Helping baby to stand on his own

[Mamibaer]

Our 10 month old isn't pulling himself up yet, but we can tell he really wants to stand - he makes his legs stiff so it's hard to get him to sit, and often he grizzles unless we hold him up as though he were standing. But I've been told this isn't good for babies as their joints aren't strong enough yet, and that they should only stand when they are pulling themselves up. Anyone have any tips for how to encourage this? We have quite a small flat and no furniture low enough for him to use to pull himself up. I guess he could just pull himself up on me, but does anyone have any other tips?

No sofa? Most babies use a coffee table or sofa? What do you sit on?!

Not really - the sofa is almost entirely blocked by a coffee table. I was thinking of something just a couple of inches off the ground. He does try to pull himself onto his bouncy chair.

They usually use sofas just fine OP...and coffee tables. They crawl and then get to the point where they stretch their arms up and get on their knees and then pull up. Something a few inches off the ground won't help really. Maybe move the coffee table just for now?

That's great - thanks for the advice!

Can he crawl and sit by himself?

He sits up but can't get himself into the sitting position yet. And he slides rather than crawls

I wouldn't worry op...he'll do it when he's ready. Some babies don't even crawl but start standing and cruising immediately.