When Do Babies Sit?

usually around 5-8 months sitting unsupported.

My kids have all had various ages when they did everything. My youngest had me a bit worried as well, but he started sitting up by himself about 8 months. Withen about 6 weeks he was army crawling, then regular crawling, now at 10 months he is pulling himself up and cruising the furniture. It ALWAYS changes!!

Hi W.

Babies need good head control to sit up unassisted. Is he able to lay on his tummy with his head up? If he is doing that and rolling over, I wouldnt be concerned. Every baby developes at a different rate. My daughter totally bypassed crawling and started cruising instead. She walked before she was 9 months, yet my son didnt walk until he was 14 months! Just enjoy Collin because they grow up WAY too fast !

A. R

The fact that he is trying makes me think that he is fine. the best thing I can tell you is to just keep working with him. Praise him, make a big deal out of the fact he is trying to do it. I was told that children do things on their own time. Was your doctor concerned enough to warrant any kinds of tests or was he just concerned that he hadn't reached the typical milestone for a baby? My daughter actually learned to roll and walked and crawled right around the same time. I think that just depends on the child. Just try to show him, place and move his arms. Eventually he'll get it.

Has your son made progress since the ped appt at 7 mos? I know it is easier said than done, but try not to worry at this point and watch for positive signs. Keep giving him opportunities to build his skills and his muscles - lay him on his tummy, help him practice sitting, encourage him to move towards a toy, show him how to pull himself up to sit, etc.

Activities that I think helped my kids develop coordination and their muscles and kept them interested in being active were chasing after balls, knocking over building blocks (that I would put just out of their reach)and spending time in their activity station (it was like an exersaucer but it had lights, sounds and little musical instruments as well as piano pedals on the bottom for them to step on and the seat moved back and forth along a track), and bouncing. My son especially loved for us to hold him in a standing position so he could bounce up and down.

Good luck to you!

Hi, I think roughly 9 months is when they sort of check off that milestone. Is your son almost there? Sometimes they are a little behind and it's not a big deal. I have come to really realize that there's a HUGE range of when babies meet milestones!

ALso, if your baby sleeps on his back, then he will probably go things a little later. Tummy sleeping develops ab muscles a lot faster (and good abs are needed for sitting), and these "guidelines" were developed when all babies slept on their tummies! Big differences in muscle development, etc.

My daughter is almost 6mnth and doesn't craw and doesn't sit up on her own. The doctor doesn't seem to concern. If he is trying then keep reinforcing the tries.

Before my daughter I had twins and the one was earlery at everything and the other one took his time.

So just sit back enjoy him whill he is still young and just keep incouring the hard work that he is trying.

I wouldn't be too worried yet. Mine were on the early side as well, so I'm sometimes thrown off when I see other babies. But a cousin's baby (and other friends' babies) didn't really sit without support even until nearly 6 months and then another couple months before they got into a sitting position themselves. My first sat unassisted at 3.5 months and crawled and stood at 6 months so I've got mixed up expectations. My second wasn't nearly that early though. I guess what I'm saying is that the range can be really wide for those skills. As for crawling...some kids completely skip it. In fact it's not really a major development milestone because there is so much variability with it - both in timing and style. Some kids do the army crawl thing, some do the traditional crawl, some just roll to where they want to go and others make up all sorts of combinations to scoot across the room. I think the main thing peds like to know is that they are attempting to move. But I've also heard of babies that are just lazy and are content to let others bring toys to them. Try placing toys a few inches out of his reach and encourage him to work to get them. Don't be so concerned with him getting the hands and knees crawling thing down - just see if you can get him motovated and interested in reaching, stretching, scooting or rolling to get the toy.

if you place him siting up can he stay there for alittle while? if yes then i wouldn't worry they say by 8 months they usually can get into that position and start to crawl or walk..by 15 months.

my son never learned to sit straight up . not until he was pulling himself up onto things and fell straight back and landed on his head did he start trying to sit. he went from rolling over to crawl but never sit. when he wanted to see something he kinda sat on his bottom but would lean way over. so he more or less had all his weight on his arm and wasnt actually sitting. well when he pulled himself up he didnt know how to sit so he just fell straight back. instead of bending and sitting down like most babies do. just keep working at it have you tried putting him in a crawl position or even showing him how by doing it yourself . good luck with it all

W.,
I had the same thoughts about my son. He was much slower at learning things that other children. He didn't sit until he was almost 9 months and didn't crawl or walk until he was 14 months. They go at their own pace and from what I know boys develop slower than girls. I don't think you have anything to worry about. My suggestion is to get him to play with boys that are older than him. That is how my son learned how to walk and crawl. He seemed to want to compete with the other boys. He could care less about girls. Just let him go at his own pace and don't try to push him. I know it's hard to go to playgroups when you work but there are lots of moms groups online. Check out meetup.com and look for kids and moms groups in your area. A lot of the Moms are great with babysitting. I send my son sometimes to a mom who has a four y/o boy and my son follows him everywhere. Don't stress and don't push. I'm sure he's fine.

I had the same concerns about my son. He will be nine months old on May 4. When he turned eight months old, he still wasn't doing any of the things I thought he should be doing. He wasn't even trying to crawl and he couldn't roll from his back to his tummy. But all of a sudden he learned how to do all kinds of stuff. In literally a week, he got two teeth, rolled from his back to his tummy, learned how to push himself up to sitting, and started to crawl. Now, two weeks later, he's into everything, pulling himself up and cruising along the couch, crawling all over the place, and even trying to push himself up and stand alone. Just give your son some time and encouragement and I'm sure he'll get it.