Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

When is it ok to let baby try standing?

24 replies

babymeg · 27/10/2010 11:08

Hi I am looking for some advice please. I have a beautiful 5 month old baby girl and I was just wondering, when is it ok to start trying to let her stand, obviously not alone but with our help or in a baby walker? I don't know if her little legs are strong enough yet, she is a sturdy wee thing but I don't want to damage her little legs by starting this too early. Please help?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
mamsnet · 27/10/2010 11:10

Sounds very young.. leave her be!

It won't make her do it any earlier and you may actually cause harm.. I take it she's not even sitting up yet..

Original poster
babymeg · 27/10/2010 11:12

Yes she is sitting up unaided....

OP posts:
TorturesInAHalfHell · 27/10/2010 11:13

You won't damage her legs. That's an old myth. Mine liked to practise standing from, hmm, ten weeks? She's fine (and wasn't an early stander/walker, in the end, funnily enough). Don't overthink it; a baby won't try and stand if she's not ready for it, but they know what they want.

BUT don't use a baby walker, please. They're widely considered dangerous, because they give a non-mobile baby the ability to manouevre around, and they're too young to understand danger or boundaries. Lots of awful stories of them tipping over/down stairs/etc.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting
lola0109 · 27/10/2010 11:13

I think the recommendation for baby walker is 6 months (and no longer than 15-20 mins at a time). But I think you should be able to take the lead from your dd.

My DD2 is very strong on her legs and has been for a while but we realised this when we were sitting her down and she was pushing on her heels to stand up.

Maybe try a door bouncer? That way the weight isn't on her legs unless she pushes herself?

rubyslippers · 27/10/2010 11:14

Don't try her standing yet

There is no hurry whatsoever

Also, IIRC baby walkers are not recommended at all nowadays

Your DD will let you know when she is ready to stand by starting to pull herself up and starting to weight bear

Her joints won't be strong enough yet

TorturesInAHalfHell · 27/10/2010 11:14

Is she asking to stand? Mine would straighten her legs and enjoy being held up while bracing her weight on her legs, that's what I mean by standing-with-help from ten weeks. She initiated it, I just supported her.

mamsnet · 27/10/2010 11:15

YEs, but that's not standing Tortures

I think OP is talking about letting her baby bear her weight.

Original poster
babymeg · 27/10/2010 11:16

Yeah I was thinking that about baby walkers but I just feel that she wants to be standing on her little legs, obviously wouldn't let her be on them for long only a few moments but where is the harm in this?

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 27/10/2010 11:16

Why do you feel she wants to stand?

mamsnet · 27/10/2010 11:16

Google it Hmm

Original poster
babymeg · 27/10/2010 11:17

NO I am not talking about baby standing and bearing her weight on her own that is just ludicrous!

OP posts:
mamsnet · 27/10/2010 11:17

Well then, explain yourself better FGS

mousymouse · 27/10/2010 11:19

my dd was pulling herself up to standing at 5 months, but that is different to actively encouraging a baby to stand up.

lola0109 · 27/10/2010 11:20

FWIW DD2 was standing holding on to a baby walker from 5 months and is now at 6 months pulling herself up to stand at chairs etc. BUT, we have taken her lead, DD1 was nowhere near as fast.

You'll know yourself what they are capable of.

Original poster
babymeg · 27/10/2010 11:20

Go away mamsnet! You obviously must be insane to think someone would want their 5 month old child to try walking on their own! I only asked for advice not a bloody argument!

OP posts:
bamboobutton · 27/10/2010 11:20

my mil tried to tell us that allowing ds to bear weight on his legs we would give him bendy legsHmm

i think you'll find that's rickets, milHmm

ds loved to try standing up from a very young age, 5mo or so.

dd likes to bear her weight too but we don't do it for long, we follow her lead, she's 4mo.

mamsnet · 27/10/2010 11:22

I will go away then..

You come on here asking for advice and then you can't take it..

Just do what you were going to do anyway, ffs

TorturesInAHalfHell · 27/10/2010 11:23

Right, so are we all agreed that if we're talking about weight-bearing while being supported by the parent (which is what the
OP said) then it's fine?

Honestly, what possible harm could come of that? I'm really confused how your daughter has got to 5 months without doing that, to be honest. Mine would've let me know in no uncertain terms that stopping her was Not On.

OP, if you're talking about the same thing I am, why would you do it only for a few moments?

Bumpsadaisie · 27/10/2010 11:42

?? Not sure what the problem is.

My DD was standing up and bearing weight by herself (with us holding her torso) at 3 months. She loved it - it was her favourite thing to do. She wasn't sturdy either - a tall lanky little thing!

We didn't decide to do this, DD was keen to do it.

cornflowers · 27/10/2010 13:41

Definitely wouldn't recommend a walker - very dangerous IMO, and a waste of money.
My DD2 (now 10mths and walking) enjoyed standing from about 12 weeks; she started off holding my hands & standing up on my lap(as others have described), and later progressed to holding on to furniture. At 5 months she liked to be propped to a standing position at the coffee table, where she would hold on, or against the sofa or a low armchair. Some babies just love to be on their feet! DS was the same, but DD1 showed no particular interest in standing until much later (about 8 months, I think).
One thing to remember when propping them up at furniture is to make sure they have some cushions behind them so they don't fall backwards & bang their little heads when they (finally) decide to sit down!

onceamai · 27/10/2010 23:22

Have I missed something. Mine stood up when they were ready to pull themselves up and do it.

Tee2072 · 28/10/2010 07:56

Wow, OP, calm down. Mamsnet was simply looking for clarification, as you are being very vague.

Is the baby trying to pull itself up? Or are you holding it under its arms to help it stand.

Either way, do not get a walker, they are dangerous and horrible for development. However, there is no harm in holding the baby under its arms and helping them stand for however long they seem to enjoy it.

And calm down. You'll get on better around here.

dribbleface · 28/10/2010 11:38

Babymeg, mine was pushing himself up on his feet from about 10 weeks i think (with me holding on to him obvioulsy). I asked my HV if it wuold damage his legs, too many comments by MIL about bandy legs for me not to worry. She said if he is initiating it, happy then it was fine.

He hated not standing, never crawled and walked at average age. I used to prop him up in babywalker (ik now what every says about them but he wasn't strong enough to push along and his feet just brushed the floor - so not different than a door bouncer really) and this was the only way i would get 5 mins peace to make cup of tea or eat!

WomanOfAbjectMystery · 28/10/2010 16:55

Lady, your baby does not need you to develop. She is going to develop uncontrollably at just the right pace. If and when she wants to stand, she will stand.

There is a process of development. Using a walker etc interrupts that process. We aren't supposed to use our leg muscles to stand before we strengthen other muscles etc.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread