Why Early Sitting in Infants is Safe and Beneficial

By Erin Butler

Is it safe to sit baby before they can sit themselves?

As parents, it’s natural to question every step of your baby's development and worry about doing the right thing. One common concern many parents have is whether encouraging babies to sit up early can be harmful to their long-term development or body structure. Let's explore this topic together to see what the research suggests and put your mind at ease.

Out_In play in sitting with rubber band obstacles

Sitting: What to Expect

Early sitting refers to the practice of helping babies sit up with support before they can do it on their own. Sitting is a skill that typically happens around 4-9 months of age and with a wide level of independence and variations.

Half of babies will be able to sit by themselves, safely to play alone in sitting by ~6.5 months, with almost all babies, 90%, achieving this skill by 8 months of age.

Half of babies will be able to move from sitting to the floor, by ~9 months, with almost all babies, 90%, achieving this skill by 12 months of age.

Half of babies will be able to move from the floor into a sitting position, by ~7.5 months, with almost all babies, 90%, achieving this skill by 10 months of age.

There is a wide range of when supported sitting and independent sitting develops, and interestingly, we can see that babies are most likely able to sit alone before they can get in and out of sitting.

Perhaps we don’t realise how often our little ones are held in supported sitting or supported upright positions before they are able to get into sitting themselves – for burping, changing, washing, feeding, sitting on laps, carried in sitting postures – all of these very natural activities adopt similar postures to supported sitting and will feed into our baby's ability to eventually sit themselves. This is likely the reason why our little ones can actually sit independently before they can get in and out of sitting alone.

So let's get curious and ask some questions:

Will early sitting hurt my baby’s spine?

While some parents worry that early sitting might lead to problems with their child's spine or overall growth, research shows that it is a beneficial and natural part of development.

Evidence has shown that early sitting (the age when an infant first starts sitting) is not associated with the shape of the spine in a typically developing population.

Evidence has also shown that there is no association between the age at which a child sits or walks and their likelihood of developing spine related pain later in life.

Parents often worry that sitting up early might harm their baby’s spine. However, when done correctly, early sitting helps strengthen the muscles supporting the spine. This muscle development is also helpful for maintaining good posture and supporting future movements like crawling and walking. No one is suggesting that we leave our little one's slumped over in uncomfortable postures and unable to move and change position! Helping our little one's to be well supported in upright sitting postures when they cannot yet sit themselves or get into sitting independently, will not cause harm.

Does early sitting lead to developmental delays?

Muscle Strengthening: When babies are supported in a sitting position, they work on their muscle strength, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and trunk. This is so beneficial for their overall motor development. Studies have shown that positions like tummy time AND early supported sitting help babies develop early head control which is an important foundation needed for future movements like crawling and walking.

Balanced Development: Allowing babies to experience different positions, including sitting, helps them develop a balanced set of motor skills. This includes visual skills, oral skills (mouthing toys in preparation for future feeding and talking), balance skills, strength, fine motor play (exploring and manipulating toys), learning, social interactions and language skills.

There is no evidence to suggest that early sitting causes developmental delays. On the contrary, by helping babies develop stronger muscles and better coordination, early sitting can support the achievement of other motor milestones. Babies who engage in a variety of activities, including early sitting, tend to develop more balanced motor skills.

How can I support my baby safely?

Burns, falls and poison are the leading causes of injury in infants, and the majority of fall injuries are related to infants who are mobile (crawling and walking). In pre-mobile babies (those who may or may not be sitting but aren’t moving around), the most likely reason for falls included caregivers slipping and falling whilst carrying, falling in baths and falling from surfaces (e.g. unsupervised sitting on top of counters, benches etc). We can reduce falling hazards by

Ensuring sitting equipment is safe (e.g. high chairs are stable, harnesses are fitted well and used)
Supervise risky sitting environments (on high surfaces, in the bath)
Practice sitting to build independence and safety with balance and balance reactions

Using support wisely is key. When helping your baby sit, make sure to provide proper support. You can use your hands, lap and body, spread out pillows, or specially designed baby seats. Keep an eye on your ‘not yet sitting’ baby to ensure they’re comfortable, safe and happy.

Practical Tips for Parents

Mix It Up:

Encourage your baby to spend time in different positions throughout the day. Tummy time, lying on their back and side, and supported sitting all play a role in their development. This variety helps them develop different muscle groups and coordination skills.

Turn Your Baby Around:

Often parents and caregivers will tend to hold their baby in a supported sitting position facing OUT towards the world, which is lovely for them to see what’s going on around them and be supported to use their hands for play and learning. Turning your babies around (or using a mirror during your play) gives the additional benefit of providing social experiences, face time and helps to build relationships and connection.

Move Your Baby:

Help your little one to move in and out of different positions rather than just picking up and placing them on their tummy or in supported sitting. You can help them not only build their skills IN a position but also be encouraging them to join in with GETTING IN AND OUT of positions also! Practice rolling your little one and off their tummy for play and after they’re done. Help them move from the floor onto their bottom or from sitting onto their tummy and then rolling onto their back to guide them through these natural transitions.

Follow Your Baby’s Lead:

Every baby develops at their own pace. If your little one seems uncomfortable or isn’t ready to sit up, give them more time. Trust your instincts and watch for cues from your baby.

Providing a variety of opportunities for movement and play is key to helping your baby grow and develop in a healthy, balanced way. If you have any concerns about your baby’s development, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor, child health nurse or paediatric physiotherapist for personalized advice.

Disclaimer:

For babies with conditions like Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Achondroplasia, special guidelines and recommendations apply due to the unique nature of skeletal and neuromotor development. Please consult your specialist to understand the best time for your baby to start sitting and how much support and supervision they will need.

Thank you for reading

Want more ideas on how supported sitting can look and how to play with your bub?

Or join the Baby Play Academy for over 250 play ideas, language and motor development support for your little one from birth to walking. You can also always check in with your local paediatric physio for 1:1 support too. Reassurance is key to peace of mind!

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REFERENCES

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Engelbert, R. H., Uiterwaal, C. S., van der Hulst, A., Witjes, B., Helders, P. J., & Pruijs, H. E. (2003). Scoliosis in children with osteogenesis imperfecta: influence of severity of disease and age of reaching motor milestones. European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 12(2), 130–134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-002-0491-x

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