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When will my baby sit up?

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Health & Development Baby milestones

Sitting up is a skill for little babies and yours will learn to do it in several stages. The first stage is to develop their muscles and control, so they are able to hold their head up by themselves. Once your baby has good head control, they’re all ready to learn how to sit.

It’s important to remember that all babies develop at different speeds and you shouldn’t be overly concerned if your wee one is going at their own pace. This is especially true if your baby is born premature.

Learning new physical skills isn’t easy for babies and can sometimes cause them to get upset and cry. This can be hard for you too, so remember to ask family and friends for support, or speak to your Health Visitor or Family Nurse for advice.

What to expect by 8 months

Photo of a baby sitting up supported by dad

Photo of a baby sitting up supported by dad

You’ll probably notice that your baby is getting better at controlling their muscles and can hold their head up and sit with less help. It’s now time to give them more practise, and some good reasons to put the effort in.

However, if your little one does not have good head control, and remains floppy, don’t attempt the following exercises. Instead you should go back a step and practise basic sit up exercises before moving onto the following advanced versions.

What to expect from 10 to 12 months onwards

Once your baby can sit unsupported, you can try these little games to help develop their skills further.

Staying safe

Little bumps and accidents are all part of the learning process for your baby when it comes to sitting. So, you should always practise on the floor to reduce the risk.

But remember to never leave your baby unsupervised in a sitting position, as they could fall over and seriously hurt themselves.

Should I be worried?

If your baby is not showing any signs of sitting by 8 months, please contact your Health Visitor or Family Nurse. Or if you have any other concerns at any stage of your baby’s development, you can also discuss this with your Health Visitor or Family Nurse. If your baby is premature and receiving follow up care, you can also get advice from your developmental team.

Learning new physical skills can be hard for babies and it’s normal for them to cry. If they get really frustrated, they can cry in an angry way and their faces can turn quite red. You might find this worrying, but as long as your baby is not having breathing difficulties, there is nothing to be alarmed about. Just try to comfort and settle your baby as normal.

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Last updated: 15 Jun, 2023