Once your baby has started to make some independent movements, many new parents begin to wonder “When do babies sit up?” And more importantly, when will your baby sit up? It’s quite typical for many families to track movement milestones closely. After all, each one is exciting and new. And they lay the groundwork for future movement milestones.
When Can Babies Sit Up?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most babies are able to sit up between 3-7 months. This first sit may be more wobbly and off-balance. That’s okay! Babies are usually able to sit up straight and independently by nine months.
Like many milestones, your individual child’s path to sitting up can vary. Being a little early or a little late is perfectly normal.
Before asking when do babies start sitting up, you can keep an eye out for other movement milestones.
- Is your baby getting a lot of tummy time?
- Have they started to roll over?
- Can your baby raise their chest?
- Can they hold their head steady?
If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then that means your baby is developing the muscle strength and control necessary for sitting up. They need to work on their neck, upper body, back, and abdominal muscles.
As your baby gets used to sitting, they will combine sitting with other independent movements. You may wonder why your baby is bouncing up and down as they sit. Well, that’s their leg muscles getting ready for walking!
How Can I Help My Baby Sit Up Alone?
The big factor for helping your baby is their ability to support their head. If they can do this independently, there are a few steps you can help them to sit up on their own.
Prop Up Your Baby
Try holding up your baby. You can support them with either soft pillows or your hand. This helps get them used to the position. You can use your stroller, an infant seat, or even your lap as well.
Draw Their Interest
While helping your little one sit up, you can point out objects or set toys in front of them. This encourages them to look up. Sitting up means they can visually explore the world around them. And they can even touch more things that are close to them.
Looking forward will also help them learn to tripod. When tripoding, a baby leans forward toward an interesting object to balance.
Keep Things Safe
Make sure wherever you’re practicing with your baby that there’s plenty of cushioning. You can set down movement mats, blankets, pillows, and other soft objects. It will be a while before your baby can sit up and maintain their balance, so do your best to prevent bumps and bruises.
What About Baby Seats?
As you are buying baby toys, you may see baby seats as well. Some companies market these as tools to help your baby’s development. But, you don’t actually need one. In fact, you may not want to use a baby seat at all.
Because a rigid baby seat does so much support work, you may be stunting some of your baby’s other development according to some pediatric physical therapists. Think of it this way, if they’re in the seat for too long, they aren’t working on their muscle control or strength.
If you choose to use these, wait until they are further along in their sitting development. When they’re close to independent is best. And don’t make this the only tool you use to help your baby sit up.
When To Call The Doctor
If your baby hasn’t sat up by nine months or isn’t able to sit up with assistance a bit earlier than that, it may be worthwhile to reach out to your physician. This could be a sign of a developmental delay. If your little one has already shown other motor delays, check-in with your doctor about what to watch out for.
Now that you know the ins and outs of your baby sitting up, you’re ready for the next step of your parenting journey. It’s time to find quality and caring child care. Check out Sittercity so you can get connected with sitters and child care providers in your area.
