The Truth About Sitting
- Oct 25
- 2 min read
Sitting Myths
1️⃣ “Babies should sit at 6 months.”Only about half of babies can sit independently by 6 months - that’s completely typical! Sitting develops over several months.
2️⃣ “Babies must roll or crawl before sitting.”Rolling, sitting, and crawling develop together and can happen in any order. As long as babies keep progressing with the other skills, it is all typical.
3️⃣ “Babies must sit independently before weaning.”This one’s confusing! "Independently” can be a bit of an unclear term. What matters is enough head and body control for posture, to swallow safely. A good high-chair setup is key - mealtimes aren’t for practicing sitting.
When Will My Baby Sit?
Learning to sit is a gradual process - strength, balance, and coordination build as postural control and spinal curves develop.
Holds head & shoulders steady - ~4 months
Prop sitting (leaning forward on hands) - 5–7 months
Hands free to play & reach - 7–9 months
“Saving” reactions (catching themselves, with catching backwards coming last) - 8–10 months
Moves in/out of sitting - 8–10 months
When Get Help From Healthcare
Lack of head control at 4 months
Not sitting with support at 6 months
Not sitting independently at 9 months
You have any concerns about their develop
ment
Tips to Support Sitting
Start with supported prop sitting, encouraging weight through their hands - between your legs or on your lap.
Keep up tummy time and rolling — try not to place baby in sitting too often. Babies get lots of natural sitting practice on our laps and being held!
Encourage movement between sitting and lying positions.
Avoid sitting containers — they interrupt natural rolling, crawling, and sitting development.
👉 If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the Baby Container Guide below
Comments