---
title: Tips to Promote Independent Sitting
description: These tips can be used for babies who are learning a new skill, or for older children who maybe need a little extra help with balance. Sitting up is such an important skill because it changes a child’s access to the world. They are suddenly able to interact with the world and people in a […]
---

[Try Alphabet Yoga Cards for Free >>](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/download/free-yoga)

- [650-638-9142](tel:650-638-9142)
- [admin@starfishtherapies.com](mailto:{{item.email}})

- [Contact Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us)
- Get Started 
    - [Plan of Care Evaluation](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/plan-of-care)
    - [Telehealth Consult](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/telehealth)
    - [New Patient Forms](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/intake-form)

[![StarfishLogo@2x](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20images/StarfishLogo@2x.png?width=544&height=112&name=StarfishLogo@2x.png "StarfishLogo@2x")](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/)

- [Therapy Services](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services)
  
  Show submenu for Therapy Services 
  
    - [Physical Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/physical-therapy)
    - [Occupational Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/occupational-therapy)
    - [Motor Smart Kids](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/motor-smart-kids)
    - [Gross Motor Program](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/gross-motor-program)
- For Parents
  
  Show submenu for For Parents 
  
    - [Free Resources](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/starfishresources)
    - [Blog & Articles](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog)
    - [Shop Games & Tools](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/shop)
    - [FAQs](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/faq)
    - [Free Yoga Cards](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/resource/alphabet-yoga-cards)
- [About Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/about-us)
  
  Show submenu for About Us 
  
    - [Our Team](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team)
    - [Our Mission & Values](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/mission-values)
    - [Why Choose Us?](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team#why)

[Contact Click to Contact](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us)

Close

- [Therapy Services](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services)
  
  Show submenu for Therapy Services 
  
    - [Physical Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/physical-therapy)
    - [Occupational Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/occupational-therapy)
    - [Motor Smart Kids](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/motor-smart-kids)
    - [Gross Motor Program](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/gross-motor-program)
- For Parents
  
  Show submenu for For Parents 
  
    - [Free Resources](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/starfishresources)
    - [Blog & Articles](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog)
    - [Shop Games & Tools](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/shop)
    - [FAQs](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/faq)
    - [Free Yoga Cards](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/resource/alphabet-yoga-cards)
- [About Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/about-us)
  
  Show submenu for About Us 
  
    - [Our Team](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team)
    - [Our Mission & Values](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/mission-values)
    - [Why Choose Us?](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team#why)

- [Contact Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us)
- Get Started 
    - [Plan of Care Evaluation](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/plan-of-care)
    - [Telehealth Consult](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/telehealth)
    - [New Patient Forms](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/intake-form)

- [650-638-9142](tel:650-638-9142)
- [admin@starfishtherapies.com](mailto:{{item.email}})

[Contact](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us)

This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached.

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

[< See All Posts](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog)

[exercise](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/exercise), [kids](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/kids), [Developmental Milestones](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/developmental-milestones), [sitting](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/sitting), [education](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/education), [Starfish Therapies](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/starfish-therapies), [balance](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/balance), [babies](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/babies), [Blog](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/blog)

---

# Tips to Promote Independent Sitting

![default-image](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Starfish/images/custom-images/default-image.svg)

![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)

These tips can be used for babies who are learning a new skill, or for older children who maybe need a little extra help with balance.

Sitting up is such an important skill because it changes a child’s access to the world. They are suddenly able to interact with the world and people in a whole new way. For older kids, maybe they need extra support for sitting, but it is still important for them to work on and develop their trunk muscles. Even if they are in a chair, the extra strength and balance will only help them with the tasks they perform throughout the day. For babies, they are developing the strength as they go. So, read on for the tips.

1. Make sure that safety is always first. Know how much support that your child needs in order to sit up safely.
2. Holding a child up higher on their trunk (closer to their arm pits) provides more support than if you hold them lower on their trunk (closer to their hips).
3. At whatever spot you are holding your child, the firmer you are holding them, the easier it is, and the looser you are holding them, the more they have to work. So, if you are holding them up close to their arm pits and they seem to be holding their head pretty stable, start loosening your grip some before you lower your hands lower on their trunk.
4. So, to recap support, start high and with a firm hold, and loosen your hold some before you start to move lower. Each time you move your hold lower, start with a firmer hold.
5. A stable surface like the floor is easier than a moving surface like a therapy ball or your lap (lap is probably easier than a therapy ball).
6. Use a less stable surface like your lap or a therapy ball to move your child forward and back and side to side to increase how their muscles are having to work. Follow the same rules for support as above and always remember tip number 1 – Safety is key!

Check out this video to see a demonstration of what we are talking about!

[![Share on facebook](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/facebook-icon.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/01/tips-to-promote-sitting&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [![Share on twitter](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/twitter-icon.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/01/tips-to-promote-sitting&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/01/tips-to-promote-sitting&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on instagram](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/instagram-icon.svg)](http://www.instagram.com/share.php?u=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/01/tips-to-promote-sitting&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram) [![Share on linkedin](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/linkedin-icon.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/01/tips-to-promote-sitting&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [![Share on pinterest](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/pinterest-icon.svg)](https://in.pinterest.com) [![Share on whatsapp](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/whatsapp-icon.svg)](https://web.whatsapp.com)

[Previous Post](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/01/7-ways-to-carry-your-baby)

<https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog>

[Next Post](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/02/5-tips-getting-into-sitting)

### Book Your Telehealth Consult Now

Get Expert Pediatric Therapy Advice from the Comfort of Home! One-hour personalized consultation with licensed pediatric therapists. No insurance required.

[Book Now Click to Book Now](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/telehealth)

[![Starfish Therapies Logo - Pediatric Therapy Making a Difference in a San Francisco](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20images/StarfishLogo@2x.png?width=200&height=41&name=StarfishLogo@2x.png "Starfish Therapies Logo - Pediatric Therapy Making a Difference in a San Francisco")](https://www.starfishtherapies.com)

Helping Kids Shine Brighter Every Day

Starfish Therapies provides pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapy services designed to support every child's unique developmental journey. Whether in-person or through telehealth, our expert therapists work hand-in-hand with families to build skills, confidence, and independence in a fun, nurturing environment. Serving children of all ages in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

[Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/StarfishTherapies/) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/starfishtherapies/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/MotorSmartKids) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.linkedin.com/company/starfish-therapies) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/c/StarfishTherapies)

##### Quick Links

- [Services](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services)
- [Resources](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/starfishresources)
- [Policies](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/policies)

##### Information

[1601 Old Bayshore Highway #221 Burlingame, CA 94010](https://goo.gl/maps/iW2CLPDxUwm)

[Phone: (650) 638-9142](tel:6506389142)

Fax: (650) 638-9141

[Text: (650) 413-9921](mailto:admin@starfishtherapies.com)

[admin@starfishtherapies.com](mailto:admin@starfishtherapies.com)

Copyright © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Stacy Menz",
    "url" : "https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/author/stacy-menz"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-05-14T02:36:53.454Z",
  "datePublished" : "2020-01-30T17:27:19.000Z",
  "headline" : "Tips to Promote Independent Sitting",
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/01/tips-to-promote-sitting",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/StarfishLogo@2x.png"
    },
    "name" : "Starfish Therapies"
  }
}
```