weight bearing at 17 wks - is he damaging his legs?

[spongebrainbigpants]

Sorry, this is probably a really stupid question from a first time mum but bear with me!

My 17 wk old son has just started pushing himself up on his feet when you hold his hands and stands (v wobbly obviously!) for a couple of seconds. He laughs his head off when he does it and really enjoys it. However, I was with some other mums yesterday when he did it and one of them started to have a go at me about him getting bandy legs from weight bearing too early!

Is this true?

Don't know whether she was just being defensive cos someone had just had a dig at her about using a baby walker tbh!!

Btw, I don't drag him up by his arms when he does it, he's using his own strength in his legs and drops himself back down when he's had enough.

Advice gratefully received! Thanks.

DS does this too and has been for weeks, my girls aslo did this from an early age and they are fine.

When dd2 was about 12 months old an old lady did tell me off for letting her walk as her legs would be bandy - she had started walking at 9 months!!

my son does this also hes the same age as yours.
I got told off by my gran for letting him be in that position, but hes honestly much happier when hes like that than when hes lying down-I think its him being nosey, and wanting to see whats going on!
Im not worried too much, as long as they're not having full weight on them, i think they'll be ok x

Hi GF3 and thanks for the reassurance!

Thanks charl, must be another one of those old wives' tales then?!!

yeah, either that or our boys will both have really bandy legs in a few years! lol

Mine DD2 has been weight bearing from about 15 weeks and according to our paediatrician it's a wives tale that it makes them bandy.

DD1 had slight walking, leg and feet problems which rendered her slightly bandy. He told us that weight bearing actually reduces the bandyness (is that a word?!!) as it strengthens the muscles and allows the legs to straighten through the exercise. DD1 walked at just 20 months and now, 3 months later, we can see how significally her legs have straightened because of the walking.

I reckon they'll be fine

DD was weight bearing from a week old, pulling to a stand (in her cot) at 3 months- now at 3.5yrs she has lovely straight legs! They will try and stand when they are physically ready. He sounds a strong little chappy.

ds is 9, he used to pull himself up and weightbear at 16 weeks, his legs are fine apart from flat feet which are because he has loose ligaments (genetic). I wouldn't worry.

my mum says this to me! An old wives tale, its actualy a developmental stage, weight bearing on their legs, he sounds like he is doing well.

Not only must you never let a child bear its own weight at this age, don't you know you must never lift your hands above your head in pregnancy or the cord will wrap round the baby's neck and strangle it? And eggshells give you warts (something to do with witches).

Where did they get these ideas?

Worry ye not, ds2 walked at 6.5 months . There was little I could do to stop him! He is now 4.5 years old, with super strong legs and a sprint which can beat his aged old mother hands down!

Thanks everyone - he is a very strong little boy and has a mighty fine pair of pins so I will stop worrying!

Dd is 17 weeks and loves standing too!! My Gran tells me that she will get bowed legs and I was a bit worried until I saw this!!

We put her in a door bouncer for a little while once or twice and she loves it x

a mad old woman once told me my son had bandy legs as i had made him walk too early

methinks not

he is 11 now and guess what!

If he's strong enough to do and takes joy in it, then let him! You can't stop a child walking when they're ready and want to. Maybe he will be an 8 month old walker- it happens. Your "friend" is barking.

I've been having the same worries. My DS 21w is so nosy and has loved standing up from about 12 weeks. I had the same "advice" from my Grandma about weightbearing and bandy legs and have been a bit paraniod about it ever since. But he hates lying down.