8 month old not sitting up unassisted - anyone else??

schick

My 8 month old is not sitting up unassisted yet... He will sit up for a few seconds and then topple over... He is scooting everywhere though, so is definitely trying to move! I know they say that not sitting up unassisted after 9 months is a red flag, but am still worried...

Anyone else have an 8 month old who isn't fully sitting up yet?

ebp913

My pedi told me at our 6 month appt that 9 months is average for sitting unassised.  I wouldn't worry about it.  They will figure it out eventually.  

TheEditor

My friend's LO who is one day older than mine was having issues until he was around more babies who WERE sitting up.  The day after we visited and my LO was sitting up just fine, her LO figured it out and started doing it.  I have no idea what the average is, but I was wondering if your LO has a lot of exposure to other kids his age or a bit older?  I know my LO is picking up all kinds of mobility skills from daycare.  O_O

hmontty

My daughter did not sit well unsupported until 9 months or so, but she had low muscle tone and had indications of this early on (like her head would loll to one side when in her chair, she had a head lag until 4 or 5 months, etc.). She ended up being a very late walker (20.5 months) after 6 weeks of PT, but now she is 2.5 years old and running circles around everyone -- totally caught up.

Gross motor is the least important of the dimensions. Unless your child has a major issue (think CP), being a little late in gross motor is no biggie. By 3, they are all the same.

My daughter will always have low tone, but this does not mean low strength. Doc said the only thing it will really affect is what sports she plays -- this is great because she loves to dance, and her low tone gives her amazing flexibility.

mishka29

Maybe trying the tripod sitting will help him get the strength and balance he needs. Also, maybe a bumbo chair or something like that. GL!

Ab42187

TheEditor said:

My friend's LO who is one day older than mine was having issues until he was around more babies who WERE sitting up.  The day after we visited and my LO was sitting up just fine, her LO figured it out and started doing it.  I have no idea what the average is, but I was wondering if your LO has a lot of exposure to other kids his age or a bit older?  I know my LO is picking up all kinds of mobility skills from daycare.  O_O

This is exactly what happened with my LO. We went to a baby boogie class at the library around 4.5/5 months and after seeing all the other older babies/toddlers she sat up unassisted. I know that is how crawling happened. She was around older babies and wanted to keep up and about two weeks ago she just started crawling. If you can get LO around other babies it may be a good thing.

Mitsya

My occupational therapist friends warn against the Bumbo & similar chairs.  If a baby who can't already sit unassisted uses it often, the shape of his spinal curves can be affected negatively-- something about how it directs the baby's pelvis.

https://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-03-15/health/ct-met-bumbo-posture-20120315_1_physical-therapists-developmental-benefits-babies