Suggestions on how to help my son sit unassisted.

Gail - posted on 02/18/2010

he will do it when he is good and ready. My son is the same, can ocassional sit lent slightly forward but not for long,,, and each day makes more moves as it the crawling may start.... I have a bumbo, but he will only sit in it for 5 mins max, i find sitting on the floor with him inbetween my legs is good,, then he just topples into my legs,, acts like a support.

Skye - posted on 02/15/2010

What I did was start with a boppy..... It really helped keep him up! Then I went to him alone which was scary cause he most of the time fell over... He had become so use to the boppy! Im beginning to have the same problem with Hunter because he doesn't want to sit! I tend to just hold him with back arched and wait for him to release and sit him down! Once I distract him with a toy, he's perfectly fine!

Peggy - posted on 02/15/2010

my son is 6 1/2 months as well. He's sitting up, but only started doing it without falling over after a second about two weeks ago. Before he did it, he would prefer laying on his belly or standing up in his play saucer and his sassy jumper. We bought the boppy and used that to cushion his behind while he played. When he sits up now, one leg is tucked behind him like a frog, lol, but whatever works! Just remember every baby is different. I know one child that didn't sit up until he was 10 months. Pretty soon he'll realize that when he sits up, he can see a lot more and he'll have his hands free. Then there's be no lying him down lol

Amanda - posted on 02/14/2010

i would say try the bumbo. My daughter first sat in it around 1-2 months. She's been pretty strong for the beginning but every baby is different. She no longer fits in the bumbo and she is 7 months old. Its been a couple months...she is 20lbs now and her thighs have been pretty chunky for a while so the chair gets stuck when I try and take her out. She doesn't need it anymore though..she's been sitting up for a while. The only other thing I could suggest is using a nursing pillow. SOme of them are also called "baby sitters", they prop them up pretty good. otherwise just give it time. I heard that giving the baby lots of tummy time gets all the muscles they need to sit, stronger. Don't worry too much. he will do everything in his own time :)

Sharon - posted on 02/14/2010

Our son Julian is only independantly rolling now, at 7 months, even though we had the first sign of a roll several months ago. The sitting up un-assisted is definately based on the strength of the back muscles, and we are really noticing a difference now that he is rolling. We bought a Bebe Seat (like a Bumbo) a few weeks ago, this has been a great help with his sitting up practice. Julian is a tall and thin child (his dad is 6 foot 3 inches), so doesn't have a lot of weight proportion to balance with ;-) ) Julian didn't cope with tummy time very well because of reflux, and other allergy issues, so we are very pleased that he is now managing with longer periods on his tummy, and I am sure it won't be long before he is now on the move with the strength he now has. We were suggested by the health nurse too to get Julian practice standing to strengthen the leg muscles, this will also help with balance etc.

Marla - posted on 02/14/2010

absolutely not to worry - he will learn, and the quicker he learns, the quicker he will be on the move and then it is chaotic!!! ha! The bumbo is good, although if he is a back archer, it may not work. I also use one of those u-shaped nursing pillows....good for a little support and it will catch him if he falls back! My 3rd baby is 7 1/2 months and still isn't stable on his own by any means!!

Shalaina - posted on 02/14/2010

Boppy or Bumbo seat! They really help!

Andrea - posted on 02/14/2010

If you're truly concerned about his development then you need to speak with his pediatrician. Otherwise I think your son just needs more time. He'll sit up on his own when he's ready and you shouldn't worry if he's not right on target with a brand new milestone like sitting up unsupported if your son is experiencing other new steps like discovering his feet and putting them in his mouth or getting alot of tummy/floor time to roll around and/or crawl.
My daughter likes her bumbo especially after she eats (to prevent any reflux) and while she watches her favorite tv program. She'll be 7 months on the 24th and she also cannot sit up unsupported for long periods of time. We introduced the bumbo seat and had her sitting up in the corner of the couch for photo opts well before the Christmas holiday. I'm not concerned that she hasn't sit up without support because she's doing everything else for her age range.
She and I will play daily several times a day and I pull her up and get her used to the idea of sitting up amongst her toys along with time in her jumperoo. Do more activities that involve your son sitting up like placing him on your lap facing you while you sing and/or play games, etc. Does he sit in a high chair yet?

Gabriela - posted on 02/14/2010

Who are you guys racing with??? The kid of your neigbour?!?! Why do you want them to grow and develop faster than it´s actually their own time? Just let it be if the baby´s not retarted in a way(and you´d find this out much earlier), it´ll get exactly there where it should be! I always read here: he doesn´t do this, she doesn´t do that, usually in an age when just very very advanced kids do tthings you demand on your little one.Don´t make them stand up in 7 months and be thankful they sit for a few seconds, don´t make them sit when they´re 5 months, Jeeeez! Did your doctor tell you that your baby shouldn´t be sitting UNTIL sixth month, otherwise there´s apossibility of hurting their spine!! So, mothers who are freaking out that your baby doesn´t do what you expect him to do, chill out!
Oh, btw, do you know that jumpers are recommended for kids 8m+?!?!

Jeni - posted on 02/13/2010

Hey ya,
My son is just 7 months old, he had a slow start because we ended up in hospital from when he was 6 weeks until he was 3 months old (severe milk protein allergy)
He still wont roll over from back to front and isnt even trying to crawl but has been sitting for about a month and a half.
All i did was sit him up and hold his hands for a little while and then prop some pillows behind him, he sits and grabs toys around him now but i still keep 2 pillows behind him incase he gets excited and pushes himself back (i recommend a tri pillow but i just use 2 pillows)
Hope this helps!
Dont forget though, He will do it when he is good and ready :)

Sadey - posted on 02/12/2010

do u know wht a Bumbo is??? use that!! omj it help so much!!

Stephanie - posted on 02/12/2010

of course he's not sitting unassisted! he's only 6.5 months old!! why are you trying to force him to sit on his own? he's obviously not ready! leave him be.. he'll do it when he's ready. my son is 7 months and no where near ready to sit unassisted.. I wouldn't dream of rushing him into it. my other two never sat till 8 months at least.

Wendi - posted on 02/12/2010

I used the bumbo. He liked it when he could watch cartoons with brother but not for long periods of time. About 5 min. at a time. I also put the boppy around him and he liked that.

Katrina - posted on 02/12/2010

Hi, Our son is 7 months and is only just starting to sit unassisted. We used the bumbo but his legs were too chubby and it was uncomfortable for him. So we would practice on our bed with a "v" shaped pillow behind him and toys in front to encourage him to not lay back. Also, I put him in a clothes basket with some toys. The sides support him if he falls sideways and allows him to sit himself back up. And he is kept busy with the toys which is great when your folding washing or cooking dinner (or just need a break).

Tianna - posted on 02/11/2010

You should help your babies not "rush" them, your only helping, they will get it on their own but showing them how never hurt! They figure it out, its like how my son rolls over it happened on accident right, it scared the poop out of him but then he tried it again, you show him how to sit, he'll wanna do it again and again and again with your help.. then he'll do it on his own.

Allison - posted on 02/11/2010

My son is 7 months old on the 15th and he did great with the bumbo seat. He now sits completely unassisted.

Vicki - posted on 02/11/2010

Why is everyone rushing for them to sit? I don't understand? They work it out on their own... up until then most babies are happy playing on their tummy.

Tianna - posted on 02/11/2010

My son liked the bumbo seat, i also used my breastfeeding pillow

Brittney - posted on 02/11/2010

My husband would lay back in a recliner with our son and prop his knees up and have sit on his lap using his knees for back support. He would do this and play with him. So it wouldn't seem like he was having to sit but instead he is playing with his daddy. Then one day they were doing this and or son took his back off of my husbands knees. He only could do it for like a minute or two but he is now 6 1/2 months old and sometimes prefers sitting by himself then with us.

Tiffany - posted on 02/10/2010

try a basket and a pillow. prop a pillow behind him in the basket. similar to a bumbo but a lot cheaper.

Kate - posted on 02/09/2010

I agree with the previous post about laying down and letting him sit on your stomach. But to take it a step further, hold onto his thighs instead of his waist. This allows him to wobble around without falling over (your knees are behind him and his thighs act as anchors) so that he can strengthen his muscles. I used to do this for about 20 mins every morning when we woke up and then again every now and then during the day. My son sat unassisted at 4 months. I don't know if this is why though, every baby is so different, but maybe its worth a try. Good luck

Jennifer - posted on 02/09/2010

First i would lay down and sit her on my stomach so she could lean on my legs, then i used a regular booster seat, and as my daughter got better at being able to sit up straight in that i started putting a musical toy in front of her that requires her to sit up. she loves it so much she learned to sit and reach for the buttons...now she can sit and play by herself for quite awhile, but i do put a pillow behind her at all times just in case

Heidi - posted on 02/09/2010

I read this suggestion online and have been using it for my son who is 6 1/2 months old now. They suggested sitting the child on the ground with toys in front and placing their legs in a v shape to give them more stability and place their hands out front. This will help to build up the muscles required for them to do it on their own. I have been trying this for over a week now and he is able to sit in that position for a lot longer without falling forward. I recommend sitting with them as they are learning to prevent many faceplants.....although there will be more to come especially when they learn to walk :)

Kate - posted on 02/08/2010

I wouldnt worry too much. Average age for babies to sit is around 7 months. If he is arching his back when you are trying to sit him up, it sounds like his back isnt strong enough just yet. Rolling helps them build up these muscles in their backs so try encouraging that a bit. When we started helping our daughter to sit up we used things she could sit up and hang onto... and also tried sitting her up and placing her hands in front of her to help hold her self up. Most bub's sit up using their hands before they sit up completley unaided.

Jeneen - posted on 02/08/2010

my son is almost 6 1/2 mos. and hates the Bumbo. He just started "sitting" for a little bit, then topples over. I found that I was the one really keeping him from practicing sitting by keeping him in stationary toys (jumper, exersaucer). Now that I put him on the floor to practice, hes gotten better.

Stacey - posted on 02/08/2010

We used the bumbo this time and not with our last 2 and they sat up around the same time. I used the boppy around them both though that way when they topple it's not a hard fall or anything and it's just a little help. I don't know how the bumbo helps learn to sit since it's total support..maybe just gives them an idea of how to but I use it mainly for feeding and play

Kyla - posted on 02/08/2010

Our little guy is just now learning to sit all by himself. He's just turning 7 months and he can sit for a minute or two alone. You're little one will get there. We did get the bumpo for him and I think it's helped a little, but he jumps out of it. He's actually done more face plants out of it than sitting in it. Practice sitting with him, play on the floor together, set him up with pillows, I actually think the high chair has worked a little more for us. We recline it back as far as it goes and that forces him to sit forward to be up straight and looking around. Also we leave his favorite toys on the tray so he wants to sit up to play with them.

Kat - posted on 02/08/2010

My little one didn't like the bumbo seat, and has been sitting up since christmas (born July 16th). I encouraged him by sitting him down on the floor with cusions behind him and toys in front and just holding him upright. Also putting him on the sofa with back to cusions and toys in front. He learnt to lean forward to get him toys and therefore to sit unaided. Hope this helps. :)

Vicki - posted on 02/08/2010

I recommend time! He'll get it eventually, there's no rush. Humans generally manage it. My 7 month old has only done it in the last week, and then not for long.