How To Help Baby Sit Up

Learn Tips To Help Your Baby To Sit Up

Sitting up with assistance or on their own is a milestone for your baby and helps them experience the world in a new way. Babies are often able to sit unassisted when they are between 5 and 9 months old, but its important to realize that every baby develops individually, at their own pace. There are things you can do at home to help your baby sit up and reach developmental milestones. If you are concerned that your baby may have a developmental delay its recommended you contact your health care provider, doctor or physical therapist.

Tummy Time Is Important

Tummy time is very important for overall baby development and helps them learn gross motor skills. During Tummy time your baby develops strength and control in their necks, arms and core which is necessary to help them sit up on their own. When playing on their bellies a baby may use their arms to push themselves up to four points, and then sit to their side. If your baby has good head control and tolerates tummy time well they may be ready to sit soon. You can help teach your baby this movement by bringing their hips up while they are pushing themselves up with their arms. Then help bring their bum back to one side into assisted sitting. Remember to practice these skills on BOTH sides. Supervise your baby during tummy time and do tummy time when your baby is awake.

Pushing Up To Sitting From Side Lying

How to help baby sit up from laying? Another way your baby can sit is by pushing up with the arms from side lying. Babies around 7 months old often have good shoulder control which allows them to put their weight on their elbow when playing on their side. Play time on the floor or mat is important. Being strong and functional when playing on their side is going to help your baby to get into sitting by pushing up with their arms. One way to teach your baby to sit up from laying down is to sit them on one of your legs and then help them to activate their trunk.

Play Time on Babies Tummy and Side Is Important

Give your baby lots of time to play on their tummy and to roll to their side. This will help your baby learn to interact in their environment to get the toys they want to play with and to develop their sensory, visual and balance systems. Plus its lots of fun! Remember, this doesn’t need to work or a chore. Have patience and enjoy the time with your baby. Make sure to supervise your baby during tummy time.

Help Your Baby Activate Their Trunk and Neck Muscles

By positioning your baby on your lap or on a excercise ball you can help them activate their trunk and neck muscles and assit them in sitting up.

When Should My Baby Be Able To Sit Up On Its Own?

Each baby has its own indivdual timing and rhythm for developing and achiving milestones. When your baby is able to sit on its own will depend on its genetics, the type of daily stimulation and play it receives, its environment, the strength and control of its neck and core, and previous abilities it has developed such as as rolling over and comfort during tummy time. Generally babies are able to sit unassisted between 6 and 9 months old. If you have questions or concerns about your babies development contact your health care provider, doctor or physical therapist.

Baby during tummy time with toy out of reach to develop milestones — **Place Toys A Little Out Of Reach**

Babies don’t always need to be handed their toys. For instance, during tummy time, place some toys a little out of reach so your baby needs to reach, crawl or roll to get it. This process of exploration and your baby trying to reach for toys and objects of interest is an important part of their development.

Read to your Baby in Your lap

Sit your baby in your lap or beside you and read to them favorite books. Not only does this help them develop their ability to sit, but its fun Reading to your baby is an important part of their mental and emotional development. Reading to your baby can help them with language skills, bonding with you, emotional development and set the stage for success in school and a lifetime enjoyment of reading.

Reading to your baby is a great way to bond while encouraging physical, mental and emotional development

Practice Assisted Sitting With Your Baby

When your baby has more neck strength and can hold their head steady try sitting your baby in your lap. You can slowly rock back and forth and encourage your baby to keep their body aligned. Your baby still may be developing neck strength so keep an eye out for head wobble and offer support if needed. Music can be added to make it more fun for both of your!

Baby sitting in moms lap helps baby learn how to sit up — **Sit With Your Baby In Your Lap**

When your baby has more neck strength and can hold their head steady try sitting your baby in your lap.

Baby Milestones at 5 and 6 Months May Include Sitting Up

Tummy Time Tips To Prepare Baby For Sitting

The strength and skills your baby learns during tummy time are important in many areas of their development including when it comes time for them to learn to sit. Preparing to help baby sit up begins with activities such as tummy time.

Should I Use A Baby Sit Up or Bumbo Seat?

A baby seat is designed to help sit your baby during certain times such a feeding and is not designed to help your baby develop sitting strength and skills. Don’t sit your baby in the seat for too long and don’t rely on it to develop your babies sitting skills. Babies need to develop core, trunk and head control on their own, without a seat.

If you choose to use a seat make sure to follow the instructions and use them with staps connected, away from water and avoiding high surfaces to reduce the risk of falling.

How to help baby sit up with teddy bear — Baby sitting up with teddy bear

This content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. All information provided by Sol Shine Physical Therapy and associated videos are strictly for informational and educational purposes. It is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. The information is not advice, and should not be treated as such. The information in this video is provided "as is" without any representation or warranty, expressed or implied.