When Do Babies Sit Up? All Warning Signs and Things You Can Do
The first few years of an infant’s life are filled with various activities, which you can find very exciting as you watch your little one explore the new world. There are a lot of these activities that you can notice before your baby turns a year old, even as growth seems rapid during this period.
One such remarkable activity is babies’ ability to sit up, and the time at which this occurs varies amongst infants. Babies typically can sit independently around six months. In contrast, some other babies can only do so once they get to seven to nine months.
How to tell if My Baby is Ready?
How can I determine if my infant is ready to sit? What signs should I be on the lookout for? Most parents often ask these and many more questions as they eagerly await the day their infant would start sitting independently. However, just as there is no set time for babies to start sitting, there are no specific means of finding out when ready to do so.
But, some signs can help you, and if you look out for this sign, you might be able to tell or predict when your baby is likely to sit. Another sign to look out for is your baby’s ability to make more controlled and purposeful body movements. One such sign is the ability of your baby to control his head movements entirely.
If you find your infant always trying to push himself up, especially when he is lying while faced down, you can assume that he is getting ready for the “independent sitting.” Again, if the infant tends to roll over quite often, he might be working towards sitting independently. Please note that these activities are mere indicators that can help you determine if your baby is ready.
But, a constant practice can quicken the time for your infant to learn how to sit independently. In subjecting babies to this practice, you must ensure that you can provide adequate support against your baby falling off, as they are kept in an upright position. Generally, for babies who are between the age bracket of seven to nine months (around the age that most babies start sitting independently), you can find them rolling over in both directions. Some of these kids would also begin scooting forward and backward, so they instinctively suggest that they are preparing to crawl.
Similarly, some of these babies would try to sit upwards and support themselves using their hands or just one hand (the tripod position). It is noticeable that many kids use this tripod position to learn how to, sir, independently. As time goes on, they start gaining more strength and confidence, accompanied by constant practice.
Should Parents Get Worried When their Babies Don’t Sit?
This concern is common amongst most parents as they start expecting their babies to start sitting after a while. However, baby developments can take some time; it might seem very rapid in other kids, while some kids take more time. But if your baby isn’t sitting on his own at the age of nine months, you can speak to the infant’s doctor. In a few cases, that could indicate a delay in the development of motor skills.
Other Signs of Motor Delay Include:
- Floppy movements
- Stiff or tight muscles
- The inability of the infant to control his head movement
- Reaching out to things with only one hand
- Not reaching out to things at all
If you notice these signs or are so worried, kindly speak to a pediatrician and seek advice on possible treatments.
How Can i Help My Baby Sit Independently?
Helping babies learn how they can sit independently is one thing most parents do, and it involves subjecting them to constant practice. With continuous training, your infant can gain strength and confidence to start sitting with little or no support. Once babies start sitting independently, they start controlling their weight on both sides, alternating it from right to left to help them keep their balance.
Here are more tips that can assist you in providing the right help for your infant to start sitting independently:
- Get started with the practice process and ensure you make it a constant routine. However, while your baby is busy practicing, do not leave them alone and try to watch them from a close distance as they experiment with other body movements.
- Try to make you babysit on the floor instead of chairs or seat positioners, as it makes the whole process of learning how to sit faster. Although some people believe that a seat positioner works better for babies learning how to sit independently, using the floor seems more practical. Much more when toys that are appropriate and safe are employed to keep the baby more interested.
- Sit on a stool, placing your baby seated on the floor between your legs or on your kneel. While the baby is kept in that sitting position, try to read to the infant, sing, or get involved in some movement games with the infant so he doesn’t get bored.
- With time, your baby would start gaining some independence; thus, you can give the infant some more freedom. You can place the infant on the floor and support him with pillows and paddings while seated on the floor. However, you must continuously monitor the infant and try not to place the infant on high surfaces or chairs.
What Connection Does Sitting Hold with Tummy Time?
Tummy time is a fantastic experience for most babies, as they love spending some time playing while on their tummy. Even though some kids do not engage in this tummy activity for a long while, you can find many babies engaging in it quite often. Study shows that babies spending time on their tummy can be correlated to them sitting independently, as this is a vital step that helps prepare kids for sitting.
Thus, it would be advisable to start allowing your baby to have some tummy time. You can start by engaging for a shorter time, like a few minutes once or twice daily. Also, try engaging the infant in this activity once he is fully rested and has a clean diaper. Don’t leave the infant to do this activity alone; go down and get involved on the floor.
As the baby keeps observing you as you remain in that position, he gets motivated to do this for a longer time. To motivate the infant, use a mirror, placing it in front, as this enables him to see his face while on the floor.
Making Use of Baby Seats
There are various baby seats out there in the market and can start serving their purpose right from when your baby starts holding his head without any aid. But are baby seats safe for use? There are some adverse effects of exposing an infant to sitting while still tender or way too early, mostly if done for a long time. This act can impact the infant’s developing skills, as he may not control the vital head control independently.
Thus, you should use baby seats the right way; it would be more suitable to use them when your infant has started sitting or when they are about to do so. Preferably, you can begin making use of baby seats at the age of six to eight months.
Tips On keeping Babies Safe as they Learn to Sit
When babies start learning how to sit, it can be overwhelming, and if proper precautions are not taken, some accidents might occur.
Take Note of these Tips as Your Infant starts Learning How to Sit:
- Ensure that all rooms that your infant uses have outlet cover installed on all sockets.
- Once your infant gets to this stage, try to allow the baby to sit on lower settings and decrease his crib mattress’s heights.
- Higher stools or chairs, use those designed with a safety harness and always fasten the seat belt.
- Install various safety proofs around the house, such as locks for cabinets and doors, and try using baby gates.
- Remove all hazardous substances from the reach of your baby.
- Do not place the baby’s seat close to water or keep them seated on elevated surfaces.
After Learning How To Seat, What Next?
Once babies start sitting independently, they get involved in other thrilling activities; as they start crawling, start standing, and not too long, they take their first step. Thus, they start fostering their independence as they start sitting and start practicing floor movements. Hence, it would be beneficial to provide your baby with excellent toys like Activity cubes, Shape sorters, Ring stackers, and Soft blocks to help them during this stage. Please ensure you childproof your homes to prevent accidents.
Conclusion
Most parents are quite eager to know when their infant can start sitting independently, and they try to seek answers on how they can help their infant learn how to do so. This activity occurs at various times amongst different babies, and it prepares them for other exciting activities. You can check out the tips in this article and help your infant seat independently.