Baby Talk - 5/9/19

Babies sit independently somewhere between the age of four and nine months. No need to rush your baby or to worry, as it will all happen when your baby is ready. The stages of sitting, as outlined below, help baby to develop the necessary large motor skills.

• Head control – The first stage of sitting requires baby to be able to hold up her/his head. Tummy time is an ideal way for baby to strengthen neck, back, and head muscles. Raising and holding the head up while lying on her/his stomach helps baby to develop head control.

• Building balance – Once head control has been mastered, baby moves onto the balancing stage of sitting. Balance is a neuromuscular activity, so both the trunk muscles and the brain are engaged. During this phase, place baby in the corner of a chair/couch or between your legs as you are sitting so s/he can begin to feel what it is like to sit up. Although baby is fully supported, muscle memory and neural pathways are being developed.

• Tripod sit – As baby moves onto the third stage of sitting, the hands are used to stabilize the torso. As the core muscles strengthen, baby will rely less on her/his hands and begin to hold the sitting position.

Get ready…crawling comes next!!

What experiences have you had with your baby learning to sit? Please, share.