Teaching babe to get into sitting position

[odoole]

DS is just about 10 months and still not crawling. That's all fine, but he is (and therefore I am) getting very frustrated at his inability to get himself into the seated position.

Basically the pattern is this:

-DS sits by himself unassisted just fine (has done since 6 months)
-He makes a lunge for something out of arm's reach.
-Ends up on all fours
-Stays on all fours for a few seconds
-Makes a few efforts in the forward direction
-Inevitably ends up flat on his tummy
-Gets really frustrated almost immediately at being on his tummy
-Rolls over to his back.
-More frustration
-Eventually I come over and show him how to get into the seated position himself.

So it seems like he is *SO* close to crawling ... but he has been doing basically this exact same thing for the past 2 months. How can I encourage him to get himself back up on his own?

FWIW -- he has been pulling up and taking steps one foot in front of the other and cruising a bit since he was 7 months. All arrows point to him being a walker-before-crawler. But he doesn't seem all that close to walking either, and we're all just getting so frustrated here!!!

[Nicole730]

Sounds like our DS at that age. He started walking holding our hands at 7 months and didn't have interest in doing much else. By 10 months we would pull himself to standing on furniture and cruise. He was doing some sort of army crawl thing for awhile, but eventually during his 10th month he learned to crawl. He still didn't like crawling as much as walking though. I swore he'd be an early walker based on his 7 month old interest, but he didn't walk independently until just after his first birthday. Anyways, what you are doing sounds good, just keep showing him how to do it himself and hopefully it will click soon!

[MeepyCat]

I think this is just what the learning process looks like. It is frustrating for them, and they do share the misery... but there's no way out but through.

My strategy at this age is to leave things they could use to "rescue" themselves lying around - the boppy pillow, some firmer stuffed animals, blocks, drums, anything they can grab and push themselves up on can be scattered within reach, so that when they go splat, they've got a better chance of getting up on their own.

[lkmiscnet]

My DS is going to be one next week and learned to sit unassisted and crawl later than most. He just started pulling up to stand a couple of weeks ago, and I don't anticipate him walking for another couple of months.

Sounds like your LO is on the verge. Please don't stress about it. Babies are set to develop at their own pace since no two are alike. Just sit back and enjoy the ride...this time goes by so fast.

[odoole]

Originally Posted by Nicole730

Sounds like our DS at that age. He started walking holding our hands at 7 months and didn't have interest in doing much else. By 10 months we would pull himself to standing on furniture and cruise. He was doing some sort of army crawl thing for awhile, but eventually during his 10th month he learned to crawl. He still didn't like crawling as much as walking though. I swore he'd be an early walker based on his 7 month old interest, but he didn't walk independently until just after his first birthday. Anyways, what you are doing sounds good, just keep showing him how to do it himself and hopefully it will click soon!

Yes, we do seem to have similar sons, though mine isn't even doing the Army crawl. Basically the only way he can move in the forward direction is by indicating that he wants to stand then taking steps while holding our fingers.

I also thought he would be an early walker, but yeah, after 3 months of standing and taking steps, he's still pretty wobbly. Not much improvement there.

thanks for the advice about the "rescue" devices. I'll try that out.

I try not to stress about it, but he really is getting SOOOOO frustrated and playing on the floor just isn't fun for either one of us because he constantly is doing that pattern I mentioned in my first post. It does seem like he's on the verge, but he's been teetering on the verge for what feels like forever!

Ah well. He'll get there one day I'm sure.

[CassnBeth]

Can your son get from all fours back to sitting? That turned out to be the key for my DD -- She would lunge forward onto all fours and I would sort of herd her backwards again until she was sitting up so she could get the feel of the transition. She got the hang of it and that cut out at least some of the misery.

[CookAMH]

He is probably very close to getting it, and he will figure it out. I think it's good for him to learn that, especially since he's not "late" or anything, he's just fine. My 13mo DS didn't crawl until 11 1/2 months, and it was not until he was 10 1/2 months that he got to a seated position by himself, and then not again for a few days later. He'll get it, just relax. And though he cruises, he won't necessarily walk before crawling.

[odoole]

Originally Posted by CassnBeth

Can your son get from all fours back to sitting? That turned out to be the key for my DD -- She would lunge forward onto all fours and I would sort of herd her backwards again until she was sitting up so she could get the feel of the transition. She got the hang of it and that cut out at least some of the misery.

Actually, yes he can get from all fours to sitting. The hang up seems to be getting from his tummy to all fours.

He has a pretty big belly and very thick thighs, so maybe that's part of what's making it difficult for him?

He just gives up so easily though, that's why it never seems like he's making any progress. I would let him cry through the process if it seemed like that would help, but as soon as he starts crying, there's no learning going on I think.