Sitting up is an important milestone in the life of a baby. It means your baby is working on developing the strength and determination she needs for mobility. Oh yes, sitting is definitely a step towards crawling and it won’t be long before your baby is zooming around the room. It also means you’ll have your hands free more because your baby will be able to sit up all by herself.

By the time your baby is eight months old, she will probably be able to sit for a few minutes without toppling over. Once your baby is well on her way to sitting up, you’ll need to keep the following in mind:

1. The lean forwards

When your baby first manages to sit up, she’ll need to use her hands for support. She will probably lean forwards onto her arms to provide extra support and she may occasionally topple forwards so it’s important to place her on padded surfaces for safety.

2. The recline

There are a number of specialist baby products (and more budget-friendly household items) you can use to help prop your baby up whilst she’s learning to sit up. Breastfeeding pillows make a great snug for your baby to lean on, as do sofa cushions.

3. The muscle development

You can try propping your baby up with pillows or placing toys just out of reach to try and encourage her to lift herself up, but really all you can do is wait. Your baby will learn to sit up when she’s good and ready. She’s busy developing muscle control, strengthening her muscles and working on her coordination so that she’ll soon be able to sit up unaided. In the meantime, it’s a waiting game.

4. Baby proofing

Once your baby masters sitting up all by herself, you’ll need to make sure the room is safe for your baby. If you have hardwood floors, you’ll need a rug or baby blanket for her to sit on to prevent head injuries should she topple over. Sitting up is a precursor to cruising so it won’t be long before she’s pulling herself up and exploring the room. Crawl around the room on your hands and knees and look out for any potential dangers at baby-height.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

You were so excited for your baby to get mobile. Do you remember that? Cheering your little one on as he or she scooted across the floor! Shouting with excitement the first time he rolled over! Being filled with pride when she crawled eagerly to meet you!

Well, congratulations! Your baby is mobile, and now you’ve got to baby-proof!

That’s right, a mobile baby is an inquisitive baby. And an inquisitive baby is one basically asking to get hurt. But what does baby proofing really entail?

Well, let’s break it down by room:

Bathroom

• Toilet locks
• Non-slip mat in the bathtub
• Soft cover for the bath spout
• Keep lotions, shampoos and razors out of reach

Bedrooms

• Hooks to keep blind chords out of reach
• Anchoring furniture to the walls to prevent them being pulled over
• Doorstops to keep little fingers from getting squashed
• Keep baby’s crib or bed away from the window

Kitchen

• When cooking, use rear hobs and turn handles to the back of the stove so that baby can’t reach up and grab them
• Keep a fire extinguisher under the sink
• Child locks for oven door, cupboards and drawers
• Ensure cables on kettle and appliances can’t be grabbed and pulled off the counters

In General

• Socket covers
• All medication kept high and out of reach
• Baby gates, especially around stairs and large appliances
• Window locks
• Corner and edge guards for the furniture
• Sharp objects (like scissors, knives, pens, needles, letter openers, or paperclips) out or reach
• Cover and conceal electrical cords
• Anchor televisions and other large pieces of equipment
• Put stickers on sliding glass doors
  

Outside

• Pool gate
• Restrict the use of pesticides and rat poison

Obviously, every home is different and your baby proofing needs may vary depending on where you live and what hazards you have to contend with. Try to survey your home with an eye focused on potential dangers. For instance, do you have the matches for your fireplace located right next to the fireplace? Or is there a tall and fragile lamp in the living room that could easily be knocked over? What about glass-top tables, or toys that have small parts that could become choke hazards?

Baby proofing is not an exact science, and you may miss dangers that only become clear when your little one becomes even more mobile. Try not to be hard on yourself. Instead, use these experiences to learn from as you continue working to keep your home safe for your little one.

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.