, than in the muscles that create rotational movements. This may be a bit complicated to understand if you don’t have an in-depth knowledge of the human body, but it means that the child is too active in the extensor muscles and therefore has more difficulty with movements that require rotation and lateral coordination (tummy time, rolling, pivoting, crawling, and scooting).

Back arching is not dangerous! It’s not a medical diagnosis, and it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your baby. Rather, back arching is a functional diagnosis that can challenge and delay your baby’s motor development. So it makes sense to work with back arching to give your baby the best possible foundation for development.

What if my baby arches their back and I do nothing about it?

Some children will eventually outgrow their back arching if they are given enough tummy time and are motivated to do lots of rolling and other cross-coordination. The back arching exercises in this program just make it more likely that the lack of rotation won’t interfere with crawling and motor development in general. But you should never feel like a bad parent if you choose not to do this. Every priority needs to fit the bigger picture of your whole family, and motor development isn’t always at the top of the priority list.

Are there any side effects to the exercises?

No! The exercises are normal strengthening exercises in the anatomically normal muscle pattern. This means that even children who do not arche their backs at all can do these exercises and achieve a stronger body. The worst thing that will happen is that you will be supporting your baby’s motor development.

Does it take a lot of time to do the exercises?

Because I know that many families find it overwhelming to do exercises in their daily lives, I have organized the exercises in order of priority. The most important exercises are at the top, so if you’re short on time, those are the ones you can focus on.
By doing specific exercises as part of all the little things you do with your baby throughout the day, you can usually break back dominance fairly quickly and get your baby back on the motor track.

What if my baby also has a flat head?

There is a whole section in the program with additional exercises and measures if your child has a flat back of the head due to back arching.

Do the exercises in the program always help back arching?

The exercises are general, targeted strength training designed to free your baby from the involuntary back arching. The exercises are based on best medical practices and are not an alternative treatment. However, there are some children who need a more individualized exercise program. This is usually the case with children who have a strong involuntary tendency to arche their backs or special circumstances surrounding the baby. However, strength training for back arching will work for the vast majority.