MADISON DEMONSTRATES SITTING POSITIONS FOR BABY
From Rolling To Sit
Straight Legs
Butterfly Sit (soles of feet together)
Crossed Legs (right leg on top)
Crossed Legs (left leg on top)
Z-sit (feet to right)
Z-sit (feet to the left)
BABY sitting IMPROVES BALANCE
In this photo essay, Madison (7 months old) demonstrates the various sitting positions included in the optimal gross motor skill development of a baby. When she learns these various sitting positions, her balance improves. They can be introduced once baby has learned to come to the sitting position from rolling. This is at around 7 months of age. In the top photo, Madison has rolled to a sitting position. From the rolling position, baby may arrive in a Z-sit, straight legs, one leg bent and one straight. There are several options.
BABY SITTING POSTURES: ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Balance is one of the skills learned from sitting. In previous posts, we discussed other benefits. Sitting frees the arms so baby can grasp and reach bigger and better toys. Sitting becomes a transition through which baby passes to go from one motor skill to another. For example, baby rolls from her back to sit before coming to stand. Sitting also develops the hip joint, which is important for the more challenging gross motor skills she will soon learn.
INTRODUCING baby to SITTING POSITiONS
While baby is sitting on your lap, gently slide her legs and feet into a position and hold them there for just a few seconds. This should not be forced. They should move easily and smoothly into the position. Your hands show her one of the many options of how she can arrange her legs and feet. With repetition she will begin to find these positions on her own. Eventually she will use them when she plays on the floor. Her balance is challenged in the beginning, but when she is on your lap you help her feel stable. Later, when she uses the positions on her own, you will know that her balanced has improved. When she begins to stand, cruise, and walk she will be quite stable because of this time spent on the floor learning these sitting positions.