After months of reclining and tummy time, your baby might be ready for a change of scenery, and he’ll need to accomplish a new movement milestone to do so: sitting up.
The more practice your little one gets holding himself upright in an assisted seated position, the sooner he'll discover the pleasures of sitting up on his own — including a better perspective on all his favorite toys (and his favorite people).
When do babies sit up?
Most babies can sit with help between 4 and 5 months old, either with a little support from a parent or a seat or by propping themselves up on their hands, but it definitely varies from baby to baby. At this age, most babies' heads will slightly or no longer fall backward when their upper bodies are pulled up to a sitting position.
Starting in month 4 (or whenever he holds his head up well and seems interested and ready), you can prop your baby up to sit with support and give him an amazing new vantage point on the world around him.
Help your baby develop neck and head control by making a game of pulling him up to sit. With baby lying on his back (or perhaps your legs), grasp his hands and gently pull him up to sit. Some funny faces and zooming noises will help him enjoy the ride.
When do babies sit up on their own?
Babies can stay sitting up unassisted when they’re around 6 months old, when the neck, upper body and back muscles have more fully developed, but sometimes they get the hang of it earlier or later. Like other movements, there’s a wide range of normal.
By 7 months, some babies may sit up from a lying-down position by pushing up from the stomach, but most little ones will need a grown-up pulling them up or placing them into a sitting position until around month 11.
Either way, at the end of 7 months, your baby should be able to sit unsupported. If this milestone isn't met, check in with your physician.
How do I get my baby to sit up?
As soon as he holds his head up well, you can help encourage your baby to sit up a few different ways:
Prop him up in an infant seat, stroller or your lap.
Sitting up with support in the stroller while you take a neighborhood walk is an especially good way to develop your baby's interest in sitting. As you walk, point out all the new things he can see from his upright position, from dogs and cars to passersby and other babies in strollers.
Give him something to hold onto — and a cushion to break any falls.
The more practice your baby gets sitting with help, the more likely he is to try sitting up on his own without a pillow or a grown-up’s hands to support him. To steady his wobbly sense of balance, roll a ball and play catch while you're both sitting, or hold his hands and sing a song, gently swaying to the rhythm.
As he's learning to sit, keep him on a blanket or activity mat to cushion any tumbles, and sit close by so that you can catch him if he topples over backward.
Use toys as an incentive.
Try placing a toy in front of your baby's feet while he's sitting, and he may end up propping himself up on his hands as he plays with it. You can also place a toy near the top of his feet to get his attention. Then lift the toy up to his eye level. He'll reach for it while sitting up — and may even be able to stay seated on his own while he plays with the toy in his hands.
What not to worry about
As long as you give your baby plenty of opportunities to practice his sitting skills, he'll let you know when he's ready to sit up.
If your baby slumps over or slides off to one side even with support, he may not be ready to sit, and you can simply try again later. And babies who are new to sitting up may tire easily — he'll let you know when he's had enough by fussing, complaining or slumping.
If your little one doesn't sit with support by the end of month 5, it's not a cause for concern. Every baby develops differently and at his own pace.
Just continue to offer plenty of chances to practice sitting with support, and lots of encouragement and distraction while your little one is upright so that he gets to use and develop those upper body muscles. Try putting his infant seat next to a mirror or taking an extra spin around the block in the stroller.
When do babies sit up and crawl?
Plenty of practice sitting upright (plus tummy time) will help your little one develop the upper body strength he'll need to start crawling — usually around the 9 month mark. Some babies will begin crawling as early as 6 months, while others hold off and some even skip crawling altogether.
Teaching your baby to sit up can help kickstart his first crawling movements. In fact, babies often "discover" crawling from learning to sit. If he leans over while sitting, he may realize he can prop himself up on his hands and arms before rocking back and forth and, eventually, moving forward inch by inch. Sitting is just another (figurative) step forward toward your baby's first steps.
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Sitting up lets babies be more independent and explore their environment in new ways, says Sheryl Pitner, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. It also bridges the path to other major milestones, such as starting solids, crawling, standing, and walking. Keep reading to learn more about when babies start sitting up, with tips for helping your little one reach the milestone.
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Your baby's gross motor skills come into play while they're learning to sit up. In order to accomplish the task, they need to have strong muscles in the neck, shoulders, stomach, back, and hips, says Jean Moorjani, M.D., a pediatrician at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. As your baby becomes efficient at using their hands to interact with their environment while sitting up, fine motor skill development will also kick in.
What's more, "sitting up with minimal support means the baby has the proper muscle control needed to transition from a liquid diet of breast milk or formula to solid foods," says Dr. Moorjani. A baby can't move to solid foods unless they're able to sit upright and hold up their head and neck, which helps avoid choking.
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Typically, babies learn to sit up between 4 and 7 months, Dr. Pitner says. But don't try to rush it. According to pediatrician Kurt Heyrman, M.D., your baby should have some specific large motor skills before attempting this milestone—like the ability to hold their neck up and maintain some balance.
- Baby Milestones Chart: A Week-by-Week Guide to Development
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Your baby needs good head control to sit up, and the best practice is tummy time. At first, your baby might not like being on their stomach, but it's very important to keep trying. You might ease into it by placing them on your chest with their tummy down and face looking at you.
While your little one is on their stomach, talk to them, interact with them, and place some toys just out of their reach so they have a reason to look around, Dr. Pitner says. As they spend more time on their tummy, they'll build pint-size muscles, get stronger, and be able to push themselves further off the floor—until one day they'll be sitting upright on their own! That said, Dr. Heyrman cautions: "Make sure they're getting tummy time only when they're awake and when you are in the room to supervise them."
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In general, babies' muscles strengthen from head to toe, so after their neck muscles gain strength, their upper back and lower back will come next. You'll know those muscles are getting stronger when your baby begins lifting their head off the floor to look horizontally. To encourage these large motor skills, change your child's position often. For example, shift them from back to tummy and from crib to floor.
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To help your baby sit up, try holding onto their arms when they're on their back and gently pulling them up to a sitting position. They'll enjoy the back-and-forth motion, so add some fun sound effects to make it even more exciting.
What's more, when you notice they're holding their head steadier—and they're able to push themselves up into higher positions—help them sit up with assistance for five to ten minutes a few times per day. Place them on your lap so that her head and back lean against your chest, sit them in a baby support seat (following all safety precautions), or use pillows to prop them up.
Dr. Heyrman suggests another way to learn: enticement. Babies love looking at themselves in mirrors, so place one just a little too high for them to see into; this will encourage them to sit up.
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As your baby grows stronger, they'll be able to sit for a few seconds when you place them in a sitting position. They'll be wobbly at first, and they won't last longer than a second or two—but despite the tumbling and toppling, they're learning. Practice makes perfect, so be patient (and make sure you're never further than an arm's length away to catch them). "By 6 months," Dr. Heyrman says, "most babies should be able to sit for a second or two by themselves."
When a baby is learning to sit up, they'll often put out one or both arms to help stabilize the torso, essentially turning the arms into a kickstand to hold up their body weight. This is called the tripod sitting position. Remember that your baby is still developing balance while sitting, and they can also become distracted by their surroundings, so supervision is key!
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As your baby's muscle strength improves, they'll be able to sit slightly longer, but they'll still probably fall when they get excited and kick their legs. They'll develop more control once they begin to sit in the tripod position, Dr. Pitner says. After your kiddo gets better at sitting up, they'll begin to pivot into different positions and learn to rock forward and backwards to get on their hands and knees. Another milestone comes next: crawling!
- How to Teach Your Baby to Crawl
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Once your baby can sit alone, you'll need to make some adjustments to their room. By 6 months, they'll grab for everything in sight, so check the crib's surroundings and put dangerous items out of reach. For example, you'll want to remove mobiles and other dangling items. Also make sure they won't fall off of chairs, couches, and other pieces of furniture.
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Do your research if you're planning to use products to help Baby sit up (such as Boppy pillows and Bumbo seats). Some baby support seats limit their natural movements, so they should only be used for small increments at a time. Additionally, your baby should always be supervised—and on the floor—while sitting in them.
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Don't worry if your baby isn't sitting up by the 6-month mark. Every baby develops differently and there's a wide range of "normal" when it comes to meeting milestones, Dr. Moorjani says. With a little more time and patience, your baby will likely start sitting up. But if they still aren't sitting up for at least a few minutes by time they're 9 months, mention it to your pediatrician.
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