For parents learning to sit their babies is a great milestone and cause for celebration. First of all, it is worth emphasizing that babies have their own rhythm of learning and development and it must be respected, this means that they should not be forced . If you think your baby is not yet ready to learn to sit, don’t be in a hurry to learn it.
Although babies develop at variable rates, your little one will likely begin to move and sit up with support at around 4 months of age. At 6 months, your baby will begin to lift his chest and part of his stomach while lying down, and at 7 months, he should be working to move from lying down to sitting alone. With a little support, you can help your baby reach this developmental milestone as he develops his strength to sit alone.
Reach and grip
Tummy time is crucial for a baby to learn to roll, move, and sit. Help him move from a lying position to a sitting position, giving him an incentive to reach for things. Put toys and small objects out of reach so your baby can use his arms and legs to slide toward the shiny objects. Babies will use their hands more to reach and grasp, ultimately improving their muscle development and strength.
When you begin to have more strength in your muscles, little by little you will be more prepared to be able to sit on your own. But as long as he is not strong enough to achieve the milestone, do not force him to do it.
Put pillows and cushions
As your baby begins to lift his chest and rocks back and forth on his tummy, help him practice sitting by padding an area with pillows and supporting him in a sitting position.
In a sitting position, your baby can learn to balance by placing his arms in a tripod position while leaning forward to gain more balance. Stay close to support the baby as needed. Between 6 and 8 months, you should be able to remain seated without leaning forward.
Do not miss the practice
Build your baby’s strength to sit up by laying him on his back and slowly pulling his hands up to sit. Repetition not only increases strength but also shows your baby the movements of moving from lying down to sitting upright. Parents can also develop core strength by holding babies under their arms with their feet firmly on the floor.
Incite your little one
When practicing moving to a sitting position, prompt your little one with his own reflection. Ideally, place your child in front of a mirror while placing him in a sitting position. Also, encourage your baby to sit alone by placing a hand mirror at a higher angle so that he can reach his reflection and possibly sit alone.
If when he is of the appropriate age to learn to sit alone you find that he does not develop the necessary strength or that he has no interest to change to the sitting position, you will have to look a little more at his development. Perhaps your baby has a developmental delay or a psychomotor delay and then, it will be necessary for you to take him to the pediatrician to evaluate how his development is going. You don’t overdo it because each baby has its own rhythm and may learn it later, but evaluation by a child health professional will be necessary.