My baby can’t sit up yet is that okay?
Parents are often concerned about whether their baby is developing well, especially when raising a child for the first time. Although newborn babies undergo amazing physical and mental development in just a short period of time, it is always important to keep in mind that there is a great deal of individual variation. If your child is behind the pace of what is considered normal development, it does not necessarily mean that illness or disability is the cause, and there is no need to worry.
In this article, we will explain “sitting up,” which is a key point in the developmental process, and explain the thinking behind a slow pace.
When do babies usually sit up?
Newborn babies have weak muscles throughout their bodies and are not sitting on their necks or hips. Of course, they cannot turn over in their sleep. Even if you hold your baby in your arms, you need to support the baby’s neck firmly.
The standard age for sitting up is 7 to 8 months old.
Babies develop at an astounding rate. First, during the first two to three months after birth, the muscles in the neck and back develop and the head sits up. Next, the muscles in the back and hips develop, enabling the baby to turn over in bed, and then the muscles in the hips and thighs develop further, enabling the baby to sit up. Generally speaking, it is around 5 to 6 months of age that the child is able to turn over in bed, and around 7 to 8 months that the child is able to sit up.
Sitting up is an important point in the developmental process
Sitting up is one of the most important points in the development of motor functions after birth. This is because it is the first step in the developmental process that leads to independent walking, from sitting to crawling, and from grasping to walking.
Babies themselves can also see a different world by changing their field of vision by sitting up. They become interested in a variety of things, reaching out hard to pick up toys that are far away, and then rolling over. As they repeat these actions, they develop muscle strength in their trunk, arms, and legs. Parents will have to keep a closer eye on their babies than when they were still in their cribs, but get over it for the sake of their baby’s safety and development.
What if the baby cannot sit up by 8 months of age?
Sitting up is one of the indicators used in infant health examinations to assess development. What should you consider if your child is still unable to sit up after the standard age of 7 to 8 months?
Don’t be misled by too much information.
In recent years, a great deal of information is readily available on smartphones and tablets. Parents who are raising a child for the first time have probably visited child-rearing websites at least once.
However, there is so much information available that it is easy to become concerned when you see exaggerated statements such as, “If your child cannot sit up by nine months, he or she has a disease called Cerebral Palsy.”
We feel that most of such information is written in a very vague and exaggerated manner, focusing on possible but extremely rare cases.
Individual babies’ development differs.
As any parent who has raised two or more children will agree, babies are unique from birth. Even newborns who appear to be just sleeping have different personalities and behaviors. The speed of development is no exception. Therefore, “sitting up at 7 to 8 months of age” is merely a guideline, and some children may be able to sit up before that time, while others may not be able to do so even after that time.
Conclusion
It is common for your child’s development to deviate from these guidelines in the course of raising him or her. It is possible that some disease or disorder is behind this discrepancy, but for the most part, it is an expression of the individuality of each baby. Many parents become concerned when their child’s development is behind the standard, but there is no need to panic unless something abnormal is found during a medical checkup.
