Sitting
This is a good position for your baby when they are fully awake and settled. Ensure they are well supported and sitting symmetrically. Encourage them to look around. Until they gain good head and trunk control only sit them in a chair for short periods as it can restrict their breathing.
If they are starting to look uncomfortable/ slumping down or tired then please take them out of the chair.
Early on, when placed in their chair, your baby may look like the image on the left. Placing a rolled up towel behind their knees and shoulders will help keep them curled up, with their head in the middle, and feeling more supported like the image on the right.
Using a V cushion supports your baby’s posture and allows them the opportunity to look around and explore.
As they develop better head and body control they will start to need less support. You could position them sitting more upright with the V cushion supporting lower down their back, allowing them the opportunity to hold their head up unsupported.
Concerned about their development?
It is worth remembering that there is a big range of normal when it comes to development. The most important thing is that your baby is progressing and learning new skills. Always use their corrected age when monitoring their development (actual age minus number of weeks they were born early).
However, if your baby is not progressing, has a marked preference to using one side, their arms or legs become very stiff regularly throughout the day or they always turn their head in one direction, please raise these concerns with your health visitor / GP/ baby’s doctor/ physiotherapist.