Unfortunately our pediatrician continues to recommend teaching her to sit up (which I tried to ask her how that would help but she did not really provide an answer – other than what I think she meant to connect as her not eating solids yet and not sitting up on her own, even though I explained I hold her when offering solids). The only other testing she has recommended is to get blood work done since she is essentially exclusively breastfed and therefore have low iron at this point.

Yes, if you have concerns, there are times to intervene, but I would work with professionals who value natural motor development, like this wonderful organization: The Anat Baniel Method. Does your doctor recommend an assessment?

I hope this is helpful and or interesting.

A Study in Infant Development
Alma Frank
Child Development
Vol. 9, No. 1 (Mar., 1938), pp. 9-26
Published by: Wiley on behalf of the Society for Research in Child Development
DOI: 10.2307/1125518
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1125518

Thanks

I love your website and method of parenting. My husband and I have incorporated many of your philosophies into our parneting since our daughter was born (respectful speaking, waiting for her to acknowledge our statements before acting, simplistic baby items, lack of holding devices, ample independent play). However, I did start propping her around the time she was 3 months old after breastfeeding (advsiement from my doctor) due to her terrible reflux. She has gotten to the point where she sits well without propping, but must be placed in that position. I was told that she needed to be able to sit well before we could begin feeding her solids at 6 months. She is now 5 months old and sits extremely well playing with toys and can get herself out of that position. It doesn’t seem to have hampered any of her rolling, kicking and scooting which she does constantly. My concern is that she keeps grabbing my hands and pushing herself to stand. Once standing she is trying to take steps. She is not able to pull up on her own yet. We have a montessori set up with a low shelf and pull up bar available for her in her movement area. What should I do about this behavior? Thanks so much for your time!

I just came upon RIE and want very much to do this for my baby. He is just shy of 9 months and I have been one of those moms who used the bumbo and have the table with the seat to sit him in so he can “walk” around it. I have also sat him up for awhile to where he can sit on his own and lean forward to get things he wants, but he will still fall over to the side or back and so I cannot really put much distance between us when he is playing. He also has not crawled but always reaches for me to pick him up and recently my husband and i have been helping him “walk”. He loves this very much. It is hard because I kept feeling I was doing him a great disservice, but I couldn’t exactly put my finger on what I was doing wrong. Now with him 9 mos, is it too late to start? I have began putting him on his back every time I put him down now and he is already progressing very fast. He is very strong baby and learns quickly, but I am afraid he will think ill of me if I am not continuing to do the things I have been doing. Is it ok to start here now? Is it too late or what are your suggestions? I give him a lot of encouragement and believe in babywearing and demand feeding as well. He is not on solid foods yet and still just wants breastmilk. He is a very healthy 21.5 lbs. I want to respect him and encourage him in the natural way of things…please help! Thank you 🙂