sitting?

[fireblademum]

when people say baby is sitting at 6mo, do they mean sitting totally independently? our (prem) 6mo will sit up happily with assistance/ propped on pillows (till she lunges for something interesting - like her toes and falls over) should she be sitting unaided? if you gently pull her up into a sitting position she actually tries to stand rather than sit and fights to get her feet under her. ??????

Hi - I think they generally mean sitting unaided. My 8 month old DC2 is now sitting properly unaided but he was definitely not at 6 month. I think my DC1 also sat unaided at between 7 and 8 months (I remember as it was around Christmas time).

I don't think it is that unusual for babies to try and pull themselves to standing either rather than sitting down. Don't worry I'm sure you DC will be sitting up very soon. You could try to get her to sit down and you sit behind her while she looks at an interesting toy. She'll probably try to sit up on her own for just a few seconds at first but you'll be there to catch her.

thanks - yes she is managing to sit and play with a toy while i hold my hands around her a few inches away, she will balance herself for a few seconds. i arent too concerned, just curious when i hear people say DC sat at 6 months do they really mean sitting alone and unaided for minutes at a time, or as my DD, can balance for a couple of seconds if you are there to catch!

i think they would mean sitting unaided if they say sitting, but they dont all sit at 6 months some babies take a little bit longer and your dd is premature so corrected will be considered as younger?

Anything up to 9 months is in the normal range for sitting unaided. If she was prem, I would throw away the development guides as she'll do things at her own pace - sounds like she's doing fine!

thanks 1percent. i totally agree and do try to ignore the development charts, but when the third person that day says 'oh isnt she sitting up yet, my dd, dgs, nephew etc was prem and sitting at that age' i start to lose faith'

I feel your frustration fireblademum - DD didn't sit completely unaided until over a year and didn't move at all until 15 months! Felt like forever...

I think 7-9 months is the most normal range. Sitting completely unaided at 6 months would be considered early. :)