My son turned 7 months old is turning side to side but not very often. He pulls up his upper body when he is on lap. I also give tummy time and he pulls up his head and even moves in side to side direction. But otherwise, he is not showing any signs of turning from tummy to back or vice versa, no signs of sitting either. I have used toys, phones to lure him into turning. He hates tummy time too. what should I do?

Question

Accepted Answer

It sounds like your 7-month-old son is making good progress with his physical development! The milestones you're describing, such as turning his body from side to side, lifting his upper body while on your lap, and pushing up during tummy time, are positive signs. Here’s some additional context and tips for supporting his development:

Physical Development at 7 Months:

At 7 months, babies are developing more strength in their neck, back, and core muscles, and they begin to explore movement. Here are some typical developmental milestones for a 7-month-old:

Rolling: Many babies are rolling over by this age, but not all do it frequently. Some babies may roll over once in a while, while others do so more often. If your baby is turning from side to side and pushing up during tummy time, that’s a good sign that he’s building strength in his upper body and core.

Sitting Up: By 7 months, some babies can sit up with support and may start to sit independently for short periods, but it’s common for babies to still need help maintaining balance.

Tummy Time Progress: It’s excellent that you’re giving tummy time, as this helps strengthen the muscles needed for sitting, crawling, and even walking. When babies push up on their arms and lift their head during tummy time, it indicates strong neck and shoulder muscles.

What You Can Do to Support His Development:

Here are a few suggestions to help encourage further development:

1. Encourage More Tummy Time: Since tummy time helps with head control, neck strength, and overall motor skills, keep doing tummy time several times a day. Gradually increase the duration of tummy time, but make sure to keep it fun and engaging to prevent any frustration.

2. Provide Safe Opportunities for Movement: Allow your baby to explore and move as much as he can on his own in a safe, padded area. This helps build muscle strength and coordination.

3. Support Sitting Skills: If your baby is starting to sit with support, you can encourage this skill by sitting behind him, offering gentle support around his torso to help him practice balancing.

4. Encourage Rolling: You can try placing toys or objects just out of his reach during tummy time to encourage him to reach, roll, and turn to get them.

5. Time on Your Lap: While he's on your lap, encourage him to lean forward or try to lift himself up, which helps him build his core strength.

6. Limit Prolonged Sitting or Laying in One Position: Too much time in a seated or lying position (such as in a car seat, swing, or bouncer) can slow down motor development. Make sure he gets plenty of floor time to work on his physical skills.

When to Be Concerned:

Although each baby develops at their own pace, if your baby is not showing significant progress in movement or shows signs of weakness or discomfort, it’s a good idea to consult with your pediatrician. For example, if he isn’t showing any interest in rolling over or pushing up during tummy time by 9 months, it may be worth getting an evaluation.

But based on what you're describing, it seems like your baby is progressing well, and these actions are part of the typical development at this age. Keep supporting him with gentle encouragement, and enjoy watching him develop these new skills!