How To Teach Your Baby To Sit

Is it time to start sitting alone? Watching your baby will give you the signs to know if he is ready, without posing a risk to his spine. The best thing to do is not to be in a hurry. The baby will reach this stage on its own.

You need to give your baby time at home in comfortable clothes​​and in a space that allows her to explore and exercise her body. When he reaches certain developmental milestones, you can teach your baby to sit.

How do you know if your baby is ready to sit up?

It is a mistake to force the baby’s pace in any learning and development. Every child is unique and there shouldn’t be a calendar that requires you to do certain things at specific times. Some will take longer, others will make it faster.

Just as some children have their first teeth at 3 months and others at 8 months, there is no set time for him to learn to sit. We have to wait until he reaches the necessary maturity. Some babies will start to sit at 6 months, while others will be able to do so by their first year of life.

However, you may notice the following signs. If, when  lying on his stomach, the baby is able to turn over on his back and down again, he is making a movement that tones, among other muscles, the obliques.

Finally, another sign is that the baby is able to stand up a little on its own  when in the stroller. It is common for this to start happening around six months, but it is not decisive. It can happen between 8 and 9 months too.

Learning to sit… a great time

Learning to sit is a major step forward in your baby’s psychomotor development. This position allows you to strengthen your back muscles, preventing discomfort and possible problems when he starts to walk. Once he learns to sit, his body will prepare to crawl and then walk.

That’s why you don’t have to make the baby sit down before he’s ready for it. That is, before your own muscles allow it. When the baby is able to sit up, this will give him more autonomy to manipulate toys and objects that attract his attention.

On the other hand, being seated offers a different perspective from the environment he is used to. In this position, he is exposed to new stimuli, which stimulate his intelligence and curiosity. Your senses are awakened for sensory exploration.

Exercises to teach your baby to sit

Are you wondering if it’s possible to teach your baby to sit? In order for your baby to start sitting, you can help him strengthen his muscles with some exercises. You won’t speed up the process, you’ll just make it easier for him to catch up.

Of course, doing these exercises is another activity for you to share and enjoy time together. This will give you the opportunity to participate and contribute, little by little, to your child’s wonderful growth.

First of all, your child must have overcome other milestones in her   psychomotor development , such  as holding her head up when she’s leaning back and trying to sit up every time you take her by the hand.

Let’s do gymnastics with the baby

To do these exercises to stimulate your baby, throw a blanket on the floor and get ready for work. Let’s strengthen your baby’s abdomen, spine and muscles in the back, neck and arms! It’s important that you have some of his favorite toys around.

• First, put your baby on his back. Sit down in front of him and take him by the hand. Slowly lift him up little by little until he is sitting up and then put him back down. Repeat the movement three or four times.
• Once on the floor, place the baby in a sitting position and hold him by the hips. Stay like that for a few seconds and then lay him down so he can rest. Repeat the exercise three or four times so your baby doesn’t get tired.
• Afterwards, place your child on his back. Put a flashy toy in front of him to try to get him up. Your baby will try to slowly reach out to pick up the toy.

• It is also recommended that you lay him on his back and rock him at a slow angle from right to left and vice versa.

Never overload your baby

If you find that your baby has lost interest in what you are doing, stop the exercise sessions. As with any other stage of development, the key to helping you learn to sit is to encourage it,  not force it. Avoid making him tired.