Worried about DD trying to walk too early...

[DimplesOHara]

DD has just turned 5 months and is desperate to be on her feet all the time. She's a big baby and can sit up unaided for a stretch at a time, longer if she's on my lap. We've got a sit in activity station and a walker and can move herself around really well, especially in the walker.

Whenever anyone is holding her, she will fuss and push her feet against you until she's on her feet. Im worried that she's end up with bow legs or do herself some damage and that I shouldnt be 'encouraging' her iyswim by putting her in things that she can push her feet against. Or am I just worrying to much about my pfb (a regular habit ) and this is normal for babies.

Ds1 was very much like this, and he was walking by 9 months. It is different for each child, and it looks like your DD is one of the early ones.

Don't worry about it too much :)

my DS did exactly this and we were also worried about bowed legs etc but my mum told me not to be silly and per usual she was right, at 8 months he started to crawl and now at 9 month he is pulling himself and standing all the time and no bowed legs to be seen! Don't worry sounds perfectly normal to me.

Thanks both you've helped put my mind at ease. DD loves to up and moving I feel so bad when I try to get her to sit down because people have told me that she'll end up with bow legs etc! Guess I havent got much time left in the 'baby' (non moving!) stage and will start baby proofing the house

My DD sat unaided at 17 weeks and was cruising, holding onto people's hands at 5 months. My firned has a video of her son's birthday with DD, 5m at the time, standing up dncing with some bigger girls, who were holding her hands. Very cute as she looks so tiny. She was always wanting to be upright. I didn't use a walker as there was a lot of bad press around them at that time. She gradually got more confident and walked unaided at 10m, but was really stable and confident from the start, and was up and running very quickly. She never really crawled much. She is now a strong, healthy 8yo with no problems at all.

My friend's DD walked at 8m with no ill affects either.

My DS was like this, some babies just want to walk early, I think that if they are trying to do it themselves then they can't do any harm :-)

I used a walker from 3-5 months when he was desperate to be upright, I stopped when he started sofa cruising.

He is 10 1/2 months and can walk halfway across the lounge without any problems or bow legs!

Our son walked at 8.5 months and is perfecto!

I think the newbie is going to be the same....

My DD is 20 weeks now and always on her feet. I sit at baby groups with everyone else's baby sitting on their Mum's laps really nicely and yet DD has to stand on my knee with me supporting her under her arms! If you take her hands to sit her up, she stiffens to stand. I'm sure she doesn't bend in the middle at all!!!

She's been like this for ages, and I've had the 'bow legged' comment from several, but I also have a 12 year old DD who was exactly the same and she was fine!

DS2 was as you describe at that age but in the end didn't walk until 14 months - the cruising stage went on for EVER!!

I was cruising at 7 months and walking my 9 months and my legs aren't bowed at all :)

My DS2 was walking well at 7 months. There is no bow-leggedness and is a strong and healthly 3 year old. He could kick a football and balance for a few seconds on one leg before his 1st birthday. He could pretty much get to whereever he wanted to at 14 weeks old by rolling and crawled at just shy of 4 months old.
Don't worry!! The only problems I have ever had were other peoples attitudes. A woman at a playcentre shouted at me saying I was an irresponsible parent for encouraging him to do things too early! I don't think you can encourage or discourage a baby to do something they do or do not want to do.

the bow legs thing is just an old wives tale (unless of course your dc has rickets...)