Is it Normal to Have a Lazy Baby?
“She’s just lazy,” the new mother shared when asked how her newborn was doing. “She doesn’t cry or fuss. We put her on the floor mat, and she lies there, watching everybody.”
As a pediatric physical therapist, I have evaluated thousands of babies. When a mother shares that her new child is lazy, my radar goes up because it is not normal for a baby to be lazy.
Babies Move
Movement is normal, and lack of movement is not. For example, if your child doesn’t move her arms or legs, something is causing that, and it isn’t laziness. Children are not lazy by nature. The term lazy means “unwilling to work or use energy.” We often use the word lazy as a criticism when we assume the person can move and work but chooses not to.
Your baby’s brain and body are wired to move. Movement is how they get stronger and how they explore their environment. For example, if he wants to look at your face, he turns his head. When he is hungry, he nuzzles your breast. She wants to eat faster, so she grabs the bottle. These are examples of how your baby moves to meet their wants and needs.
Typical Causes of “Laziness”
Babies do not choose to have poor head control or act like they cannot move their limbs. If they do not move, it is because they cannot, or it requires great effort.
While a thorough evaluation by a medical professional is necessary to determine the exact cause of your child’s “laziness,” some common reasons are fatigue, weakness, poor vision, or paralysis.
Perhaps your baby has limited vision and does not move because she does not see. Babies who cannot see or have blurry vision are often less active. They move to touch, feel, taste, or get to things they see. Therefore, if vision is poor, the tot waits for things to come to her.
Some diseases or birth defects cause weakness and fatigue. Low muscle tone, often seen with a diagnosis like Down syndrome, causes muscles to fatigue quickly. If your child has low tone, he must exert more effort to move, and that increased effort creates fatigue quickly. When children learn that movement is strenuous, they often prefer to wait for others to help them.
Is It Harmful to Accuse My Child of Being Lazy?
Words have power. I am sure you love when others say, “You’re a great mom!” Those words warm my heart.
The Bible teaches in Proverbs 18:21, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” In other words, what we say can bring joy and encouragement or hurt feelings and resentment.
When parents realize there are legitimate reasons for their child’s lack of vitality, many feel sad. They had assumed their baby was intentionally lazy. We have all been guilty of reaching a conclusion based on limited information. If that is you, I encourage you to please forgive yourself.
Give yourself grace and begin a healthier approach. Instead, embrace the wisdom of the English proverb which says, “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” This saying means you will be more successful in getting your little one to comply or come to your way of thinking by being gracious, kind, and encouraging. Being unkind, calling them ugly names, or demeaning their intentions causes anger and resentment.
No one enjoys being called lazy—even children. Babies are little humans and must feel loved to be all they can be. So, use encouraging words, not ones meant to shame.
If your baby struggles to move around and do things independently, share your concerns with the doctor and request a developmental evaluation. In the meantime, do not lose hope. If your child is weak, he can get stronger. If your child has vision issues, there are ways to help him explore and move despite these difficulties.
The earlier you help your child get going, the easier it will be for him to catch up with his development. A “lazy” baby or one who is “chill” needs to be evaluated because babies should be moving. Share on X
Need encouragement? Join my online Baby Development Support Group.
(Photo: Pixabay)
