Too young to stand?

[thepoppy]

My DS is 12 weeks old and loves to stand up, he can now support his whole weight on his own but I worry that although he's strong enough it'll be doing damage to his developing bones/ligaments etc. He was trying to stand up at his 6 week check and the GP didn't warn us against it.
I try to support him as much as he'll allow but he'll scream and shout if I try to sit or lie him down.
Could this be damaging him?

My great nan told me that I shouldn't let DD support her own weight until she was ready to walk as she would be bow legged. Like a dope I listened to her and as a result DD didn't walk until 21 months. It might not have been related but I think it was.

I allowed DS to support his weight when he wanted too, he started walking at 11 months and is fine!

I think its fine to let him do it.

ds was like that at that age (or maybe a couple of weeks older). I don't think it did him any harm, and was prob good for his developing muscles.

I would just keep doing what your doing.

It seems to be one of those things that some babies do and some don't, but I don't think it correlates to early cruising or walking.

Yes is the short answer. My dp is an osteopath and this is one of his pet peeves. He is really anti those baby-walker things for the very reason that baby's legs and feet aren't suficciently developed to support that weight. Presumeably he can't actually stand up without your help so I would say just make sure that you are holding most of his weight and don't encourage it for another couple of months.

He was well developed at birth and could move his head around and hold it briefly. To the level a 2mo old would be expected to. The paed even commented on his strength and asked how many weeks late he was (he wasn't). My nan mentioned bow legs which is one of the things I was worried about, along with damage to his feet and spine.
Carmenere what's your dp's feelings on door bouncers? They support the torso and there's not much weight on their feet.

can i just say

wow

ds didn't support his own weight til he pulled himself up at 11mo!!!

Actually I don't think he minds door bouncers as long as they barely allow the child to touch the ground. I'll ask him when he comes in.
Our dd was walking at 10 months so I know what it's like to have a baby who just want's to get up and go lol.

He can almost pull himself up,if he;s got something to hold onto, and is close to sitting himself up if I leave him lying on his back.

Thanks,
I've put him in a bouncer a couple of times the past few days, but high enough so only his toes were touching the floor. Poor thing gets so frustrated tho. I just keep telling him "you're not big enough yet"

HI thepoppy, I have had exactly the same problem, my son loves to stand and has done from very early on. My Gran kept on saying he will end up with bow legs but this is an old wives tale it is caused by ricketts a lack of calcium in the bones. Weight baring helps build strong bones, as long as you don't let him take too much of his weight too early you certainly won't do any damage. My son loves his bouncy door thingy. Don't worry too much, you sound like a lovely mum remember to trust your instincts, if you think it is right for your child then it probably is!!

Thanks Katyjo,
That's what I was worried about most... although I've ignored the rest of teh advice that my grandmothers have given me, so why I chose to beilieve this one I don't know!

My DD was a bit like this. She was always wanting to be up on her feet. We would support her, but she would always push against this and was weight bearing very early on too. She too had really good head control from birth, and she sat pretty early - unaided at 17 weeks. And at 5 months she was able to cruise when holding on with both hands to us. She finally let go entirely at 10 months, but by then she was really confident on her feet, let go one day and just walked. At 4yo she has no problems other than being a little pigeoned toed - but that is somethiung that runs in DH's family).

Thanks Hulababy, This is all putting my mind at rest. I'm starting to get RSI in my thumbs from holding him up all the time!