Baby milestones: Sitting

Once your baby is able to sit he’ll love his new perspective on the world. Imagine if you’d spent most of your life on your front or back and suddenly you were upright and seeing everything around you without having to tilt your head!

Before your baby learns to sit he has to have mastered holding his head up and practiced using his back and neck muscles. This all happens at two to three months, when you’ll notice him being able to hold his head up for a few moments longer each time. Somewhere around the four-month mark, his neck and back muscles may be strong enough for you to prop him up by holding his body upright. He’ll love seeing the world from this angle. Follow gurgle’s tips to help your baby:

By three to four months If your baby has reasonable neck and head control and doesn’t slump forward, you can prop him up in a sitting position using cushions for support if he topples to one side. Make sure you stay with him at all times and don’t forget he can fall sideways, backwards and to the front.

By five months You may be able to prop your baby up in a sitting position using cushions around him in case he topples, or by sitting him with his back against your tummy supporting his back and neck. He may be able to take the full weight of his head for a few moments, but be prepared for a few falls before he masters the art of balance. Giving him lots of practice using those important muscles that will help him sit unaided soon.

By six months He may be able to sit unsupported for a while as his limbs, neck and back muscles become much stronger. However, he may still topple over from time to time when gravity gets the better of him so don’t leave him without cushions or a soft surface under him.

By eight months Your baby should be able to sit unsupported by now, and if he has spent lots of time being propped up in his car seat, highchair or stroller, his back and neck muscles will be used to sitting upright. But if he spends lots of time on his back or in his baby sling he may sit slightly later because he isn’t used to having to support himself on his own.

Sitting is a skill that depends on your baby’s circumstances, especially his size. If he is a large baby he may take a while to master balancing. Some babies sit at four months and some at nine so the sitting window is fairly large. With this in mind, if your baby is somewhere in between four and nine months and is showing no signs of sitting, don’t worry – rest assured it will happen. Just give him plenty of opportunities to strengthen his neck and back muscles and encourage balancing by propping him up with you close by and giving him interesting visual stimulation at eye level while he’s sitting. If you’re worried your baby isn’t able to sit yet and he’s approaching nine months, consult your pediatrician.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: 03/07/2007

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