what age do children sit up from lying down using only their stomach muscles.

[tacal]

Is this something they can do when really young or does it take time for the abdominal muscles to be strong enough?

I'm not sure I could that now, and I'm forty...

I thought it might be a silly question. My ds has never been able to do this and just wondered if others can.

Maybe it depends on the child. I'm afraid that two of mine are at Scouts and the other two are asleep, otherwise I'd get them all to try it!

thank you for your replies. The only reason I am curious about this is because I see my ds trying so hard to do this and he cant. He can raise his head and shoulders then can not get up any further without pushing himself up with his arm/hand. He is only 4 so probably normal.

Are you concerned about any other aspect of his motor development? If so, then maybe ask the GP, or health visitor if you still have one.

Is he in Nursery/Reception? Do they have any concerns?

Hi ThreeBee, yes I have some concerns and think I will speak to my health visitor. He has a need to repeat certain conversations if they are not said exactly as he wants them to be said and he repeats some daily routines if they are not done exactly the same way as usual. I also notice that he is always slow to learn physical things like swimming, bike & scooter. So I am now worried it will take him a long time to learn things when he starts school in September. He has no interest in drawing, jigsaws, using scissors. The nursery don't seem concerned about him. They just let him run about and spend time in Construction. I suppose it wont do any harm to discuss my concerns with the health visitor.

I hope you have a good weekend x

I don't think thats a 'normal' thing to be able to do is it? I couldn't do it dont think ive ever been able to. I would have thought you would have to train your stomach muscles to do it. Could be wrong though.

Yes strawberry, maybe it is a difficult thing for the body to do. I cant remember ever finding it difficult to move from lying to sitting without using my hands/arms to push me up. But maybe I didnt do it until I was older, maybe I started doing it as sit ups in an exercise class I cant remember. It just looks odd, him trying to do it because he wants to but he can't. Maybe if he keeps trying it will eventually happen. Thank you for your reply x

Funnily enough DD was doing sit ups this morning for fun. Flinging herself backwards then upright using her tummy muscles. She's 2.3. However what I would say is that something like this varies wildly and it's not a measurable developmental skill. Some adults have no capability to do a proper sit up, they just don't have the muscle power in this area to do it. It's the same with lots of things like this. For example, I cannot for the life of me do a breaststroke kick when swimming. I've been to physical rehab centres as part of my work and I understand its no great shakes if you are slow in developing some large muscle group skills like sit ups or not at all.

that is very interesting Spectres. I was sure that there would be children younger than my ds who can do sit ups but was surprised to hear adults say they can not do it. You have explained it perfectly to me. I have never mastered the breast stroke kick either and had never thought of it as being to do with muscle development. Very interesting I think I will look into this further.

I was wondering this today. My 14 month old has to roll onto his front and then push himself up backwards. I wonder at what stage they can sit up by going forwards, as it were.

My ds has been diagnosed as having immature fine motor skills. He also has problems with his gross motor skills. He saw an occupational therapist last week, I should get the test results soon. This is probably why it has taken him a long time to be able to pull himself up. fourlegs sorry I don't know the answer to when is typical for this type of movemeny. I would be interested to know so will ask the occupational therapist if I remember.