Moving (gross motor)
Sitting without support
Many babies — 6–8 months
Sitting steadily without being propped, freeing the hands to play.
What’s happening
Sitting frees the hands for play, and it usually arrives in stages — propped and wobbly at first, then steady without support as core strength catches up. It's also one of the clearer signs crawling is coming soon, since it takes similar core and back strength.
How to support it
- Prop with pillows or a nursing pillow at first, staying close, and let them practice catching their balance.
- Give plenty of supervised floor time on a firm surface — the strength for sitting builds the same way rolling and crawling strength does.
- Sit them facing a low table or activity center so there's something to look at and reach for while they practice balance.
When to ask your pediatrician
Sitting without support is one of the CDC's checkpoints for 9 months. If your baby still needs propping to stay upright by then, or seems to have very low muscle tone generally, mention it at their next visit.
Often comes after rolling over
Often leads to crawling
Where this comes from
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