Physical Developmental Sequences 7-10 Months

To encourage baby to begin to move, place a toy slightly beyond their reach so they have to reach and pivot to retrieve it. They may begin intentional movement by dragging themselves across the floor or by pushing themselves with their legs.

To help baby develop the trunk muscles necessary for sitting, offer them many opportunities to sit up. This can be done in a highchair with toys on the tray. If baby is not able to support herself enough, rolled towels can be placed on either side to make her feel more secure. If holding baby in your lap in a sit-up position, encourage him to look up and around by shaking a toy above his head or to the side.

You can help baby keep her back straight by tapping or rubbing her spine, bouncing her up and down in the sitting position or stroking the center of her back gently and rapidly. As baby becomes stronger and is able to sit-up independently, help him learn how to go from sitting to laying by positioning their body correctly.

As baby starts to creep and experiment with crawling, encourage him to assume the hand-knee position by placing a rolled blanket below his abdomen when lying on his stomach. Once he is comfortable with this position and is able to maintain it himself, help him to rock back and forth. This encourages him to shift his weight from one arm to the other. You can also accomplish this by placing a toy in front of him so he will pick up one hand to get the toy.

When baby starts to pull to stand on furniture or with assistance from parents, make sure her feet are flat on the floor and that her knees are apart and slightly bent. Also, always stay close to baby as they experiment with standing on their own, even if they are holding on to something. The child cannot sit down from this position without assistance. Spend some time with baby standing in your lap, holding on to her hands and bouncing her up and down.



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