Being able to sit up- does it mean unaided?

[Caz10]

Dd2 is 23 weeks and no longer happy just observing at mealtimes! I used to sit her down in her bouncy chair but she gets really shouty and frustrated now, so I either have her on my knee or on a bumbo on a chair- she is much happier then but I feel it's a bit unsafe! She can sit up in her antilop highchair, and I wondered if it was too soon to give her some bits of food to try? I'm in no big rush to start weaning, dd1 did blw very successfully from about 26 weeks. This would be motivated by the need for more peaceful mealtimes rather than anything else! I've tried toys but she chucks them off and goes back to grabbing at the food! She just can't sit unaided and that is what is stopping me - any thoughts? Thanks!

Just looked at the gill rapley guidelines and she refers to them being in a high chair "with minimal support" but then the Nhs says "sit unaided". If I tried to sit her on the floor unaided she'd tumble over, is that what they mean?!

I believe it means if you sit your LO in a high chair, her back and neck should be straight. If you read between the lines you'll see that this will allow your LO to be able to use her gag reflex to protect herself, coughing up food when she needs to. Very very few babies can sit unaided on the floor at 6mo. (Unaided as in not toppling over without support of a cushion. My 7mo DD is one of the slower sitter and can sit with her hands on the floor, but will topple sideways. Others in my NCT group can sit supported with a breastfeeding cushion. None can sit without any support at 7mo).

Thanks! I did wonder, if we were waiting for her to be able to sit on the floor we'd be waiting a while! Will watch her in antilop over next few days, she seems pretty straight backed.

If I had waited to wean until DS could sit completely unaided he would have had nothing but BM until he was eight months old. We started giving him food when he sat on my lap at six months or just before. I can't remember now when he went into his highchair. He could sit well enough with the support of the chair to manage his food.

No not unaided. Just as long as they can sit in a highchair without slumping or being reclined (this is a choking risk, esp if you are doing BLW).

I don't know why they say sit unaided either. I suppose so people don't prop up tiny babies and then insist they are sitting with minimal support DS didn't sit unaided until 9 months - I think it's fairly normal for them not to be sitting at 6 months.

Brilliant, thanks all! She is very upright on a lap or in a highchair...let the mess commence!

my ds couldnt sit in a high chair til about 9 months.
Go with your instincts.

vmcd, it depends on the high chair. If your LO can topple but can otherwise sit, you will need to put cushions to make it snugger or use a bumbo. Ikea antilop is awesome because it has an inflatable cushion. The cushion doesn't prop up her back but make the seat smaller so she doesn't fall sideways or backwards.

We have the trusty antilop with pillow, perfect for a "l

Oops! A "long" skinny baby like dd. She would flail around in one of these big padded contraptions I think.

I think it's safe to say she's is ready

Have you done BLW before - do you know what to expect the first few times?

... and yes, let the mess commence is about right

lilham, my point was really that if I had waited til DS was sitting in a high chair, and therefore "ready" for weaning, he'd have bene 9m old. I believe that a parent should go with their instincts rather than follow any hard and fast "rules" - thats all.

Thanks chipping! Yes dd1 is a veteran although sadly now is quite picky, gone are the days she'd eat anything put down! Hopefully just a phase tho. So steeling myself for the mess and the gagging!