An infant can sit steadily without support at the age of?

Daman & Diu Staff Nurse - 2018

Pediatric Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: Daman & Diu Staff Nurse - 2018

Explanation

At 8 months, an infant's postural control and muscle strength in the neck, back, and core are developed enough to allow them to sit upright without falling over.
This ability frees up their hands to explore and manipulate objects, which is crucial for cognitive and fine motor development.
According to standard pediatric developmental charts, sitting without support is a key gross motor milestone expected at 8 months.

Option B: At 6 months, an infant is just beginning to sit independently but still requires the support of their own hands placed in front of them (tripod position) to maintain balance.
Option C: By 12 months, an infant has typically progressed far beyond sitting. This is the age when they are expected to be standing alone and may even be taking their first independent steps.
Option D: At 10 months, an infant is usually very mobile. They are typically crawling or creeping (moving on hands and knees with the abdomen off the floor) and 'cruising' (walking while holding onto furniture).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Infant gross motor developmental milestones as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use developmental milestones as a screening tool to assess if a child's development is on track. Early identification of delays is critical for timely intervention.
During well-baby check-ups, a nurse will assess for these milestones and provide anticipatory guidance to parents about what to expect next and how to create a safe environment for their increasingly mobile infant.
What if? If an infant is not able to sit without support by 9 months of age, it is considered a developmental 'red flag'. The nurse should refer the infant for a more detailed developmental and neurological evaluation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core question, which is about a specific gross motor milestone: 'sit steadily without support'.
Second, recall the typical sequence and timing of infant motor development. Remember that skills progress from head to toe (cephalocaudal).
Third, mentally place the milestone in the developmental sequence: an infant learns to hold their head up, then sit with support, then sit without support, then crawl, then stand, and finally walk.
Fourth, match the specific milestone to the correct age. Sitting without support occurs after sitting with support (around 6 months) and before pulling to stand (around 9 months). This places the milestone at approximately 8 months.
Finally, evaluate the given options and select the one that aligns with this established developmental timeline.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Infant gross motor developmental milestones
Stem keywords: infant, sit steadily, without support, age
Lead-in keywords: at the age of
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

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E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) pp. 25-27, 24-26

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 1 p. 174-176