How to Help a Baby Sit Up on His Own?

As a parent, you feel proud when you watch your baby achieve development milestones. And why should you not? These little achievements make him independent in the long run. Your baby must have started cooing and gurgling, he must have also started rolling and enjoying the tummy time. But do you know when a baby starts sitting initially? At what age do babies sit on their own? Sitting is one of the important development milestones that you as a parent, may be looking forward to. So, read on to know when a baby starts to sit up and how you can help your baby to sit.

At What Age Do Babies Learn to Sit

Babies learn to sit around six months of age. However, some babies may start sitting early, i.e. between 4 and 5 months of age. On the other hand, there are many who may start sitting between 7 and 8 months of age. Therefore, parents need not worry themselves. You must remember that every child grows at his own pace. So, give him time and do not force your child to do something. If a child does not start sitting up without any help by 6 months of age, it is important not to panic, but a consultation with a paediatrician would help.

The central nervous system is responsible for correct posture control, including sitting correctly. If a child achieves that, it indicates the maturation of various parts of the brain.

What Skills Do Babies Acquire Before They Start Sitting up

Here are some of the skills that your baby may have acquired before he starts sitting on his own:

1. Around Two Months of Age

By 2 months of age, your baby will be able to lift and hold up his head at 45 degrees while lying on his tummy for a few minutes.

2. Around Three Months of Age

By 3 months of age, your baby will lift his head and chest both at 45 degrees while lying on his stomach. His head will be steady and firm than before.

3. Around Four Months of Age

When a baby turns 4 months, he may hold his head up to 90 degrees while lying on his stomach. He may also try to sit using some support.

4. Around Five Months of Age

When your baby turns 5 months, he is most likely to raise his entire upper body while lying on his tummy. He will also be able to roll over. He may even keep his head steady while sitting (with support).

5. Around Six Months of Age

By 6 months of age, your little one will be able to sit with support and may roll on both sides.

6. Around Seven Months of Age

At 7 months, your baby will start sitting up without any support and may even shift his upper body.

7. Around Eight Months of Age

By 8 months of age, he will be able to sit upright without any support. By this time, he may even move his upper body comfortably and stand with support.

How to Teach Your Baby to Sit Up?

If you want to help your child to sit up, here are some ways that you can try:

1. Tummy Time

Tummy time is very important for a baby to achieve his developmental milestones, including rolling, crawling, sitting, standing, walking, etc.

It is very important to give an ample amount of tummy time to your baby every day. Lay your baby on his tummy as soon as he is able to take some control of his head, which generally happens around one month of age. Initially, make him lie on your lap or stomach, but as your baby grows and gets stronger, make him lie on a safe surface for some tummy time.

2. Back Time

Just the way tummy time is important for strengthening your baby’s neck and upper body muscles, back-time is also necessary for strengthening your baby’s abdominal muscles, chest and trunk. Make him lie on his back and give him a toy to play. Soon, you will see that he will start rolling over.

3. Hold Your Baby in Upright Postures (Using Support)

Before your baby actually begins to sit up, make him practice. Your baby not only gets the hang of being in a sitting position, but it also helps his neck and head to gain strength. However, make sure you support your baby’s body while doing so.

4. Use Props and Toys

You may use various props and toys to help your baby sit up. Make your baby sit on your lap by using some pillows and cushions, place a toy in front of him and help him reach those toys. You can even make your baby sit in his crib. However, do not leave your baby unattended.

5. Sitting on the Floor

You can start with sitting on the floor with your baby placed in between your lap and their hands in front of them, such as to provide them support for sitting. This will help them sit upright and improve their muscle coordination. 

6. Use Pillows

Pillows are another way of helping your child sit. make your child sit, and place pillows around them. You can occasionally support them with your arms. The great advantage of pillows is that if the baby falls on their face, pillows will save them.

Positions to Help a Baby Learn to Sit

Here are some positions that may help your baby to learn to sit:

1. Sitting on the Lap

Make your baby sit on your lap and keep shifting the support from his upper body to lower body. Move your hand from his chest to low on hips. This position is ideal for babies who are between 3 and 6 months of age.

2. Sitting in a Chair

You can use a chair to help your baby sit up. This works well for babies who have started sitting with support but need to work on their upper body strength. A baby should be made to sit on a chair between  4 and 5 months of age.

3. Sitting on the Floor Between Your Legs

This position is also recommended for 4-5-month-old babies. Your baby has the support of your legs and chest, and in case your baby trips sideways or at the back, he can use his hands for support.

4. Sitting on the Floor With a Pillow

Surround your baby with pillows and place a toy in front of them. Let your baby reach out to grab the toy. Also, adjust the pillow to help him sit up.

5. Tripod Position

Make your baby sit with his legs apart on the floor. Place toys at a reachable distance and let your baby use his trunk to reach to the toy. This position is suggested for babies between the ages of 4 and 6 months.

6. Sitting in a Laundry Basket or a Box

Make your baby sit in a laundry basket or a box and support him from both sides. Also, help your baby balance his body while sitting.

7. Ring Position

Make your baby sit in this position when he is between 6 and 8 months of age. Make your baby sit on the floor with his legs apart, but feet joined. This position provides good support, and even if your baby trips, he is able to support himself with his arms.

Things to Avoid While Teaching Your Child to Sit Up

Do not make your baby sit on swings or baby seats for longer durations. Your baby should be able to move his body to learn new skills; making him sit in confined areas for a long time may prove to be a hindrance to his growth and development.

FAQs

1. Is It OK for the Baby to Lean Forward While Sitting Up?

Yes, it is fine for babies to lean forward while sitting up as they are just starting to learn to sit. By 6 months, babies learning to sit with little support may lean forward on their arms and sturdy themselves. This position is known as the tripod position.

2. Can Sitting Up Be Bad for Baby’s Spine?

When your baby is able to sit up on his own, it means their spine has matured enough to hold his body. It is important to note that making your baby sit early on, before their 4 months, without support can have an impact on their spine.

3. Will Baby Crawl or Sit First?

Babies start sitting up first, then crawling. it is also possible for babies to skip the crawling or scooting phase altogether and jump straight to walking.

You can try some easy exercises to help your baby sit up but don’t go overboard with it. Every baby is different and he may reach developmental milestones at his own pace. So, don’t force him into something he is not ready for. If you notice any developmental delays, get in touch with your doctor and seek assistance for the same.

References/Resources:

1. Milestone Moments; CDC; https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/pdf/parents_pdfs/MilestoneMomentsEng508.pdf

2. Activities to help your child learn to sit and crawl; Hesperian Health Guides; https://en.hesperian.org/hhg/Helping_Children_Who_Are_Blind:Activities_to_help_your_child_learn_to_sit_and_crawl

3. Tummy Time; Pathways.org; https://pathways.org/topics-of-development/tummy-time/

4. Your baby’s growth and development – 7 months old; Pregnancy, Birth and Baby; https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/babys-growth-and-development-7-months-old

5. Meeting Milestones – How to Get Baby to Sit; Pathways.org; https://pathways.org/watch/meeting-milestones-how-to-get-baby-to-sit/

6. Kyvelidou. A, Stuberg. W. A, Harbourne. R. T, et al.’ Development of upper body coordination during sitting in typically developing infants; Pediatr Res.; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2713810/; May 2009

7. Infant development: Milestones from 4 to 6 months; Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/infant-development/art-20048178

8. Baby Milestones – When Babies Sit Up, Roll Over and Crawl; Help Me Grow; https://helpmegrowmn.org/HMG/HelpfulRes/Articles/BabyMilestones/index.html

9. Adolph. K. E, Berger. S. E, Leo, A. J; Developmental continuity? Crawling, cruising, and walking; Wiley Online Library; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-7687.2010.00981.x; February 2011

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