How to Teach Baby to Sit Up

Your baby has spent most of her life lying on her back or snuggled in your arms. Now that she's a few months old, though, it's time for her to get used to seeing the world from a different angle. In order to sit, your child needs neck and chest muscles that are strong enough to hold up her disproportionate head, as well as practice in staying upright without falling over.

Instructions

    • 1

      Give your baby plenty of tummy time, which strengthens some of the muscles he will use later for sitting. You can start tummy time from day one, lengthening the period as your baby finds playing on his stomach more fun. Place toys in front of your baby, lay him on a colorful play mat or put your face down on his level to keep him happy on his tummy.

    • 2

      Encourage your baby to look upward while on her tummy by showing her toys, singing to her, or playing peek-a-boo. This strengthens your baby's chest and neck muscles, making them strong enough to support her in a sitting position.

    • 3

      Help your child sit if she seems to like it. Some older babies (5 to 6 months) stop fussing when propped in a sitting position, especially because it lets them see the world more clearly and from a different angle. You can do this by propping her up between two pillows, sitting her between your legs with her back against your stomach, or sitting her on your knees facing you.

    • 4

      Make sitting and playing worth your baby's while by putting toys or interesting objects nearby. He will have to figure out how to maneuver his body so that he can reach the toys without toppling over -- a major developmental milestone. At the beginning, choose toys that are easy to grasp, like a rattle or a teething toy. As he gets older, you can switch to objects like balls that need to be grasped correctly so that they don't escape his grip and roll away.

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