Did you know?
Did you know that sitting is only functional if you can do something there - like reach or watch something? Well, being placed in sitting but not being able to do anything, reach for anything, play, or get in and out of the position isn’t very functional for baby. And you know we’re all about functional play around here! Below you’ll find ways to play with your babe throughout the progression of learning to sit .
How to Play with a New Sitter
A new sitter is usually ~5+ months old and means you need to help them not loose their balance, they may still not stretch their arm out to catch themselves when falling and/or they can sit but only with their hands on the floor to help them stay up, like this cutie.
Try sitting behind your baby. Place your hands in a ring around his hips (about a finger lower than the top of his hip bones) to give him a little more support and to help with balance. Place a toy near his toes and encourage him to reach for it. If he starts to tip forward, put some slight downward pressure into the floor (where his hips should stay glued to the floor) to help him learn where his balance point (center of gravity) should be. If you can place him in front of a mirror, that’s ideal because you can interact, make faces, and engage with him.
If your baby is just learning to sit (like this babe) and is still using his hands to prop himself up, try playing with toys low on the ground, near his feet to keep the balance challenge minimal.
If baby keeps throwing themselves backward, try putting a towel roll under their bum to raise their hips higher than their legs. This can help encourage balance to be more forward than throwing backward.
Sitting is a progression, an important one! If your baby is just learning to sit, or is past this phase but is still a little wobbly, head over to our sitting blog for more play ideas to help baby get stronger now!
How to Play with a Confident Sitter
Reaching and playing in sitting (~6-8 months) is a very functional skill that then leads to baby learning how to sit and eat, sit, eventually sit to color, sit and do a puzzle, etc.… Whatever it is you do in sitting, you almost always want your hands free to do something while you’re there, so this is a big milestone to celebrate! You can read more on hand skill development here or play ideas for baby hands here.
When baby looks upward in sitting, it challenges their balance more so start with toys low on the floor and near the body.
Try presenting a toy in front of baby near chest height, in the center of his body. Give him two objects and encourage them to bang them or give one back to you.
Once baby is successfully reaching for things on the floor, move on to overhead reaching, like the picture, this is a massive balance challenge.
Try blowing bubbles here, ask baby to reach for them. This will keep them sitting and reaching in a harder position, longer, because they are distracted.
Once baby can do this consistently, try challenging them to reach for items you hold out in the air. Move the placement around and change giving a toy on the left and right sides.
How to Encourage Baby to Get in/out of Sitting on their Own
A baby needs to be able to play in sitting on their own (~7-10 months) and not topple over easily before they'll be able to move in and out of sitting on their own.
Place toys a little out of reach so they have to plant one hand on the ground (like the pic) and reach. Do it on both sides and in front.
Help baby play on their side, propped up on one elbow. This will help them get into the position to start pushing up into sitting.
Hold toys up and above baby in sitting so they have to turn and reach for them with hands off the ground - this will help strengthen the core for getting in/out of sitting.
Play with baby on your lap, hold their hips and gently tilt them just a little off balance so the arm extends out to the side like they'd catch themselves if they fell all the way. This can help them get ready for using their arms to push in and out of sitting.
Now that you have a confident sitter who is reaching and playing there, you’re ready to move on!
-Bree
We’re Jaclyn & Bree
Pediatric therapists and moms with a mission to empower you with knowledge to encourage your baby’s development and continue confidently into your parenthood journey.
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below and we will get back to you. As always, the information we share is meant to provide general education and tips and is not intended as medical advice. If you have a specific question or concern about your child’s development, please speak directly to your child’s doctor or therapist.
