Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)

By what age can a child typically sit alone?

1. 4 months

2. 5 months

3. 6 months

4. 7 months

The correct answer is: 6 months

A child typically begins to sit alone around the age of 6 months. At this stage of development, infants have usually developed the necessary muscle strength and coordination to maintain an upright position without support. By 6 months, many babies can sit with minimal assistance and can often reach for toys while maintaining balance. This milestone is part of a broader range of gross motor skills and is influenced by several factors, including the child's muscle tone, strength, and overall developmental progress. In contrast, while some infants may show signs of being able to sit up earlier than 6 months, it's generally accepted that most children achieve this milestone around that age. Therefore, the other age options (4, 5, and 7 months) either underestimate or overestimate the typical timeline for this developmental milestone.