At what months can a girl be nursed: expert recommendations

Updated: 06/29/2021 13:51:33

The baby, no matter if it is a girl or a boy, will begin to sit up after the back muscles are strengthened. But don’t rush things and help your child sit down. We will try to figure out whether it is possible to sit the girl down, what the risk is for the baby to sit down earlier, and how to help her if she is in no hurry to sit down on her own.

At what months do girls begin to sit?

According to the norms, girls, like boys, begin to sit up at the age of 6-7 months. But these are conditional figures. In modern pediatrics they are sometimes not taken into account. Evgeny Komarovsky says that each child is individual, develops according to his own pattern, and has his own standards. And if he starts to sit down later or earlier than his friend’s child, then there is nothing to worry about.

Often children are ready to sit 2 months later than generally accepted norms, at 8-10 months. Komarovsky says such correct words that the baby is at such a wonderful age that he doesn’t owe anyone anything. He will sit down when his back muscles and spine are ready for this new type of load.

Why doesn't the child sit?

Moms and dads, grandparents, parents often ask the doctor: “ Why doesn’t the child sit ?” “Why does the child sit poorly?” “What time do children usually sit normally?” “When does the baby start sitting?” “What time does a child start sitting?” “How many months does the baby sit?” “How to teach a child to sit?” “At what age does an infant sit, does not want to sit, does not sit at 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, months, a year?” “When should a child sit?” “How can a child sit correctly when possible?” “At what point do children sit, a boy, a girl, begin to crawl and sit on the potty?” “Where should I go, how can I teach it if a boy stands but does not sit still on his butt on his own, but at the same time sways?” “Who treats a girl if she rocks while sitting?” “How to teach a child to sit, how should premature babies not sit?” Let's take a closer look at the answers to these questions.

When the girl sits down

Before the girl is ready to sit down, several stages of spinal changes must go through. After birth, the spine has an arched shape, it does not have the usual bends for us. It is only suitable for lying down. The girl’s back is not yet strong, her muscles are not developed. Therefore, her musculoskeletal system is not able to withstand a new load for her, in the form of sitting down.

The formation of the spine occurs in several stages:

1. Formation of the cervical spine. The girl learns to hold her head up.
2. Formation of the thoracic region. The baby begins to roll over, crawls, and tries to sit up.
3. Strengthening the lower back. The child gets the opportunity to stand on his feet.

Despite the individuality of development, the sequence of these stages is the same for everyone. If you do not follow the steps or start sitting down or getting up earlier, there is a high risk of harm to the child’s health. Therefore, it is important for young parents to know the recommendations of pediatricians on this issue.

The muscles of the back and abdominal muscles begin to strengthen at the age of 6 months. Therefore, if a baby begins to sit up on her own at this age, then this is normal. If she tries to sit down, again on her own, before six months, then it is better not to rush things, leave her in her usual position for up to 6 months, in order to prevent a large load on the fragile spine ahead of time.

When a girl begins to sit, the duration of sitting should not exceed 1 hour a day. Once she has mastered a new skill, it will no longer be possible to keep her in a lying position. The baby quickly realizes the benefits of a new position for her. If a child is excessively active, it is better to distract her with play and carry her in her arms to eliminate the negative impact of sitting on the still fragile back muscles.

At first, the child, regardless of gender, sits unsteadily and falls over on his side. This situation is not dangerous and is not a cause for concern. The only thing parents need to do is to prevent the baby from falling and getting injured. Once the back muscles are strengthened, the posture becomes more confident, and he will be able to sit for longer periods of time. Often a sitting child is covered with pillows. This is not worth doing. If he gets tired, he will not have the opportunity to change position or lie down. If parents use pillows as safety, then it is better to place them a little further away just to protect the baby from falling.

When can you sit girls down and when should you absolutely not do this?

If parents doubt whether their daughter can be nursed, then first of all they should consult a pediatrician about this. The doctor will first assess the child’s physical capabilities and development, and then tell you why it is not advisable to nurse children under six months of age. If the baby is ready to accept a new position, then mom and dad should help her with this.

1. Most pediatricians say that girls under six months should not be seated unless they have done it themselves. Usually, before this age, the spine is not ready for heavy loads, and the vertical position is exactly that.
2. If you sit down early, you can harm the child’s body. At an older age, this can affect your posture. It is worth noting that pediatric orthopedists have identified a connection between early sitting and scoliosis in the future.
3. According to the results of medical studies, it has been established that with early sitting down, deformation of the pelvic bones is possible. This pathology can significantly affect the birth canal. Curved pelvic bones often overlap them, so the process of delivery becomes long and very painful.
4. In addition, the baby’s psycho-emotional state may be disrupted. In an unusual position, a child may experience fear and uncertainty. Proper sitting down, without haste, will prevent the development of such complications.
5. There is also an opinion that early sitting down leads to curvature of the uterus. But official medicine does not confirm this. Posterior deviation of the uterus is a physiological feature of the structure of the genital organs.
6. It is usually caused by a genetic predisposition or occurs as a result of inflammatory processes in the pelvis. Any doctor will confidently say that the curvature of the uterus and early sitting down are in no way connected with each other.
7. Parents should know that if a child does not sit down before 6.5 months, they should not try to force him to sit down, cover him with pillows, or sit him in his arms for a long time. It is allowed to place the back of the stroller in a semi-recumbent position while walking. But there is no need to use carriers where the child is fixed while sitting.

Moms and dads who want to know how many months their girls are starting should watch her closely. A healthy, strong baby will sit up on her own as soon as her spine and muscles are ready for such loads.

Delay in changing positions often occurs in premature babies, overweight babies and those who have a loose body structure. The girl will sit later if her parents do not do gymnastics with her.

Why is early planting dangerous for a girl?

Young parents often hear from the older generation that a girl should not be placed before 6 months, otherwise the uterus will bend. Of course, neither boys nor girls should be placed before the period when they are ready for this new skill for them. As Benjamin Spock says in his acclaimed book “The Child and His Care,” you should not help your child sit down, stand up, or walk. He must be ripe for these actions.

As a result of premature disembarkation, sometimes seven or eight months, deformation of the spine occurs, which subsequently causes curvature of posture. In addition, deformation of the pelvic bones may occur, which can lead to future pregnancy failure and difficulties during childbirth. Sometimes there is a complication that makes natural childbirth impossible.

Forced sitting down causes discomfort in the baby and unpleasant emotions. After which the girl may continue to feel uncertainty and fear for a long time about this new body position, which disrupts the child’s general psycho-emotional state. If parents have a question about when a girl will sit up, it is better to ask the doctor who is observing her. He will evaluate the baby’s physical characteristics, how ready she is for sitting, and give his suggestions.

The most common misconceptions of parents

Among parents and relatives of the older generation, the following are the most common misconceptions:

1. You can start sitting down a girl if she is already six months old

   . It is not right. Neither boys nor girls should be seated; this will harm them in the future in the form of retarded physical development and poor posture.

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2. Early sitting down of a girl leads to bending of the uterus

   . Of course, it is impossible to place a girl early, but this has nothing to do with gynecology. Bend of the uterus occurs as a result of a hereditary predisposition or against the background of an inflammatory process.

3. Jumpers are safe for the child and do not put any load on his spine.

   Evgeny Komarovsky classifies jumpers not only as useless, but also harmful acquisitions. While on this device, the child's spine experiences a lot of stress. Jumpers make mom’s life easier and allow her to go about her business. But it’s better not to use them until the baby sits down, or even better, starts to stand. But the most correct thing is to remove this device away.

4. The child walked in a walker, which means he will walk faster.

   When walking independently, the baby uses a different group of muscles. It has been noticed that children who use walkers begin to walk on their toes. In addition, this device leads to the fact that the back is strengthened in an incorrect, unnatural way. A child does not fall while wearing a walker. Therefore, even when he tries to stand up or walk on his own, he does not realize that he may fall. Walkers, like jumpers, are classified as devices that are harmful to a baby.

When to start sitting down a girl?

When can girls sit down? Fundamentally the wrong question! Because you can’t do this on purpose, you just have to wait patiently for the princess to sit down herself.

Another thing is when will this happen? According to doctors, including the famous Komarovsky, the norm is considered to be an interval of 6 to 9 months. It all depends on the baby’s physical development, activity and individual characteristics of the body.

Usually, by 7 months, girls are able to support their back independently without the support of an adult. By the age of 8, most children begin to sit up from the “lying down” or “on all fours” positions.

Evgeniy Komarovsky considers crawling to be a fundamental skill, not sitting. It is movement on all fours that allows the curves of the spine to form correctly and strengthen the muscles. Therefore, the longer the horizontal position is maintained, the pediatrician is sure, the healthier the back.

How to understand that a girl will sit down soon

Before a girl sits down, her muscles must prepare for the upcoming load. Observing the baby will help you understand that she is ready to learn a new skill.

1. The baby holds her head and shoulders for more than 2 minutes.
2. Relies on outstretched arms while lying on the stomach.
3. Raises shoulders and head while lying on back.
4. Spins on different sides, turns over, is able to lean on the elbow.

Tips for parents

So that the baby can quickly acquire this skill, the parents’ goal is to help her as much as possible, and not harm her. That's why:

• You can’t forcibly imprison children yourself;

It is strictly forbidden to place the baby in pillows, as this places a colossal load on a weak spine. And this position eliminates the possibility of the baby changing it if fatigue occurs.

• be sure to undergo monthly preventive examinations at the clinic;
• when a doctor prescribes any general strengthening exercises, do them;
• It is not recommended to use various jumpers, walkers, etc. at least until the baby learns to sit.

The introduction of complementary foods to the baby should be on chairs that can give a semi-lying position.

Advice from pediatricians

In order for a girl to sit down within the time limits established by the norm, she needs to be prepared in advance. It should remain in a horizontal position for more time. When one is a month old, it is useful to place it on the tummy. In order for the child to be interested and for tactile development, you can purchase a special play mat, put bright toys on it, start with red, then add green, blue and yellow. The baby, lying on her tummy, will try to reach them. This strengthens the muscles of the back and neck, develops the sensory system and motor skills. Then she will be ready to roll over by 3 months and will begin to make attempts to crawl. If consistency is observed in new movements, the child will most likely sit down in a timely manner.

From 5 months, it is recommended to stimulate crawling by any means, with support on the arm, on the leg, on the stomach. This opens up new opportunities for the child to make further leaps in development. Evgeny Komarovsky encourages parents to teach their baby to crawl. This is what strengthens the back muscles. Pediatricians believe that crawling is much healthier for a baby than sitting.

If a girl does not sit down on time, her parents can help her with this. An evening massage and bathing are considered an excellent workout. Early swimming, whether in the pool or at home in an adult bath, strengthens the muscles of the child’s back and neck. Daily gymnastics is useful, which it is advisable to do immediately after arriving home from the maternity hospital.

When the girl starts to sit down, Komarovsky recommends watching how she does it. If the baby folds her legs in the form of an inverted letter “w” when sitting, this will negatively affect the hip joint. It’s better to correct her right away, teach her to sit correctly. Observing your child will help determine which muscles need training.

1. if the baby is sitting and has a round back, then this indicates weak muscles of the neck and back;
2. if it falls back - weak press;
3. falls on the side - weak lateral muscles.

Then you need to train the child’s “weak points” with massage and exercises.

How to properly seat a girl?

Starting from 6 months of age, and after preliminary consultation with a pediatrician, you can safely begin to sit down the girl.

But even without consultation, attentive parents can understand that the child is ready to sit down.

And the following factors speak about this:

• the girl quite actively and effortlessly turns from back to stomach and back;
• the baby holds her head confidently and can independently lift it from a horizontal position;
• the girl begins to make attempts to get up on her own, while holding on to various objects or a parent.

When starting to sit the girl down, you should ensure that the child is comfortable first of all. At first, all children cannot maintain their balance, as a result of which they sit extremely unsteadily and often fall to one side. In this case, you shouldn’t worry and constantly correct them. As soon as the back and abdominal muscles get used to such loads, the girl will begin to sit straighter and more confidently.

Do not pile piles of pillows and piles of blankets around your child. Sitting in such cramped conditions will make the child uncomfortable and he will not be able to change position when he gets tired. These precautions will not be superfluous, but it is worth laying them in such a way that the child has free space for maneuvers.

Mom sits her daughter down

Sometimes it happens that the baby is unable to sit in the correct position. In such cases, the main thing is not to force the girl to take a position that is uncomfortable for her. In such a situation, you should pay attention to special gymnastic exercises to strengthen the back muscles:

• The girl must be placed on her stomach so that her legs rest against the adult’s body. The child must be lifted, holding it with one hand under the shin and the other under the chest. In this case, the gluteal and back muscles should be tense. You should try to hold the baby in an elevated position for a few seconds, and then carefully lay him back on his stomach.
• During daily air baths, the girl should be laid on her stomach, and at the same time a bright object should be placed in front of her, to which she wants to reach. In this way, the abdominal and back muscles are perfectly strengthened, which will help prepare her for mastering the “sitting” position. Similar to this exercise, you can attach bright round hoops above the crib. The girl will try to grab onto them, and if she is successful, she will try to get into a sitting position on her own.
• The girl needs to be laid on her back and the index fingers extended towards her. When she grabs them, she makes an attempt to sit up. At the same time, the girl’s back will come off the surface, and the abdominal muscles will tense. The main thing in this exercise is to try to hold the child in this position for 20 seconds, after which it is necessary to return the child to the starting position.

Child crawls for a toy

These exercises can and should be performed daily. Don't worry if your child can't master this position right away. Some children need more time, although in these relationships it is best to rely on set deadlines:

• starting from 6 months, the girl sits with the support of an adult;
• from 7 months the child is able to sit without additional support;
• from 8 months the girl can independently take a sitting position and even lie down from it.

All exercises must be carried out with the approval of a pediatrician and strictly on a hard surface.

How to help a girl learn to sit

Elena Isaeva, a children's massage therapist, in her book “Children's Massage, a Complete Guide” says that massage has a mild therapeutic and preventive effect. It promotes earlier mental and physical development of the child. That massage is called “children’s”, which is performed for children from birth to one year.

But children's massage is inseparable from gymnastics, which children need no less than massage. It strengthens the muscles of the back, neck, and spine, which allows children to sit down in a timely manner, and subsequently to walk. Different types of massage have different effects on muscles. Relaxation occurs through stroking, rubbing, kneading, but effleurage and pinching lead to muscle contraction.

For normal development of a child, movement is necessary. For these purposes, Elena Isaeva recommends doing gymnastics from birth. After all, muscles that work receive 3 times more nutrients and 7 times more oxygen. Thanks to regular training, they become more resilient, strong, and elastic. In addition, do not forget about the emotional side. After all, a good mood is the key to physical health.

Massage complex

The massage complex proposed by Elena Isaeva allows you to strengthen the child’s back and neck, which contributes to the mastery of a new skill, sitting:

1. Hand massage.

   The child is lying on his back, the thumb of his left hand is inserted into his palm. With the other hand, the mother makes light strokes from the hand to the armpit.

2. Lifting.

   Let your baby grasp your fingers and lift her shoulders, carefully observing her reaction. If you notice that your grip is weakening, your face takes on a concerned expression, carefully lower it onto the table.

3. Foot massage.

   The child lies on his back. Stroking his legs from foot to thigh.

4. Transferring to the stomach.

   Place the baby on her stomach, her hips should be apart. She will first begin to turn the head, then lift it. This is a great workout for the neck muscles.

5. Back massage.

   The child lies on his stomach. Mom makes stroking movements with her palm from the buttocks to the head.

6. Spinal extension.

   The baby is lying on her side. Mom fixes her legs with one hand and gently runs two fingers of the other hand along the spine, from the butt to the neck. In response, the child arches his spine. Then repeat the same exercise on the other side. This promotes the development of the spinal muscles.

7. Crawl

   . The baby is lying on his stomach. Legs bent, knees apart, feet together. The mother carefully runs her hands under the back of the baby’s feet and touches his soles. The response to the stimulus will be an energetic push-off with straightening of the legs and moving forward.

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Rocking a child on a fitball has a good effect on strengthening the back muscles. Place your baby on the ball with his tummy; he will reflexively raise his neck. Then turn him over onto his tummy, rocking him from side to side. The child will try to arch his spine.

A girl, just like a boy, should not be seated. The child will sit down after his muscles are ready for the new skill. If he lags behind the norm, then you can help him with daily massage and gymnastics.