Sitting: Our Favorite Toys for Encouraging Gross Motor Development
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We have been working on a series of posts on our favorite toys for encouraging gross motor development. In case, you missed it, click here for our Tummy Time Recommendations, as well as recommendations for crawling, standing, and walking! It will take several months to build up the strength and coordination for your little one to sit. I was so excited when Taylor was able to sit up (even propped) as it seemed to give her a new view of the world and she became even more engaged. The items that will be listed below were particularly helpful for us as Taylor made the transition to sitting independently.
We personally own, or have used regularly, all of the toys/items below (unless otherwise noted) and these are items I felt were most beneficial for Taylor’s growth and development. If we did not own the item personally, I have selected a comparable alternative.
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Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat
We absolutely loved the Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat. I was able to place Taylor in the Sit-Me-Up and know that she was secure. The way the Sit-Me-Up is structured also made it easy to add extra support for Taylor, i.e. blankets, pool noodles, etc (PT moms, you know what I’m talking about) when she wasn’t quite able to sit up on her own.
B. Toys Rodeo Rocker: Horse
Taylor loves riding on this horse to the tune of “William Tell Overture” or “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain.” She still needs some support on this rocking horse, but learning to sit on an unstable service is fantastic for muscle strength and stability….plus, it’s a lot of FUN!
Fisher- Price Bright Beats Dance and Move BeatBo
BeatBo’s got the moves. Oh, yeah! This little guy has always been one of Taylor’s favorite toys and kept her interested and engaged when she was first learning to sit. He dances and wiggles side-to-side and his belly lights up with different colors. And, unlike some other children’s toys, BeatBo’s music is pretty groovy which helps with mom’s sanity. This one also offers a cool feature where you can hit the red microphone button and BeatBo will record your voice or your child’s voice and play it back to you in song. Bonus points for encouraging speech development!
Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack & Baby’s First Blocks Bundle
I mean, these are classics. You can not go wrong with both of these items. Kids love simple blocks and rings. Period.
Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike
We love this tricycle because of all of the different options available for supporting your little one. It offers a 3-point harness and infant insert for babes that aren’t quite ready to sit completely unsupported. There is a removable foot tray which also offers additional support and opportunities for weight-bearing through the feet. Eventually, all of these parts can be removed and it can serve as a push tricycle or standard tricycle for your little one.
What have been some of your family’s favorite toys for encouraging sitting?
@ToughLikeTaylor
This quote really speaks to me and resonates with our family’s journey raising a child with special needs. I truly believe this pertains to ALL children but is particularly meaningful to parents raising children with various disabilities and medical challenges. There is a science and an art to gardening. Some flowers need lots of sunlight, while others thrive in the shade. There are certain flowers that are resilient and hardy and need very little water or care, whereas others need to be watered daily and require plucking and pruning.