Helping baby to learn to sit up on their own?

What can I do to help Kevin to learn to sit up on his own? He sits up with assistance but if I let go he falls forward. Kevin is 5 months old.

Re: Helping baby to learn to sit up on their own?

LOL I love that floppy sitting period. They dont really sit up solidly till around 6 months. I dont think its something to try to move along, his back will be strong enough on its own very soon.

Re: Helping baby to learn to sit up on their own?

I don't know if there is anything you can do to help him, I thought they just naturally learn to sit up on their own. It seemed like a matter of days from when Nate needed to be propped up to when he could sit up on his own.

Re: Helping baby to learn to sit up on their own?

Hi, I am an occupational therapist and some of the things I do with my homecare kids (ages 0 to 3 years old) is

If they are very floppy then you put them on the couch or chair with a pillow on either side of them. Even though this is supported sitting you are strenghtening the muscles in the back and trunk which will eventually help them sit up independently----you can also have them reach for objects in front of them, to the side of them and above shoulder level---this further help stregthen the muscle in their back and trunk for future independent sitting.

If they are not very floppy then you can do the same thing on the floor with pillows behind them and on either side of them.

Hope I helped!

ps--dont worry also 5 months is early to be sitting up independently.

Re: Helping baby to learn to sit up on their own?

Thanks for all the suggestions!