Free sitting: When and how babies learn to sit

When can babies learn to sit?

When your baby lies on its back, you shake hands with it and it pulls itself up into the sitting position, then the first independent attempts to sit are not far away. By seven months, many babies are able to sit alone for a second with their hands on the floor. About a month later, it works a few seconds longer. By nine or ten months, most babies will eventually be able to sit up and remain seated on their own. If this is not the case with your baby at that age, then there is usually no reason to worry. As with all developmental steps, learning to sit takes a different amount of time for every child. Some children may be able to pull themselves up to a standing position before they can sit down.

How can my baby learn to sit?

The first steps to sitting independently can look different from baby to baby. The following movement sequences occur very often:

• The classic: From the four-legged position, your baby puts his buttocks next to the left or right foot. From this “side sit” it moves into the “long sit” by stretching the legs forward and straightening the spine. Your baby has a stable hold and can soon play relaxed.
• Lying garden gnome position: Your baby turns from the supine position onto its side and supports itself on the arm underneath. This posture not only strengthens your baby’s sense of balance, it is also a good starting position to soon be able to sit freely from the prone position.
• For acrobats: Your baby lifts itself with its hands from the prone position into the splits and pushes itself into the seat.
• “Foot players”: Some babies also practice sitting by trying to grab their feet while lying on their back.

An important prerequisite for learning to sit is that your baby can support itself with its hands. This makes it easier to get into the upright position. Sitting is of course still very shaky at the beginning. But with a little practice, your baby will quickly become more confident and experienced, until they are finally able to perfectly balance their weight and lift their little legs while sitting without falling over.

Every child sits differently

Babies can sit in a variety of amazing ways: they can stretch out both legs, cross one leg and stretch out the other, or sit cross-legged. However, there are a few seating positions that are less favorable and that you should therefore keep in mind:

• Many paediatricians and orthopaedists consider the reverse cross-legged position, in which the thighs are pressed together and the lower legs bent outwards, to be questionable. This type of sitting is disadvantageous for the development of the hip joints.
• Your baby never pulls their legs up when sitting: this can be an indication of early blockages in the head joint or pelvic area. These can be solved by an osteopath, for example. Conversely, if your baby never straightens its legs when sitting, it may be that your baby’s pelvis is not soft and the rear leg muscles are not loose enough. If in doubt, consult your pediatrician.
• Your baby always sits on only one buttock and his head is tilted in the opposite direction so that the spine forms a C-shape. First try to get your child to shift their weight, for example by holding a toy in front of their eyes. When your baby’s curiosity wins, he will try to reach for it, automatically compensating for his slanted position. If it doesn’t work, even after repeated attempts, the position could indicate a one-sided movement restriction in your baby. If so, you should ask your pediatrician for advice.

Your baby can sit – another milestone

When your baby can sit, it gets to know the world in a whole new way. The hands are soon no longer needed for support and are free to play. It can also now sit in the high chair and share meals with the rest of the family. The next developmental steps are soon to be crawling , getting up and then finally walking ! In our magazine you will find further helpful information and tips about baby’s first steps in the “Crawling and walking” section.