6 months – “Prop sit”
- They are moving from back to their tummies, showing increasing voluntary muscle control and strength.
- Babies on their tummies are adopting the ‘Superman position’ – legs and arms off the floor and arching their backs to ‘fly’.
- Lift their head up when pulled to sit.
- Sit independently with their legs in a swimming position for stability.
- Can prop forwards on their hands if they lose their balance, but not to the sides.
- Can hold a toy if given.
- Still needs pillows for protection.
- Sits in highchair for feeding – good head and trunk control to allow for swallowing efficiently.
7-9 months
7 months – “Transitional movements”
- Babies dislike their backs.
- Will pull themselves to sit using your hands. (Hip flexor and tummy control).
- Many babies will be adapting to many positions: on their tummies, pivoting, crawling, bear stand.
- Your baby will sit independently.
- Can reach for a toy and maintain balance.
- Still have their legs in a ‘ring sitting’ (sitting with legs in a wide base) for balance.
- May begin to move forwards over the legs towards an ‘all fours’ position.
8 months – “Transitional position I”
- Busy, active, moving in/out of sitting.
- Difficult to change their nappies as they want functional independence.
- Your baby will be moving with all fours to crawl or go to sit.
- Will use ‘ring sitting’ leg position while sitting while playing.
- Develops trunk rotation and side sit – able to maintain balance and reach for a toy.
- Moves from sit to ‘all fours’ due to increasing control of trunk and legs.
9 months – “Transitional position II”
- Trunk control in sitting well developed.
- Often a transitional position as they explore their environment.
- Can hold objects as they move freely in and out of sitting.
- Variety of positions of legs.
- May begin to move from sitting to kneeling.
10-12 months
10 months – Play position
- Rarely sit still.
- If sitting still, they are eating, or exploring toys, beginning to put things in and out of containers.
- Beginning to mimic gestures in sitting, i.e. ‘Ta (thank you)’.
- Constantly transitioning from ‘ring sit’, to long leg, to side sit, to ‘W-kneeling’, to kneeling.
- They transition in and out of all sitting positions easily and do not use any one position persistently.
Once your baby sits alone:
- Place toys out of reach to encourage rotation and strengthen side tummy muscles for movement.
- Encourage them to reach up.
- Help your baby come forwards on their legs into side sit.
- Give them 2 toys to play with and encourage bimanual play.
- Sing songs with gestures.
- Play movement songs in sit to encourage propping/movement.
What to do if your baby doesn’t sit up
If they don’t hold their head up at 4 months, prop on their arms by 4-5 months, and can’t sit by 9 months, check with your doctor or a paediatric physiotherapist.
All babies are different in their learning styles. Some are quiet, while others are movers. Developing head control and trunk strength is key to sitting independently. Sitting is a key to moving in and out of crawling, kneeling, and standing.
Keep safe, happy, and well,
Deb