GM.A.60 USES A GREAT VARIETY OF SITTING POSITIONS

Because the baby now has good trunk control in sitting, she is able to use a range or new leg positions, on every functional one being side sitting.

The baby also moves very easily now from a sitting to a crawl position and back again.

If your baby has low muscle tone, remember to avoid letting her sit with her legs wide apart. Use a tennis headband, or something similar, to keep her legs together.

How to Assess

Method: Observe your child while she is silting on the floor, with toys all around her.

Score plus if your child uses a variety or leg positions over a period of time, including the side sitting position, and gets into and out of a crawl position.

How to Teach

The most important factor in sitting balance is good trunk control. Low-toned babies must wear bands to keep their legs together (sec GM.A.12). Such babies do not learn the excellent trunk control they need if they can depend on wide legs for balance, and their future movement is affected. If your baby still sits with a wide base, she can wear her tennis headband (or whatever) ALL DAY, as trunk control is learned in all her movements. Help your child to become confident about side sitting by spending time playing with her in this position.

The most important thing is this: Never let your child just sit with her legs wide apart!

Continue to pick up, carry, put down and nurse as already described in GM.A.8, GM.A.11, GM.A.17, GM.A.20, GM.A.25, GM.A.30, GM.A.34, GM.A.39, GM.A.50 and GM.A.51