When Do Babies Sit Up On Their Own?
You finally brought your sweet angel home and are basking in their beauty and that newborn baby smell. You’re gazing into that innocent face and begin thinking about the future. When will they sit up on their own? When will they start standing? When will they say their first word?
If you’re anything like I was, I immediately began to panic at the thought of my newborn baby one day growing up to be an active toddler. Rest assured, I survived, as my firstborn baby is now a fiery and busy three-year-old!
Most parents don’t want to rush their kids growing up, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. One day, your baby will start sitting up on their own, and although sad, it is also a good thing as this will give you back a little independence! Keep reading to learn when your baby should start sitting on their own.
When Will My Baby Sit Up On Their Own?
When your baby is first learning how to sit up on their own, you can expect them to do a lot of wobbling. Their core is not yet strong enough to sit unassisted, but sooner than later, it will be! On average, babies can start sitting up around four months old, but they will use their hands to help keep themselves upright for as long as they can until they inevitably start to tip over!
Now, when will they sit up all by themself? Babies can usually sit up unassisted around 8 or 9 months old. When they first learn how to sit up by themselves, they may still use their arms to help stay steady. Don’t expect your baby to grab things while sitting, though, as all their focus is on sitting up and staying up!
How Do I Help My Baby Sit Up?
Some babies are ready to take on the world as soon as possible, while others may take a little more time to become comfortable pushing themselves to new limits. It can be concerning if your baby is not sitting up on their own, but there are things that you can do to help encourage your little one to sit upright. Before you start working with your baby to sit up, make sure that they are on a stable surface with no objects in case they fall.
Start Tummy Time
Your baby will learn how to sit up on their own as their muscles develop. Doing tummy time is the perfect way to help their muscles strengthen! Place your baby’s belly down on a clean, flat surface. When your baby first starts doing tummy time, you should start them out at five minutes per a day. As they get older and their muscles grow, you can increase tummy time from 20 to 30 minutes per day.
Not all babies love tummy time, though. Try to engage your baby during tummy time to keep them interested and active. You can do this by putting a baby-safe mirror in front of them, or playing with their favorite toy.
Help Your Baby Out
Sometimes, it's easier to learn from being shown what to do. Your baby can benefit from you showing them the ropes! Lay your baby down flat on their back and hold onto their hands. Gently bring them up into a sitting position. Not only will this make your baby giggle up a storm, but it will also show them how to sit up!
Offer Your Baby Support
As your baby is learning how to sit up, they may need some more support. You can help your baby stay supported by using a breastfeeding pillow, or sitting on the floor with your baby upright in your lap. Keep in mind that your baby shouldn’t be in this position for too long if they are not developmentally ready to be sitting up.
Try Toys That Encourage Sitting Up
Did you know that there are toys designed to help your baby sit upright? These toys usually have bright lights and toys that pique their interest. They engage your baby and keep them entertained as they work their muscles. If one of these toys isn’t what you are looking for, you can always use interactive activity balls, cubes, or brightly colored stacking toys to play with them. Remember that they should only be sitting upright as long as they are comfortable.
There are also other devices to help your baby sit upright, such as the bumbo. While this can be helpful for short periods of time, it shouldn’t be used for too long. This is because they restrict their movement, which means their muscles are not activated and strengthened. If you do choose to use one of these devices, be sure to keep it low to the ground in case they try to wriggle their way out.
Monitor Your Baby’s Milestones with Baby Connect
What is amazing about children is that each one is uniquely different. They all have their own traits, quirks, and personality! This also means that each child will hit milestones at their own rate. Every child will hit milestones at different times, but there is usually a time frame in which they should be reaching them. If not, it could point to some sort of delay.
With this in mind, it’s important to keep track of their milestones! Baby Connect is perfect for this as you can add all of their achievements and milestones as they happen. Never again will you rack your brain for those important details at the doctor’s office as all of your baby’s information will be at the touch of your fingertips.
