When can my baby sit?
It's a small topic - but one that I get asked about very, very often. It's about the question: When is a baby allowed to sit?
I don't want to spoil anything. But the question is actually answered very quickly and banal: a child sits when it can sit.
But it's not quite that simple. There are a few aspects to consider and things to understand.
It is certainly not a good idea to sit a child who is not yet able to sit - and to stabilise them with cushions, for example.
What is not a problem at all, on the other hand, is if you take a baby on your lap for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour and let it lean against your breast.
In the same way, the child can be raised a little from time to time - but only for a short time.
However, the most important thing for a baby is to be able to lie down and kick freely. And this is not just for physical reasons. Because nature is pretty clever: a child only straightens up when it has developed to the point where it is ready to be exposed to more sensory impressions.
And that is also my main point: if the child sits too early, takes on new perspectives too soon, it is confronted with impressions for which it is not yet ready and prepared.
Please be patient - your child can sit for another 90 years. It just needs to lie down for a few more weeks. Wait until your child is ready - and can sit without assistance. Until then, let your child lie down and look at the ceiling or at mummy's beautiful smile and daddy's pretty eyes. That's enough to keep him busy.
The conclusion is - once again - the crudest of all paediatrician wisdom: Grass doesn't grow faster if you pull on it.
Further interesting tips
Gaming Disorder
From our series "Things that didn't exist 20 years ago" we present today: "Gaming disorder." As the name suggests, it's all about playing games (on mobile phones/tablets). Parents should be on their guard - but also think about their role as role models.
Dogan paediatrics guide
Our paediatrician colleague Özgür Dogan from Stuttgart has created something really great: He has basically written a book that covers all aspects of our profession - and published the whole thing not as a book, but as an app.
Comfort
Anger, sadness, pain, despair - there are many moments when children need comforting. And because the whole thing is not as trivial as you might think at first, here are the most important tips on giving comfort.