The sitting position in babies is acquired gradually, first with support then without. At what age does baby sit up on his own, on his knees, in the W position? Lighting with Chloé Devie, massage therapist in pediatrics.
The acquisition of the sitting is one of the major stages of baby’s psychomotor development. The child learns to no longer be solely in the ventral or dorsal position. “By sitting, he sees the world differently and develops his vision from an upright position. He also develops his trunk extensor muscles”, explains Chloé Devie, masseur-physiotherapist in pediatrics in Paris. Moreover, thanks to this stage, the child will be able to eat and drink while seated, without making mistakes.
At what age does a baby sit up on his own?
On average, “baby sits alone at the age of 6 months with the support of his handsand at 8 months without hands”, explains the specialist. At 6 months, if we put baby on the ground, he will gradually adopt the position “little gorilla” : “baby’s legs are slightly apart and his hands are between the legs or on either side of a leg. His body is slightly leaning forward, he then takes support either with closed fists or with his hands flat and he sits down”, underlines Chloé Devie. The support of the child will become clearer over time, and he will thus develop anti-fall reflexes.
Between 6 and 8 months, it is important not to leave the child sitting alone if he cannot hold himself. “You can put him in an age-appropriate foam chair, use a trunk brace, or hold him under his armpits supporting his trunk and then lay him down after a few minutes, or if he shows signs of fatigue”advises the expert.
Around the age of 8 months, “the child’s back muscles are strong enough to hold him upright without support from the arms and hands. He can take a toy in front of him and handle it with both hands while maintaining a seated, stable and upright position”, she adds.
“Baby sits alone at the age of 6 months with the support of his hands, and at 8 months without hands.”
At what age does a baby sit in a high chair?
Baby can sit in a high chair from around 6 months of age. “Before 6 months, it is advisable not to put baby on a high chair. However, if he begins to master his balance while seated for more than a minute, you can use a high chair with armrests, a table in front and a backrest. In this case, you have to put it on just for the time of the meal, and remove it if it sags in it”, details the health professional.
At what age does a baby sit on his lap?
There sitting position on the knees is another stage which intervenes between the acquisition of the seated position and the 4 legs, around 8 months of the child.
During this phase, we can also speak of W position : the child sits on the floor with his knees bent and his legs behind him. “The W position is used by some children who feel more stable in this type of position, sometimes due to a large amplitude of internal hip rotation” which is to be monitored by a health professional, comments Chloé Devie.
My baby still won’t sit up, when should I be worried?
It may very well happen that a baby of 8 months or more has still not let himself be “tempted” by the sitting. It’s quite common in premature babies, who need more time to develop, and even in full-term babies. In the vast majority of cases, this does not hide anything worrying since each child evolves at his own pace. It is also totally counterproductive to force him to sit down.
On the other hand, certain signs should prompt you to consult a pediatrician, especially if:
- Baby does not sit up at 12 months.
- Baby goes into hyper extension or throws itself back as soon as it is seated.
- Baby refuses the support of the arms and the folds.
- Baby collapses on himself without trying to hold back.
By going to consult, the doctor will be able to accompany the child towards a motor development adapted to his age, but also to eliminate the possible neurological causes, and possibly to treat a muscular weakness of the trunk or the upper limbs. On the parents’ side, they can help baby position himself, stabilize himself and tame his body by stimulating him sensorially, with games and activities.
Thanks to Chloé Devie, masseur-physiotherapist in pediatrics in Paris.