Helping Your Baby Sit Independently
Sitting is a progressive motor milestone that will transition from sitting with support of parent to sitting independently and maintaining balance while playing.
3-5 months: Babies will begin to sit with propped support. This may begin with parent support and will develop into babies supporting themselves with hands on floor. To sit with minimal support, babies need to develop neck and upper body control. Tummy time is a great way to develop these muscles. Your baby will begin to lift their head and eventually push down into their forearms to develop arm and shoulder muscles. You can also have your child sit in your lap for increased assistance while playing until they can prop themselves up.
6-8 months: Babies will begin to sit with minimal assistance and transition to sitting unsupported. You can provide support by adding pillows around them or place a Boppy pillow around their waist to give them support without holding on to them. Another activity I like to try is have them sit in a laundry basket surrounded by pillows. Add in a few toys to allow them to explore safely with a little more independence.
9-11 months: Babies will be able to sit independently and maintain balance while reaching and manipulating toys. They will be able to transition in and out of sitting independently as well. To improve their independence, you can bring toys slightly out of their reach, requiring baby to reach out of their base of support and return to sitting. I like to keep pillows around just in case they lose balance. A fun activity to try is grabbing the laundry basket again or a large empty diaper box. Have your baby sit down and push and pull the basket around the room requiring your baby to adapt to the change in directions. Bonus points for the adorable giggles you’ll hear.
Reminder: Babies are all unique and will develop on their own timelines. These are general milestone guidelines, but your baby may develop faster or slower. If you do have concerns with your child’s development, please speak with your pediatrician or physical therapist to begin interventions early.
As always, feel free to email us with any questions at info@setinmotionphysicaltherapy.com