To sit or NOT to sit???

[JordieC]

Well I went to my DD health check up for 6 months on Thurs and she asked whether she was sitting on her own yet. I said no because I really don't ever sit her deliberately unless it's on our knee or against me on the floor. I don't get her to sit by herself because the GYMBAROO teacher advised against it - in fact she was DEAD against any delieberate sitting because she said babies need to crawl first then sit of their own accord. The health nurse said "no no no" - they must SIT before they crawl so now I am totally confused!!!!

How do you know what advice to take? I did sit DD on the weekend and of course she toppled over - she can just do it leaning right forward but really for about 1 second!! Should I be worried? Do I sit her or wait till she does it herself?

The more important issue here is though - who do I trust? You read so many books and artcles and hear things from so many diff people it's hard to know. The gymbaroo lady is always quoting studies done so I assumed what she said was right.

Anyway - any ideas would be great!

[Arimeh]

I think I just propped DS up with some pillows around him, but he was normally more happy on his tummy and getting up on his hands and knees - this was from about 5 months. He finally sat up on his own at 7 months and crawled just before 9 months - so it could take AGES..... I say just take a little bit of info from everyone and then make the decision that feels right in your gut. Use your instinct. It won't be wrong.

[fionas]

My DD was exactly like this BUT she was pretty much crawling before sitting so that's that theory gone!

I think it's because I'd always put her on the floor on her back or her tummy so I wasn't really teaching her how to sit and it wasn't until I went to Mothers Group and saw the other babies sitting that it even occurred to me! Whoopsy!

So I tried to encourage her very gently. At first just for a few seconds with me with my hands at the ready. Then I'd try again a bit later in the day but not try too many times.

She got it after a few days; a week tops.

So no harm in giving it a go, I reckon, but no point pushing it either. She'll do it in her own time.

I wouldn't worry about the conflicting advice - just do what you think is right.

My current MCHN is fabulous but her off-sider's a shocker. Always quoting this theory and that theory. She tried telling me when DD was a couple of months old that she needed 20 minutes of tummy time each day or she would never learn to roll. Well, DD hated tummy time so I stopped doing it at all. And what d'you know, she was one of the first rollers in Mothers Group so I take all this stuff with a pinch of salt now.

[Beach Mama]

It is true that once they crawl they will learn to sit. Sitting is not a developmental stage however rolling, crawling, walking etc are.... I dont see the harm in occasionally sitting them up on your knee but I don't think you need to worry about it if it's not happening fast, as they do learn to do it in their own time.

[~Jo~]

Wow thats really interesting. Mine have all started to sit way before crawling.

Jo

[fionas]

My understanding is that they USUALLY sit before crawling and so sitting is seen as a developmental step. But crawling is not seen as a milestone because some babies never learn to crawl. All very confusing which is why I don't take much notice now.

In my DD's case, sitting wasn't a precursor to crawling though I suppose it depends what your definition of crawling is. My definition is getting from A to B without rolling which is what she was doing - kind of dragging herself along by her elbows but without really using her legs that much.

[meow]

Who would I listen to? Your baby!

Babies are brilliant at knowing how to develop... we don't really need to 'teach' them how to sit or crawl or walk. Obviously a stimulating, positive and safe environment helps all areas of development but specific education isn't generally really necessary.

If your child appears healthy and alert and physically okay, then chances are they are. You will usually get a sixth sense if something really isn't right and more intervention is necessary.

I would just do whatever you and your baby enjoy and are comfortable with- so if a few sits on your lap is enough then so be it. So long as she is having time on the floor to develop, then she will.

[Beach Mama]

My understanding is that they USUALLY sit before crawling and so sitting is seen as a developmental step. But crawling is not seen as a milestone because some babies never learn to crawl.

Although most sit before crawling, the ones that don't will sit once they are crawling if that makes sense - Im pretty sure crawling is a milestone they watch for because of the cross over of hands once they start is important for brain development. If babies don't crawl, then once they are walking it is important to do activities where they cross over their hands and play crawling games so their brain can make these connections. I'm not sure I've explained it right, but Kimnastics posted in one of my threads once when I was worried, will see if I can find it!

I agree with Ren too - babies seem to do what they want to do, in their own time, rather than the time we want them to,so go with the flow, don't rush it and you will be fine!!

[Ozziehoffy]

You know the thing is that babies will do what they are ready to do when they are ready and not when we decide they should. Oskar was sitting by himself at around 5 1/2 months and doesn't crawl... he bum shuffles and didn't start to do that until about 9 months old. I had my mum trying to MAKE him crawl which always ended up with him face planting and bawling because he HATES being on his tummy. He decided one day he could move and now I can't keep him still..lol.

Oh and to add to that I had an MCHN ask me just the other day if he pulls himself up on things.. the answer is NO.... so she started searching for a milestones thing to give me. I commented to her that he is quite happy (and so am I for that matter) not pulling himself up on everything. He's happy, he chats away and if he wants something he lets me know. He is 1 in a week and a half... so they don't all do what they "think" they should do when they "think" they should.

[Naomi]

My first ds started to crawl 3 days before he started to sit.
Ds2 didn't sit until he was 9 months and crawled at 10 months
Ds3 started sitting at 9 months and crawled at 11 months

All babies develop at their own pace, ds3 isn't fully walking yet at 16 months, but i'm not worried yet, he's getting there slowly, but if i took him to a MCHN they would have him booked in to see a peadatrician because of it.
Use your mothers instint, it's what i go on and it's never let me down, no-one knows your baby better than you.
I stopped taking my kids to MCHN because they were rude and pushy, i take my kids to our gp for all of their checkups.
Good luck

[sangie]

I think getting conflicting advice is part of being a mummy!
My DD sat up at 5 months on her own, is now 10 months and has no interest in crawling but prefers to bum shuffle or cruise.

Don't worry, they are all different and will do things when they feel like it!

[Emma1979]

hey i suggest not listening to anyone except your bubs.... she doesn't know which order she is 'supposed' to reach her milestones in, so just let her reach them in whatever order she reaches them, she won't be 2 years old and unable to sit, IYKWIM...

i think my dd was around 7.5-8 months before she sat unassisted, she happened to crawl around the same time, can't remember which came first though, and really i guess it doesn't matter.... she did sit leaning forward supported by her hand for quite a while... i think she may have crawled first...

don't give it another thought, just let your baby lead the way and encourage her where you can... enjoy!!

[Pandora]

DS didnt sit on his own until 9 months. It was almost to the day, becuase MCHN said that they "like them to be sitting by 9 months" and that they dont worry before then. whatever that means.

She said nothing about the order of sitting/crawling, and DS didnt crawl til 10-11 months.

I really wouldnt not pay any attention at all to what the gymbaroo teacher says.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

my DD crawled at 5 1/2 months and didnt sit until around 7 months! :-) i dont think it matter which way they do it, if you just sit your baby up with cushions and pillows whenever you feel like it or remember than i am sure she will get the hang of it sooner or later. i found the conflicting advice really made me dount myself alot, so i stopped listeing to the so called experts and just did what i thought my DD enjoyed/needed.

[Feathertop]

Just let her do what she wants to do when she wants to do it. It isn't important whether they sit before they crawl or vice versa. Just nod and smile and do what the two of you do - enjoy just being who you are. We can get very worried by what others say especially when they are supposed to be experts and when it is conflicting advice it's even worse. Not all babies crawl. All babies will need to sit unsupported at some stage (kind of hard to do grown up things if you can't!). Don't push either, just encourage achievement in whatever direction it happened.

[Artechim]

My DS started sitting at 4 months, but is still no where near crawling. I suspect that he will skip crawling altogether since he is pulling himself up and cruising but still flaps around like a fish out of water on his tummy.

I agree with the others that they will do things in their own order and in their own time.

[teachmum]

My nephew was very slow to reach his milestones and needed a couple of visits from a physio to show his mum the sorts of activities that he needed to develop his muscles. So some babies need to be encouraged to sit or roll over etc while others will manage this on their own .

It is important that children experience crawling to help develop pathways in their brains. Some children experience problems with not being able to cross their midline when they are older which can lead to learning difficulties that require OT intervention.

[Roryrory]

You know, there are some people who have theorised that traditionally (I am talking back when we were cavemen and cavewomen) our babies NEVER crawled, because instictively we knew it was unsafe to place a baby who couldn't walk directly on the ground (ie: too much danger from dirt, rocks, predators, etc). In fact, anthropologists have suggested that it wasn't until we lived in huts with "floors" that we ever stopped carrying our babies. Google it and see for yourself.

Needless to say, personally I think the whole "stages" of development thing is a crock. I realy doubt that cavebabies all followed the same patterns while their mums gathered berries and their dads hunted wooly mammoths.........