When it comes to supported sitting when placed – meaning we are putting a child into a sitting position BEFORE they can get there on their own and/or seated with a supported back like in baby “containers” – many babies are typically ready to start trying brief periods around 5.5 months of age. Some children may be ready earlier, some later, but keep reading below for some readiness signs you can look for regardless of age, to know they may be ready to try.

In contrast, when it comes to sitting independently when placed – meaning our hands are off and not providing any support – this often emerges for brief periods around the 6 month mark. Again, sometimes earlier, sometimes later depending on the baby.

When it comes to milestone average ranges, I look at skills like this; it is worth speaking with your pediatrician if two months after a milestone is expected to be emerging you’re not seeing it emerging and/or strong signs that it is coming. For sitting, the average is approximately 6 months old, so if you’re not seeing it by 8 months, it would be worth mentioning! Again, every baby is different, but I find this guideline to be helpful!

Sitting Milestone: Expectations & Readiness Signs

When it comes to sitting, I completely understand it is an exciting milestone! It can also be one of the first fairly stressful ones as baby learns to control their body without falling to the sides, front, or flinging backwards. Learning the readiness signs will hopefully help you feel more ready and prepared to navigate this stage and support your baby in a way that works for them.

And it’s important to say -once sit practice starts, definitely continue to prioritize floor time! Many babies LOVE to sit because they are seeing their world ina different way for the first time, but that can also lead to frustration on the floor - so keeping sitting spurts short (under 5 minutes until they can get in/out of sitting on their own) is ideal, because ALL of the the next milestones towards crawling, getting in/out of it, getting to standing, etc., come from that floor time!

Here are the readiness signs that baby is ready to start supported-sitting practice:

Solid head control (meaning when you hold them, they maintain their head in midline and don’t require you to support their head)
Chin tuck during pull-to-sit (and chin is off chest in a supported sit position)
Low back isn’t rounded in supported sitting, which shows that their spine is ready for it & development between the muscles on the front & back of their body has occurred in a way that supports spurts of sitting
Pressing up onto hands on their belly – which shows they’ll likely be able to prop onto hands while in sitting
Ideally, rolling both ways (back-to-belly & belly-to-back), which again demonstrates strength in the muscles along their front & back AND helps reduce frustration with floor time

(For video examples of these readiness signs in action with more of my commentary, watch my SIT highlight and my Sitting FAQ reel.)

Carriers & Sitting Containers

If you’ve been around this community for long, you’ll know that I talk a lot about protecting hip development, especially in the first 6 months of life. This includes sharing education on how to choose/use carriers & ‘containers’ that support baby’s hips and overall development.

If you’re unsure what I mean by a baby “container”, I would recommend pausing and go quickly watch my Intro to Containers reel, which explains more in detail.

(If you want to learn more about hip dysplasia + carriers, International Hip Dysplasia is an excellent resource!)

Because of all that is occurring in terms of development, motor milestone acquisition & hip development, I try to avoid using a front-facing baby carrier or standing “containers” including static exersaucers until at least 6 months of age. And when it comes to sitting ‘containers’, looking for one that allows the hips to be in an ideal position for development, and the spine & pelvis to be supported appropriate is key!

(I give a more in-depth anatomy lesson about halfway through my SIT highlight, which explains the anatomy around the hips + pelvis in terms of ‘container’ use.)

General Sitting Containers Guidelines

When it comes to sitting ‘containers’, my top two general recommendations are:

Aim for 10-15 min of use at a time & aim for DOUBLE the amount of free floor time
Hold off *if you can* until readiness signs are present

Some of my preferred sitting containers below:

DO Recommend: The Bumbo Adjustable Multi Seat (affiliate link)

This seat is a great container for keeping baby’s hips protected!

DO Recommend: The Upseat

This sitting container is angled to promote an anterior pelvic tilt creates more of an arch in your lower spine. That increased low back arch is called lumbar extension. Extension in the low back can drive a more upright posture! Which does essentially exactly what the towel roll trick I shared before does.

My affiliate discount code for the Upseat is: KC10

DO Recommend: Propapillar (affiliate link)

The Propapillar is a great, versatile resource. We use it for varying heights for tummy time, sidelying, hands and knees, and of course for sitting practice!

It’s similar to a Boppy or rolled towel in a lot of ways, but offers just a bit more options for variation and support for different needs. For an in-depth demonstration, watch my Propapillar highlight.

Sit-me-up floor seat

If you use a sit-me-up floor seat, check out this reel for my thoughts on those particular sitting containers and how you can improve their function for baby.

& one I try to avoid if possible and/or modify if it’s what you have: The original infant floor Bumbo seat

The reason behind this recommendation is that because this seat slopes backwards from the front top the back, it creates a posterior pelvic tilt. This means the pelvis is tilted backward, which also creates rounding of the lower back. This can translate up the spine, creating rounding of the entire spine, which puts our already newly learning sitter into a less than ideal position of slouching that is very difficult to overcome.

*However, if you already have this particular seat, you can take a small hand or dish towel, fold it, and place it into the dipped part of the OG Bumbo seat to help reduce that pelvis and subsequent spinal alignment!

How to Encourage Baby to Learn Independent Sitting

Let’s chat about sitting struggles!

We love seeing our littles explore new milestones, but it can be hard to know how to support them sometimes and it can be a bit nerve-wracking when they are ready to topple over at any moment. Here are some great ways that you as a caregiver can offer support and help your little one learn how to sit independently!

If your baby is physically ready to start practicing sitting (refer to the signs of readiness above), but every time they are sitting they fling back or fall forward, here are some tips to help!

Falling forward

Place toys vertically on window with toy AT OR ABOVE chest height

Flinging backward

Place toys vertically on a window with toy BELOW chest height
Move support away from their back. For MANY, flinging back becomes a game. I know it feels scary, but watch my sitting struggles reel to see how I set up for that scenario.

Practice transitioning in/out of sitting

Watch my helping baby into sitting reel for two great options for helping your little one get into sitting. Being able to get in/out of sitting fully independently REALLY opens up a whole new world of play for them!

What Now?

Remember to be on the lookout for those signs of readiness!

For brief periods of supported sitting: we’ll see that begin to emerge ~5.5 months (sometimes earlier, sometimes later!)

For independent sitting: we’ll see that begin to emerge ~6 months (sometimes earlier, sometimes later!)

When to Mention Something To Your Pediatrician

Aim for no later than 8 months if baby hasn’t shown any readiness signs or the skill emerging.

I know that was a lot of information, but my hope is that you feel more empowered and equipped to tackle the sitting milestone – whether it’s already here and you’re not sure how to navigate it or if it’s still on the horizon.

& if your little isn’t yet rolling or sitting, consider taking my Roll & Sit Class!