Bent legs??

[MissyBabee]

My DD (now 5 months) has almost always wanted to stand up. well since she was about a month old. She just prefers to be up on her feet rather than lying down.

So, me and DH have kind of held her up, supporting her of course, but letting her dance around a bit on her feet. She loves it!

But... any rellies of ours who see her doing this tend to say, ooh, be careful, she'll end up with bowed legs!

Is this the case? Although we've pretty much poo-pooed their comments, we are secretly worried! But what's a DP to do when DD's almost screaming to be standing up???

I think it might be an old wifes tale. My mum said the same, I gently ignored her and entertained ds, he is now 10.1 months old and already made his first steps on his own.

No bow legs.

that's good M2FD, thanks.
I started looking at DD's legs yesterday and wondering if they were bowed or not. I mean, I've never really studied a baby's legs before! How's one to know? I guess it's too late now anyway...

They are born with slightly bowed legs due to the position in the womb, but they straighten out after a while, later when you lie her on her back take her feet down and hold her ankles together, see if they are straight or not. This might help you.

good idea - i will do later on (she says in trepidation!)

Babies have bow legs. They go knock kneed as toddlers. They straighten out. Nothing to do with standing them up if they want to.

thanks! feel relieved

My dd was the same, she was able to take her body weight through her legs from the age of 8 weeks. We experienced comments that we were 'forcing' her to learn to walk before she was ready - how ridiculous! Try making an eight week old baby stand if they're not ready (and most aren't) it's impossible! She is now two and a half and physically extrememly capable at every thing she does - a real little gymnast.

hurrah! thanks belgo and all of you. feeling relieved. will inform DH.

i've had relatives make that comment to and it's a load of tosh. my dd loves standing too and i think it's fine.

Hey MissyBabee

Another with an early stander here. DS was never happier than when he could stand up. Was early walker too -11 months, and most definately no bowed legs.

Iwas also worried about it- enough to ask my HV, who said it was rubbish and that he would only try to do it if he wanted too, and as long as it was US supporting him, not a walker or bouncer there was no danger of any damage
HTH