Baby Can Crawl but Not Sit

Learning to sit by herself gives your baby a new perspective on her world and a little more independence. She'll develop the muscles in her back, tummy, neck and legs until she gradually becomes strong enough to sit upright (Sheridan 2014). She'll get better coordinated too, so she won't fall over (Sheridan 2014). She'll then realise where to put her legs to sit comfortably.

Once she can sit happily on her own and play, it's just a matter of time until she moves on to crawling, standing and walking.

When will my baby be able to sit up by herself?

Your baby will gradually learn to sit independently between about three months and nine months old (Sheridan 2014). The muscles she needs to use develop gradually from birth, and she finally becomes strong enough to sit on her own when she's about six months to seven months. She may not be quite balanced though and will still fall over if she leans to one side to reach for something.

By the time your baby is about eight months old, she should be able to sit and balance well without any support or you helping her (Sheridan 2014). Nearly all babies can sit on their own by the time they are nine months old (Sheridan 2014).

How will my baby learn to sit up?

While you can support your baby in a sitting position almost from day one, sitting independently doesn't begin until your baby has head control.

Three months to four months

Your baby's neck and head muscles are strengthening rapidly. From this time onwards, she'll learn to raise and hold her head up while she's lying on her tummy (Sheridan 2014).

Next she'll figure out how to prop herself up on her arms and hold her chest off the floor, like a mini-push-up (Sheridan 2014)

Five months to six months

Your baby will be able to sit well with support, holding her head up and her back straight (Sheridan 2014). She'll be able to sit in a tripod position, with her legs out to the side and her hands outstretched between them to support her (Sheridan 2014). Your baby may be able to sit for a moment without your help. Make sure you stay nearby to provide support, or surround her with pillows in case she falls.

Seven months to eight months

Your baby may be able to sit unsupported with her back straight. This will free her hands for exploring, and she'll learn how to turn when sitting to reach for a toy (Sheridan 2014).

At this point she may even be able to get into a sitting position from lying on her tummy by pushing up on her arms. By the time she's eight months old, she's likely to be sitting well without support (Sheridan 2014).

Once my baby can sit, when will she start crawling?

Once your baby works out how to lunge forward from a sitting position and balance on her hands and knees, she will be almost ready to crawl.

Crawling is a skill most babies get the hang of by the time they're a year old. She may be able to move forwards or backwards on all fours as soon as she's six months or seven months. But most babies don't learn to crawl for a few more months after that (Sheridan 2014).

Once your baby can crawl, she'll be on the move all the time, bent on exploring all the fascinating new territory now open to her. Try to make your home as safe as possible before your little explorer gets going.

How can I encourage my baby to sit up?

You can help your baby learn to sit by encouraging her to play lying on her tummy as much as possible (NHS 2017). Try to get her to look up, by using noisy, bright and colourful toys, or by pulling funny faces and making sounds (NHS 2017).

This helps to strengthen her head, shoulder, neck and back muscles and in turn gives her the head control she needs for sitting up (NHS 2017).
Here are some other tips to help your baby learn to sit up:

• When she's first learning, sit on the floor with her, supporting her around her body.
• Your baby will need to prop on her hands as she learns to sit. You can help her learn this by putting firm and sturdy toys in front of her to lean on.
• Give her as little support as she needs, so that her tummy and back muscles get stronger.
• As she gets better at sitting, you can give her less support.
• Some parents use a play ring to give their baby extra support. Your baby sits inside and you place toys in or on the ring so that she can play.
  (SOMPAR 2014)

As always, and especially when she's just learning to sit, be sure to stay close to your baby in case she falls.

Help your baby to sit and crawl

All babies learn to sit and crawl at different rates, but can you help your baby's physical development? Find out.More baby videos

My baby is nine months and still can't sit up. Should I be worried?

If your baby can't sit on her own by the time she's nine months old, talk to your doctor or health visitor about it (NHS 2016). All babies develop skills differently, some more quickly than others. But if you think that your child isn't developing as she should, or you're worried about anything, trust your instincts. It's best to act early, so talk to your GP or health visitor (CDC 2018).

If your baby was born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), keep in mind that she may reach this and other milestones a little later than other babies (AAP 2017).

Find out when your baby may hit these physical milestones:

• Crawling
• Standing
• Walking

References

AAP 2017. Preemie Milestones. American Academy of Pediatrics. www.aap.org [Accessed June 2018]

CDC. 2018. If you're concerned. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov [Accessed June 2018]

NHS. 2016. Birth to five development timeline. NHS Choices, Tools. www.nhs.uk [Accessed June 2018]

NHS 2017. How do I encourage my baby to sit and crawl? NHS Choices. www.nhs.uk [Accessed June 2018]

Sheridan M. 2014. From birth to five years: children's developmental progress. London: Routledge

SOMPAR. 2014. Helping a baby developing rolling and sitting. Somerset Partnership Trust. www.sompar.nhs.uk [Accessed June 2018]

Baby Can Crawl but Not Sit

Source: https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a6505/developmental-milestones-sitting

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