My six month old daughter seems to have a hard time sitting up by herself. She has no trouble sitting in her highchair or on my lap. as long as she is supported she is fine. Without support she'll just fall over. She also is very wiggely and rather stand up and jump! What can I do to encourage her to sit? Any ideas?Thank you very much in advance!
In one day, I got 12 responses! Thank you all so much for your advice, helpful hints and reasurance! I guess I ended up just second guessing myself, if I am encouraging my baby enough to achieve certain milestones. You could call it first-time-mom syndrome. I'll let you all know how it goes and in the meantime we'll just have fun! Thank you very much for your time to help me!
I have five children. Only three of them actually sat up on their own. Some children never even do it until after the are standing on their own. From what I have learned there is no way to make a child learn sitting, standing or even walking quicker. It is just when ever they are ready and comfortable enough to do it.
I used to prop my kids up with the Boppy pillows and regular pillows. That was before the Bumbo thing came out. I think that my twins did not sit up fully unassisted until around 8 mos.
As a pediatric physical therapist, let me reassure you that all children develop at their own rate. 6 months is the age and stage where children begin to sit up and support themselves, not necessarily when they accomplish it 100%. I would recommend a regular visit with your pediatrician just to be sure he/she doesn't see any underlying issues. Then there are lots of fun, play things you can do with your little one to encourage her to sit up and to develop her trunk (abdominal, side and back) muscles to help her attain that goal. You can play a "sit up" game where you lie your daughter on her back on your thighs while you are seated comfortably. Hold both her wrists (not hands as this can put undo stress on the little wrist) and gently pull her into a sitting position, encouraging her to lift her head first then help you more and more as you play. Once she gets into the sitting position, blow a raspberry, give her a kiss on the nose, anything that she finds fun and entertaining (believe it or not, laughter in babies is a very effective way to strengthen muscles) because it will make her want to do it again and again. You can also sit on the floor with her surrounded by lots of toys. Put her in a seated position and then support her only at the hips so she doesn't totally tip over. Then have your hubby engage her to reach and grasp objects so that she has to lean to the side and the front and sit herself back up. Above all, play with your baby. This isn't meant to be stressful for either of you. It should be fun and entertaining, that's what makes it work. Unless your pediatrician finds some underlying issue (which is doubtful) you should see progress steadily but not necessarily overnight. Be patient. Kids develop at their own rates. The guides that give ages where things should be accomplished, are just that, guides. Have fun with her!
try a boppy pillow, that worked great for me with my little ones.
six months in the early spectrum of being able to sit on her own. Most children will sit between 6-8 months old. Don't rush her developmental milestones, rather enjoy each stage as they come . All children will develop on their own pace. My son didn't sit independently until 8.5 months ( later side of the range) but other children
Until she is able to master this skill, give her the opportunity to sit for small amounts of time either with a boppy pillow or pillows surrounding so she doesn't hurt herself.
Also try engaging her in activities that require sitting as well.
Hi! You need a Bumbo seat. They are the best things, better than a Boppy! Try Googlying Bumbo Seat! Let me know if you need more information??
K.
what worked for my son was a laundry basket :) I would sit him in it and give him some toys... he couldn't fall over. If she wants to stand and jump, it may not work lol.
Hi I.-
Have you tried using a Boppy Pillow? I use one for nursing my son, and when he started sitting, I just tucked it behind him... and it gave him the support he needed. But he wasn't a fantastic sitter until about 7 months. He was crawling before he sat really well- every kid is different, I guess! :)
Good luck!
Hi, I would not try to force her to sit up until she is ready but what I did with my kids was sit them in the middle of a boppy pillow. For my 2nd child I bought the baby bumbo chair and she was sitting up at 12 weeks old in it. Great item and worth the $$$ My kids also both had Evenflo Megasaucers and they were great from 4 months old and the babies love bouncing in them. Hope this gives u some ideas.
C.
First of all, I think it is pretty common. I am now a Gramma to a 6 mos. old baby boy who has the same issue but is learning fast. My son ( now 24 ) was the same way. I think if they are big babies ( especially long through the torso ) it is harder for them to learn to balance themselves. Also if they were premature, which my Grandson was, they seem to be a month or two behind developmentally... but don't worry, they catch up. We used a Bumbo chair which is made of a molded foan to sit the baby in. They get used to sitting up somewhere else other than on your lap, just always put it on the floor .. never on a table top etc. Also, playing pull up games with their hands / arms while laying down strengthens their tummy muscles. Have your daughter sit up in the middle of a big bed and support herself with her hands out by her sides. At first she'll only be able to do it for a few seconds but she'll catch on. Of course you are there to catch her or guide her to the bed so she doesn't get scared. Lot's of babies skip steps too. My son walked before he ever sat up unassisted. Guess we're all different. Good luck and God bless! L.
I agree that you can not force your child. 6 months old is still young and they say that all kids will do what they want on their terms at these young ages so just be patient. We had a bumbo but my youngest hated it and it also has a huge warning as some kids have died from use of a bumbo. I never recommend putting it on a table top or up some where high with your child in it (no brainer right, but that is how some kids died) Good luck.
Hi I.,
The reality is, every baby will do this at their own pace. Believe it or not, my first child crawled, YES CRAWLED at 4:1/2 months and my second child couldn't sit up I think until 9 months! It was very frustrating.
The one useful tool is to place a boppy pillow around your babies back so they are supported and can then sit alone.
good luck!
I.
I used the boppy pillow for my grandkids it works great it is soft if they do fall over they don't get hurt.I also used a lap tray and sat it in front of it for toys. I liked it because it helped them learn to use there own strength and coordination.
You should not push her if she is not ready, this is not a race..you can maybe do exercises with her like helping her up form a lying position, but she will get there when she is ready. Those delevopmental charts in the parenting magazines are soemthing to go by..each child is different.
Also, never rush standing/walking, they will get there naturally (or may need help) but if you are wanting things to early their other areas of development get pushed aside. Walking is for much older babies..not 6 months.
If she seems really 'bendy' or what I call my son Yoga Boy check with her doctor she may have Low Muscle Tone and need some physical therapy to help build up her strength
You can't make her. Give her a little more time. She is not beyond the age for that development. Don't worry. Her back just needs a little more time to strengthen.
The best thing to do is to help her strengthen all the core muscles needed to keep her body upright...crawling and tummy time will give her back and tummy muscles exercise and strengthening. You can also play games with her lying on her back and helping her by holding on to her hands and doing little baby sit-ups. All these "exercises" will provide her with strength to be able to support her own body and find her own center of balance. If you are concerned ask your pediatrician about early intervention to help you guys if you need further support.
There is no perfect answer to this. They do things on their own, at their own pace. The best advice is to let her be, and she will figure it out when you least expect it. Once she gets that, hold on, cuz next is standing and walking. Good luck!
Every baby is on a different schedule. She just simply may not be ready. Patience is the first thing. You don't want to make her do it...you want her to learn to do it, you know? However...
Does she get enough belly time to develop those muscles?
I think it is a good idea for your pediatrician to know she isn't sitting up yet, so the doctor can tell you, in your baby's case, if that is an issue or not. I strongly recommend that.
Hi,
Have you tried a Bumbo? They are wonderful, and difficult for a squirmy baby to get out of. I used one with my daughter around 4-8mths of age. She really liked the independence she had sitting "all by herself" and it helped to strengthen her muscles.
Hope that helps!
-M.
Have you tried using a Bumbo?? That might help becuase it gives some support but doesn't have a high back so she would need to start using her muscles to sit upright. They are like $50 new or you can go to Once Upon a Child and find a used one sometime for half price.
