7 Month Old Doesn't Sit Yet!

My daughter sat and crawled late. She developed just fine and is now a straight A, soccer playing 8 year old.

I was very concerned when it took my son (my first) 9 months to sit up. I would not worry. But someone suggested an idea for me. It sounds bad. but it helped. They recommended that I sit him inside a box (I used a box that held copy paper. Of course not with a lid on and with you sitting with him!! I know that sounds strange, but I think it is like a poor man's Bumbo (or a idea before the Bumbo was around). This allows your son to use the sides of the box to stabilize himself while he learns to balance and while he builds up those core muscles. My son was at a similar point as your son (holding himself up for short periods of time) and after we did the box exercise, he could sit up on his own in a few days. It think it was like training wheels on a bike, but for sitting...

Good luck and relax!! He will be sitting soon no matter what you do!!!

My girl was sitting by 6 months. But all three of my boys took much longer. Closer to 9 months before they could do it without falling over every couple minutes. It seems like they should be able to do it sooner, but it will come soon. Don't worry. If he is getting mad at not being able to sit, get him an exersaucer or a bumbo baby seat. Those help him be upright without requiring him to do much and he can see and play easier.

Try using a boppy. It will give him a sense of security but he will have to use his muscles to actually sit up. I am not a fan of the bumbo. I think people try to get there babies to sit too early in those or for older kids makes them lazy. Many kids don't master sitting up until 8 months. Don't worry. If this is your biggest concern you are doing great!

Hi, Noelia. Well, kids don't learn to sit up from being on their backs for a very long time. The belly muscles won't be developed enough for quite a while. However, most learn to sit up from a face-down position by getting into a crawling position and landing on their bottoms or scooting around from the side. So don't worry about him not being able to sit up from being on his back.

My son wouldn't get into a sitting position by himself, either. I had to show him how to do it by scooting his little body around, then showing him how to prop himself up with his arms.

You might get him interested in being in that position by propping him up in a baby chair, a bounce chair, etc. Once he learns that he can see more things by sitting upright, he will want to be in that position more often.

If you are very concerned about his development, then you should talk to his dr. The fact that he is rolling over and scooting around and all is a good sign, though. Remember that every baby goes through these milestones at a different rate.

Peace,
Syl

Is he a little on the heavy side? A chunky baby? Sitting requires certain muscles to do the work, and if he is a heavier baby, the muscles have to be stronger to help him to sit. I would just encourage him to use those big muscle groups (letting him stand on your lap and bounce just holding your hands, etc) to strengthen those muscles. Even tickling his belly (the kind of tickling that causes him to do a "crunch" and grab his belly/your hands) can work those muscles some. Staying sitting requires not just muscle strength, but the balance and ability to use them as necessary to stay in a single place. Standing up (just holding your hands, or you just holding his hips) is great "practice" learning to balance his upper body.

Hi Noelia,
I wouldn't worry about it. They are all different. My oldest sat up at 4 months, my second sat up at 6 1/2 months, my 3rd didn't sit up until 8 months,and my fourth sat up at 6 months. So, he'll do it when he's ready. Take care!
V.

Have you tried either the Bebe Pod or the Bumbo Chair? They are both basically the same thing and they support the baby to help them get acclimated to the sitting position.
PS My baby just turned seven months yesterday and has just starting to sit on her own more or less last week. She prefers to flop over and start crawling - so maybe your baby just prefers to be on the move too.

ask a peds nurse every baby develops differently

This is what I did to help my daughter, she was scooting but not crawling, I would place her on the floor on her bottom and spread her legs out wide so she could get her balance and now she has mastered sitting just fine! I mean she get there on her own and gets away from that postion on her own! Plus I had put her in a Bumbo seat for about four months and they are good for learning back support! If I still had mine I'd give it to you, but don't :( Good luck!

My very active daughter did not sit up until 8 mos. old. She crawled at 9 mos. As long as he is contining to progress, at whatever rate, he is fine. You can practice sitting with him, like put a toy in front of him so he can "tripod" with his hands. I also hear those bumbo seats are good, but at this point, might be a waste of money since he won't be using it very long.

If he is still not sitting in another month or so, ask your doctor if he thinks he she be evaluated, but for now just enjoy every minute of his progress and try not to be overly concerned. He'll get it.

I wouldn't worry yet either, kids really do develop at severely different paces. My son was similar to yours, at 6 months he couldn't sit at all-it was Christmas time and to get pictures I had to support him to get a decent picture.
He was also big, so he had outgrown his infant carrier, but would fall over in grocery carts, so I ended up carried him in Bjorn until I could prop him up safely with my purse--LOL
It was closer to 8-9 months before he could sit up by himself and he didn't walk until about 14 months--but is now a very healthy, normal 3 1/2 year old.
the best things is practice and tummy time to build those core stabilizing muscles. If you have a boppy that can help too since he can sit with some stabilization in the middle of the "hole."
But seriously, don't worry. You'll find he may be later at some things, and then earlier with others...

Hi Noelia,
I wouldn't worry just yet, as he is still well within the "normal" range. I recommend getting a Bumbo Baby Seat if you don't already have one. That way at least he can be in a true sitting position (without you having to support him), rather than semi-reclined in a swing or bouncy seat. It might help his muscles learn what they are supposed to be doing. I used the Bumbo with both my boys beginning around 16 weeks, and they were both able to sit on their own by six months.