In the first few months of life, babies are not yet able to adopt a sitting position and spend their time lying on their back or stomach. At around eight to nine months most babies slowly start to sit up. However, a lot of practice is required before they can sit freely.
We summarize when your baby goes through this important developmental step, how they can sit up on their own and how you can support them.
When does a baby start sitting up?
After their baby has been lying down for the most part since birth, many parents are eagerly waiting to see when their baby will sit up. When this milestone is reached depends on the individual development of your baby. As a rule, babies start to sit up slowly at the age of eight to nine months.
The first attempts at sitting up can be bumpy and your baby will certainly tip forward or sideways at times. Practice is needed so that your baby develops their muscles and their sense of balance. After about one to two months of practice, your baby will be so used to it that they will be able to sit on their own.
The advantage of this is that your baby can now see the world from a completely new perspective. Because in the baby carriage or in a carrier, it could only see a little of its surroundings. When they are sitting, however, they are much more involved in what is happening and can reach for objects better.
Learning to sit is an important milestone, but you shouldn't put your baby under pressure. If it takes a few weeks longer to sit down, then you should wait patiently. They will certainly start to sit up soon. Every child develops individually - that's nothing to worry about.
Important milestones in development
Wondering when your baby will sit up on their own? Before it can assume the sitting position, it must first go through further developmental stages. These build on each other and enable your baby to sit up over time.
We summarize the most important prerequisites for sitting:
- Your baby lifts its head: After birth, your baby's head needs to be supported as their neck muscles are not yet able to hold their head. Before your baby can sit, the muscles need to be trained further. This is usually done in the prone position until your baby can hold its head independently.
- Your baby can turn: So that your baby can sit independently, the back muscles also need to be trained. Have you noticed how your baby turns from its back to its tummy? This trains his muscles and prepares him for sitting up soon.
- Your baby is practicing sitting up: When your baby is lying on his back, he often stretches his legs up and holds his feet. What looks funny to you as parents is actually training your baby to sit up. This is because it stretches your baby's spine, which is a crucial factor when sitting.
- Your baby trains its muscles: Your baby's muscles need to be trained so that it can sit. This happens, for example, through crawling and the first attempts at sitting. So don't expect your baby to be able to sit up overnight, it's more of a process.
So if you are wondering when babies start to sit, you should always take your child's individual pace into account. If they are already crawling and turning around, then they could soon be making their first attempts at sitting up. If they are still taking their time, this is also completely fine.
How to get your baby to sit up on their own
At the age of eight to nine months, your baby will not only learn to sit. It will also be practising moving from crawling to sitting or standing up from a sitting position. All of these exercises are designed to strengthen your baby's muscles so that they will soon be able to sit safely on their own.
There are various ways in which your baby can adopt the sitting position:
- Your baby lies on their side and supports themselves with their elbows to sit up.
- Alternatively, babies can push themselves off the floor with their forearms and slowly sit up.
- After a few weeks, babies can also move from the four-footed position to the sitting position.
It is often a very special moment for mom and dad to watch their baby trying to sit up for the first time. Many babies try out different positions and sometimes sit down completely by mistake. Over time, they develop a feeling for this and will be able to sit much more confidently after just a few weeks.
When are babies allowed to sit?
You are probably wondering whether you should encourage your baby to sit down. Some parents sit their baby down from just a few months old so that they get to know the sitting position and can soon sit up on their own. However, this is not a good idea.
After birth, your baby's spine has the shape of an arch. It is therefore round and not yet suitable for sitting upright. What's more, your baby's back muscles need to develop before it can make its first attempts at sitting up.
If you sit your baby down too early, it will not be able to hold itself up. It will probably tip forwards or to the side. It will also remain in this unnatural position as it cannot yet change its posture on its own. So you won 't help your baby's development if you keep sitting them down.
This is why pediatricians and midwives recommend that babies should not be sat down until they can do this on their own. Wait patiently until your baby makes its first attempts to sit - it will show you when it is ready.
When do babies start sitting in a highchair?
The age at which your baby can sit in a high chair depends not only on their age, but also on their development. Here too, we recommend that you only put your baby in the highchair when they are able to sit on their own.
If it is not yet able to hold itself up on its own and tilts forward, then it is not yet the right time for the high chair. It is better to use a seat or bouncer in which your baby can sit safely and which supports their spine.
If you want to sit your baby down and get them used to this position for a few moments, it is better to sit them on your lap and support them well. This will prevent strain on the spine and prevent it from tipping forwards.
Sitting is a great effort for babies in the first few months of life: So be patient and wait for your baby to develop. Sooner or later, it will sit up all by itself.
How can I help my baby to sit up?
As long as your baby doesn't sit up on their own, you shouldn't encourage them to do so. However, there are a few simple tips that you can use to support your baby's motor development.
Movement is the most important thing. You should allow your baby to move freely. Let it kick and circle its arms in the air: This trains your baby's muscles and helps them to develop. The more freedom of movement your baby has, the better and more naturally it can develop.
Therefore, always lay it on a blanket and let it kick. Avoid tight clothing and let him crawl around the house in his diaper in summer: all this promotes natural development.
Another thing that can be helpful is the prone position. As soon as your baby lies on their tummy, their muscles are strengthened. This strengthens the neck and back, which in turn helps your baby to sit upright. Most children like the prone position anyway - but make sure you put your baby back in the supine position for sleeping.
Spring cradle from swing2sleep: Restful sleep for developing babies
The first few years of your baby's life are an exciting time: they are confronted with countless new impressions and continue to develop from day to day. It is therefore not surprising that babies need so much sleep to process all the stimuli. If your baby is just starting to sit up, then you are certainly familiar with this.
If you want to offer your little one a cozy nest, then you should take a look at the swing2sleep bassinet. Our tried and tested sleep aid helps your baby to fall asleep more easily and sleep through the night. This is thanks to the unique way the spring cradle works.
You place your baby in the cozy hammock, where it is wrapped tightly around you, just like in the womb, making it particularly easy to rest. The intelligent spring cradle motor then rocks your baby to sleep with gentle up and down movements. Even if your baby is going through a developmental spurt, it can relax in the cradle and fall asleep well.
You can conveniently control the spring cradle motor via the app. You also receive push notifications when your baby wakes up or unusual movements are detected.
Our spring cradle has already inspired over 192,000 parents: Convince yourself of its unique functionality and support your baby's restful sleep.
When can you put a baby down?
A baby should be able to sit up on its own before it sits regularly.
This is usually the case between 6 and 8 months.
Sitting down early without stability puts strain on the back and muscles.
When can a baby sit on your lap?
For a short time and with good support, a baby can also sit on your lap earlier.
It is important that the head and upper body are fully supported.
Sitting should always remain an exception, not a permanent condition.
Can I sit my baby down at 3 months?
At 3 months, the back muscles are not yet sufficiently developed.
Active sitting down should therefore be avoided.
It is better to give the baby freedom of movement in a supine or prone position.
When can a baby sit in a high chair?
A baby can sit in a high chair when it can sit independently.
This is usually the case around the start of complementary feeding.
A stable sitting position is a prerequisite for safety and comfort.
