how to encourage 6.5mo to sit etc

[vmcd28]

I dont remember what I did with ds1 (6yo) when he was a baby, but ds2 doesnt seem to show any interest in sitting on his own. He just sort of folds in half and sucks his toes :). He sometimes holds himself upright, esp if he's on my knee, but if I put him on the floor, he just wants to look around for something to hold, i.e. he isnt interested in "just" sitting (if I give him a toy, he just shoves it forward and leans forward again).

I am concerned that it's partly my fault - with having an older ds, we have a lot more "stuff" to do, and we are out and about more than I would have been with ds1. As a result, ds2 spends much of his awake-time in his pushchair, in the car, on his play gym or in a bouncy chair. He hates being on his tummy, so rarely has tummy time.

What do I do to encourage him to sit?
Thanks x

[vmcd28]

forgot to add, he slips down if I put him in his high chair, so I am feeding him in his bouncy chair - I am concerned that this will all push him back in terms of touching the food, trying to help himself etc, as he doesnt really get the chance to do this yet.

[Holly66]

Hi don't worry my son was exactly the same. He didn't show any interest in sitting until he was 7 months and then couldn't sit without support until he was nearly 8 months. He couldn't sit in a high chair until he was 8 months too but this didn't stop him from trying to help himself to everything! I use to feed him in a bumbo seat as it had a plastic tray that I could put on it. I also used to give him a spoon to hold. The only I did do was I introduced him to fingers foods a bit early so that he got used to the idea of putting food in his mouth but DS was and still is a confident feeder so I wasn't worried about him choking.

Do you own a breast feeding pillow, one of those half moon curved ones? I used to sit my son in mine so that he had some support and had something to fall back on if he lost his balance. I did lots or row row the boat too and sat him with his back against me.

Try not to worry they all develop in their own time. I was really worried about DS because he never rolled and he didn't crawl until 10.5 months. Also it is not your fault at all, your DS2 with benefit from being out and about, seeing new stuff. My DS loves going out and he used to hate tummy time too so in the end I stopped bothering because it wasn't worth the fuss. You are doing great hun!

[PacificDogwood]

You cannot make him sit , and frankly you shouldn't - he'll do it when he's ready.
Lots of tummy time can strengthen back muscles which are important for sitting, but lots of babies (mine!) do not like being on their fronts. DS1 hated being on his front and was the earliest sitter.
It'll come - my 4 varied from 5 to 10 months for sitting. The late developer is now the sporty one .

Really, don't worry!

[vmcd28]

Thanks, both. I wasn't worried, as such, just looking for ways to help him, esp if he's not getting much floor time with me.
Pacific, I don't think I implied I was trying to "make " him sit, heehee! :)

Am just going to see if ebay have Bumbo trays - they're so expensive!

[emmyloo2]

Hi there. my DS is 6.5 months and he hates sitting. He totally slumps forward as well and grabs his toes. He loves "standing" though and he much prefers to be held to balance on his feet. He is quite good on his stomach now and sort of shuffles backwards. I honestly wonder whether he will sit or just go straight to standing!!!!!

I have given up worrying. I figure he will do everything in his own good time.I also feed him in his bouncy chair. We got given a bumboo but he doesn't like it and tries to get out of it.

[exoticfruits]

Don't worry-he will do it when ready-the good thing about babies is that they don't realise they should please parents!

[mawbroon]

He'll do it when he's ready.

[WhereIsTheFire]

We have one of these here and loved it. They both learnt to sit up in it really soon after we started putting them in it. Also, it was great for putting a few toys in with them and being able to get a few things done whilst they were entertained. Can't recommend it enough.

[PKO212]

My son doesn't seem interested in sitting either. He's good on his tummy but hardly ever tries to roll over. He makes crawl like movements but isn's strong enough to propel himself forward.. I was a bit worried at first because i'm frindly with a mum whose son is a week older than mine. Her boy rolls constantly and seems much more active. Iguess they're all different soI've decided not to worry. He'll do it when he's ready.

[RitaMorgan]

I don't think bouncy chairs are very safe for feeding as the reclining position is a choking risk - you can get inflatable pillow things to prop them upright in the highchair.

[vmcd28]

Rita, you're probably right actually. We have a wooden combination high chair with a padded insert. The problem is he slides right down as there's nothing solid between the legs to keep him up (ooooh, matron).

Whereisthefire, I can't get that link to open. :(. What is it?

You're all right, I know he'll do it when he's ready. I just hate thinking I'm not giving him the opportunity to try, iyswim.

PK, this is the big problem - being friends with someone who also has a baby! DS1 is 6yo and was 19m til he walked unaided!! My friend's daughter is 3 months younger, and was walking for 3 months before him!!

[PacificDogwood]

I reread my post and apologise to have sounded like you were forcing him to sit - sorry!
I think I came from a v recent conversation I had with a German friend: in Germany anything other than babies flat on their backs is quite frowned upon in certain quarters .

The flopping over though just means that the back muscles aren't quite there yet - they will get there in their own time as you know, so I'll just shut up now.

My first 2 were exactly 1 year apart so I just could not help myself comparing: this time last year DS1 did - why is DS2 nowhere nears?? .
By the time I had DS3 and 4 I had kind of stopped comparing.

So, yes, not comparing is the way to Maternal Serenity, but it's easier said than done .

[vmcd28]

Don't worry, pacific. :)
The wee soul was holding himself more upright today actually, so we're heading the right way. :)

Thanks, all x