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AV Baby content is for information only. If you are at all worried about your baby, please seek the advice of your midwife, doctor or paediatrician.

Helping Your Baby Learn To Sit Upright

Around the age of six to seven months your baby will begin to show signs of being able to sit up on his own. Babies cannot sit unsupported until their muscles are ready to hold them in position, and these muscles develop at different rates. Always use milestones for information and guidance only, never to push your baby to do something he is not ready to do.

How will I know when my baby is ready?

The important muscles which need to develop first are those in his neck – needed for holding his head upright. Once your baby can lift his head in a stable way (with no wobbling), you can safely prop him up in a sitting position with pillows and cushions, or use a Bumbo-type seat, designed to help your baby sit.

NB: Never leave your baby unattended if he is propped up as he can easily slip or fall and may injure himself.

Allowing your baby to sit and play in a seated position helps him learn how to balance, and enables the other muscles needed to support his back and core to develop. Do this for a few minutes a day to start with.

If your baby is struggling to lift his head, use ‘tummy time’ play to help him build the necessary strength. Place him on his tummy on a mat and then use his favorite toys to encourage him to look up. Babies will begin to push themselves up using their hands (like baby press-ups), and may start to roll. Some babies learn how to roll from their fronts onto their backs first, with back to front coming a little later.

How does sitting develop?

Strength in the arms is important, as well as general balance, because your baby will stop himself from falling forward by learning to place his arms in front of him or to the sides. Often babies can sit fairly well without support to the front and the sides at first, but may still topple backwards until their back and core muscles have developed enough to hold them. Sitting is really hard work for babies!

Most babies can usually sit unsupported by around seven months. Remember not to push your baby, though, as all babies develop at different rates. Keep allowing him to sit and play with a little propping – he will probably be able to sit for very short spells unsupported then topple over, so watch him carefully. Once he can sit well, soon he will be able to sit without using his hands to balance, and then will start to reach out while sitting. This is a great time for babies to enjoy stacking toys to help them develop their finer motor skills.

What happens next?

Once your baby can sit unsupported you may find that during his tummy time play he begins to push himself onto all fours. In fact, in some babies a kind of backwards and forwards movement can occur as early as four months, although crawling rarely happens until after sitting. From sitting he may also learn how to push himself forward on to his hand and knees; other babies never crawl, they simply scoot around on their behinds! However your baby develops, make sure you kiddy-proof your house by the time he can sit – exploring will not be far behind.

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