Would You Sit Him Up?

[Heidi]

Little man here is 7 1/2 months old. He can roll from front to back, and if you sit him up, he can sit maybe 3-5 minutes, sometimes a lot less. He usually topples over after 30 sec-2 minutes.

He WANTS to sit up, but can't on his own.

So...scenario is: put him on his tummy, he gets up on his arms, and screams bloody murder. Sometimes, he'll roll on his back and scream there, bucking and doing crunches. His screaming usually spreads to my other 7 month old, so then both babies are wailing.

He's not a good sleeper, either. Up until this week he's been varied hours/part time, so I've had little impact on good sleep skills. Now he will be 4-5 days a week, consistent hours. I hope I can influence him a bit.

So, my instincts would be to lay him down and let him figure it out. I think one reason he is so late in his skills is because at home, his parent rescues him when he yells. But the screaming is driving us all bonkers. I do talk to him and reassure him, but he just screams (not crying...guttural, loud screaming).

On the one hand, he is communicating what he wants. On the other hand, I feel like he is expecting adults to cater to him, and it's delaying his progress. While I doubt he's really delayed, I feel like it sets a precedent for him.

Any thoughts?

[Familycare71]

Personally I would mix it up... Sometimes I would help and interact... Sometimes I would let him figure it out...
When I was helping/supporting him I would try to ensure it wasn't when he was screaming for me to do so... Supporting that fits = nothing...

Hope his added hours with you help!!! Pt babies are so difficult!!!

[countrymom]

do you have an excersaucer. sounds to me like he needs to strengthen his muscles.

[Heidi]

do you have an excersaucer. sounds to me like he needs to strengthen his muscles.

yes, but I ditched it because I don't like contraptions. I'm a big fan of free-range babies. ::


He's VERY strong. One of those super muscles to the point of rather stiff. He can buck up on his leg and shoulders when he's on his back. Not stiff enough that I'm worried, though. I think he's just pretty demanding and spoiled.

Please don't think I'm picking on him. Just calling a spade a spade. He's quite sweet as long as he gets what he wants when he wants it.

[CedarCreek]

I used to offer my fingers to my son to grasp and then he could work on pulling hisself up but with me basically guiding him. I also put a boppy pillow around his waist so if he fell, he wouldn't get hurt and it gave him a bit of leverage to pull hisself back up.

[Willow]

I'd point blank tell the parents their "love" may be hindering him.

When practicing sitting I will utilize a boppy for minor trunk support but mainly to prevent startling topples (less screaming). If you put it around the belly they can lean forward and strengthen back muscles. Put it around back and they'll sway back to front and strengthen belly. Toys all around will work the lats and help establish balance from a sitting position

[Heidi]

I'd point blank tell the parents their "love" may be hindering him.

When practicing sitting I will utilize a boppy for minor trunk support but mainly to prevent startling topples (less screaming). If you put it around the belly they can lean forward and strengthen back muscles. Put it around back and they'll sway back to front and strengthen belly. Toys all around will work the lats and help establish balance from a sitting position

So, you're thinking I should go ahead and put him in the sitting position, then help him when he falls, if needed?

I guess if I did that, he will get stronger sitting, and that should help with mobility. I don't own a boppy, but I could get one. Just putting pillows around him wouldn't give him any leverage for getting back up on his own.

I'm probably just overthinking the whole thing. I was just thinking that if I put him in a sitting position, and then have to rescue every 2 minutes, he's not learning anything. On the other hand, helping him his probably less of a PITA then listening to his madness.

[nothingwithoutjoy]

yes, but I ditched it because I don't like contraptions. I'm a big fan of free-range babies. ::

I am, too. I wouldn't sit him up. I'd sit near him and narrate. "You're pushing up. It's hard work!" I am a firm advocate of letting children develop gross motor skills on their own timetable. I don't put babies in any sort of contraptions, or put them into any position they can't get into themselves. If you want support and encouragement for this type of infant care, I'd recommend the blog of Janet Lansbury. (My approach is a mix of these RIE-inspired ideas of competence and letting infants have space and time to themselves; and attachment parenting's approach, including carrying babies in a sling and being very responsive to their communication.)

[Heidi]

I am, too. I wouldn't sit him up. I'd sit near him and narrate. "You're pushing up. It's hard work!" I am a firm advocate of letting children develop gross motor skills on their own timetable. I don't put babies in any sort of contraptions, or put them into any position they can't get into themselves. If you want support and encouragement for this type of infant care, I'd recommend the blog of Janet Lansbury. (My approach is a mix of these RIE-inspired ideas of competence and letting infants have space and time to themselves; and attachment parenting's approach, including carrying babies in a sling and being very responsive to their communication.)

already spent a lot of time on Janet's blog. I actually spent some time studyng RIE and worked with a provider who was trained by Magda herself. That was a long time ago, and exactly where I got my "no contraptions" sort of thinking.

I have modified it a bit for practicality. While I do use child-sized furniture, I also use boosters at the big table, and cribs. I use excersaucers only briefly and rarely. Like, if we are outside and I need to keep a 6 month old from eating woodchips. No swings, no walkers, no johnny jump-ups, no putting them up against the coffee table to show how "great they can stand up!"

I've been doing a lot of narrating, but he's just SOOO mad! As SOON as I sit him up, he stops.

[Heidi]

I am, too. I wouldn't sit him up. I'd sit near him and narrate. "You're pushing up. It's hard work!" I am a firm advocate of letting children develop gross motor skills on their own timetable. I don't put babies in any sort of contraptions, or put them into any position they can't get into themselves. If you want support and encouragement for this type of infant care, I'd recommend the blog of Janet Lansbury. (My approach is a mix of these RIE-inspired ideas of competence and letting infants have space and time to themselves; and attachment parenting's approach, including carrying babies in a sling and being very responsive to their communication.)

...

You use a sling. Madga said "we carry them around like a sack of potatoes". I don't do slings, either. Another contraption.

But, you have to do what works for you and your babies. You know I love your program and your approach. I'm a NWOJ groupie. lovethis

[cheerfuldom]

I dont use any equipment and I dont help babies, as far as propping them up. They only get to do what they are capable of doing by themselves. It makes babies VERY unhappy for mom and dad and daycare provider to "do" for them sometimes but not all the time. Once they get used to being in a certain position and a doing something with help, they are not going to be happy to be demoted back to floor play. I would not help this baby at all in the sense of propping and such. I would do what I could to comfort and engage without doing too much for them. sounds like this guy needs A LOT of floor play. I also like what RIE promotes as well as being a responsive/attached caregiver! the happiest babies I have had were AFTER I got rid of any baby equipment outside of a play mat and a highchair. I do not do exersaucers, walkers, jumpers, etc, etc. I do babywear but only on walks and when we are going some where. i dont just carry daycare kids around the house.

[My3cents]

yes, but I ditched it because I don't like contraptions. I'm a big fan of free-range babies. ::


He's VERY strong. One of those super muscles to the point of rather stiff. He can buck up on his leg and shoulders when he's on his back. Not stiff enough that I'm worried, though. I think he's just pretty demanding and spoiled.

Please don't think I'm picking on him. Just calling a spade a spade. He's quite sweet as long as he gets what he wants when he wants it.

tummy time, even if he doesn't like it. Increase it as he goes. I would also use an excersaucer. He might want to look around and like the confinement. Tuck blankets around him to support him till he gets it. Tons of floor time. I like switching it up for babies. Gives them a different view of their world and strengthens muscles.

[MarinaVanessa]

I personally wouldn't use any type of contraption if he needs to build core muscles. I know it gets crazy when he cries but if he needs to develop his muscles putting him in any type of device that "assists" in sitting is not going to help him as much as him doing it himself.

I had a crier too that hated tummy time or time on his back but with encouragement he did start to pull himself up on his own. At home he was never put down or was in one of those boppy things, walker, excersaucer or swing so here I left him on the floor and just talked/interacted with him a lot while I sat nearby and also played with the other kids. It took a couple of weeks but he eventually got used to the idea and once he got the sitting up part down he figured out how to crawl pretty quickly and then there were much MUCH less tears because he was mobile.

[Blackcat31]

I dont use any equipment and I dont help babies, as far as propping them up. They only get to do what they are capable of doing by themselves. It makes babies VERY unhappy for mom and dad and daycare provider to "do" for them sometimes but not all the time. Once they get used to being in a certain position and a doing something with help, they are not going to be happy to be demoted back to floor play. I would not help this baby at all in the sense of propping and such. I would do what I could to comfort and engage without doing too much for them. sounds like this guy needs A LOT of floor play. I also like what RIE promotes as well as being a responsive/attached caregiver! the happiest babies I have had were AFTER I got rid of any baby equipment outside of a play mat and a highchair. I do not do exersaucers, walkers, jumpers, etc, etc. I do babywear but only on walks and when we are going some where. i dont just carry daycare kids around the house.

+1

This is how I do things as well.

[countrymom]

So, you're thinking I should go ahead and put him in the sitting position, then help him when he falls, if needed?

I guess if I did that, he will get stronger sitting, and that should help with mobility. I don't own a boppy, but I could get one. Just putting pillows around him wouldn't give him any leverage for getting back up on his own.

I'm probably just overthinking the whole thing. I was just thinking that if I put him in a sitting position, and then have to rescue every 2 minutes, he's not learning anything. On the other hand, helping him his probably less of a PITA then listening to his madness.

I would do this. I forgot about the boppy pillow. I loved ours (we use it to sleep with too, acually dh did) If he tips over just help him up.