DD can’t support herself on legs

[luska]

My DD is just six months old. She has very good neck control and can sit up on my knee with me holding her round the waist. She’s also showing signs of crawling by bringing her knees up towards her stomach during tummy time.

But... when I try encouraging her to stand (with me holding her, obviously!) her legs are just slack and she makes no attempt to straighten them. I know she can do it, as when I’m changing her nappy she will often straighten them very firmly whilst on the changing mat (which makes it a bit hard to change her!) A friend’s baby who’s the same age as mine can already stand with support from her mum, which got me wondering.

Should I be concerned?

She will be fine. She is only 6 months old so this is completely normal.
Sitting up totally unaided can also take a while. My grandson was around 8 months before he could do this. He could sit for a few minutes on his own before this, but then toppled over.

Please don't worry, your baby is very young still, she will get there.

Dd didn’t ever stand it crawl she just bum shuffled or shouted at her siblings to bring her what she wanted. 14 months she stood up and just started walking. I honestly wouldn’t worry, 6 months is very little still.

DS wasn’t weight bearing at a year. No pulling up to stand or cruising. Had hip X-ray (to rule out dysplasia that might have been missed) and docs concluded hypermobile and ‘he’ll get there eventually’. And he did! Bottom shuffled, never crawled, walked at a year and a half. Once he started, he was off! Now a really good sprinter!

Here you go.... the exercises we were given. But please don't worry... it will all work out just fine.

@luska - honestly, nothing you’ve said sounds in the least unusual for a 6 month old. Mine were both still quite wobbly sitting up at 6 months and would often topple over. Just because another baby is able to sit more strongly /stand up on your lap at this point that doesn’t mean there is something wrong with yours.

You can have hypermobility on a wide spectrum - it can be quite severe, cause problems and need treatment, or you can just be a bit bendy (me and DD2), and generally it’s not very problematic. You can’t tell whether your DD might have any issues at all from what you’ve said on this thread, I really wouldn’t worry at the moment.

At six months old a baby should be sitting up.

6-8 months

Try a jumperoo with cushions at the bottom to encourage her to plant her feet.

Try a jumperoo with cushions at the bottom to encourage her to plant her feet.

I thought about this, but we barely have any room in our house as it is and they look massive! I really think it could help her though, so I might try to find some space.

I’ve been attempting to do some standing time with her (holding her just under her armpits) and she will straighten her legs for about three seconds, before bending them again. She just doesn’t seem to have any desire to stand!

@HotGlueGun thanks for the diagrams.

Actually just tried again and it’s more like one second

The jumperoo will help. My nephew was just like this yet in the jumperoo he was bouncing away like mad (took him a few goes to get used to it though so be persistsant!).

You’re right that jumperoos are big but they do fold up and they are great for babies strengthening legs. My children adored them

Thanks. I looked up Jumperoos on eBay and they’re £40 secondhand - quite expensive! Are they really worth it do you think?

6 months is so very young! None of mine could sit unaided by that age and all were late walkers, now very sporty and active several years on. Try not to worry.

The range for sitting up is around 6 to 9 months old. Not all babies will be able to sit unaided at 6 months. Some tips here: www.babycentre.co.uk/a6505/developmental-milestones-sitting

FYI my daughters physio said they don’t recommend jumperoo for any children, regardless of whether they are developing typically or showing delays. They are unlikely to do harm if not used to excess but they are definitely not recommended as a way to facilitate gross motor development.

@thecakebadge

FYI my daughters physio said they don’t recommend jumperoo for any children, regardless of whether they are developing typically or showing delays. They are unlikely to do harm if not used to excess but they are definitely not recommended as a way to facilitate gross motor development.

My nephew’s pediatrician did recommend it recently to build muscle strength. I guess it just depends on who you talk to - but a pediatrician will likely see babies who don’t bear weight at 8 months not a physio. Their priority is usually to see if there’s a cause - and moderate jumperoo use (or not) can help identify whether further help is needed.

There is nothing currently wrong with your baby! Really don’t compare her to another baby who is somewhere else on the spectrum of normal - a lifetime of stress lies there! Please don’t worry or try to force her to stand. My DD2 wouldn’t have stood at all, even for 1 second, at that age.

but a pediatrician will likely see babies who don’t bear weight at 8 months not a physio.

So if she’s still not bearing weight at 8 months she’ll need to see a pediatrician?!

Please don’t worry or try to force her to stand. My DD2 wouldn’t have stood at all, even for 1 second, at that age.

Thanks @Wigeon.

@luska

but a pediatrician will likely see babies who don’t bear weight at 8 months not a physio.

So if she’s still not bearing weight at 8 months she’ll need to see a pediatrician?!

Please don’t worry or try to force her to stand. My DD2 wouldn’t have stood at all, even for 1 second, at that age.

Thanks @Wigeon.

Yes as they will need to check if there’s a physical problem and rule various things out (vitamin d deficiency for example).

Yes as they will need to check if there’s a physical problem and rule various things out (vitamin d deficiency for example).

Do you have a source for this information? I can’t find anything online and am really concerned now

Two of my dc did not bear weight til nearer one. Both have hypermobility. Both walked at age two. Bith very wobbly. Both needed physio.
One has lds due to chromosome disorder.
One is top a* student.
Gross motor skills can be part of something or just an issue in themselves.
It does no harm to get a community paed physio referral so you can get proper advice for your baby about jjmperoos and exercises. Ask your gp.

One has lds due to chromosome disorder. One is top a student.*

What is LDS?

I’m going to call my health visitor tomorrow as some of these replies have got me really worried.

Honestly your HV should have referred you already. DN was only 7 months when he was referred to the pediatrician - they wanted to investigate and found really severe vit d deficiency. It seems to be fixed now with vitamin d / calcium supplements. Pursue a referral as it’s the next stage in their process anyway

Ld learning disabilities

It s always better to check and then get early physio
Or you get checked and they say it s fine or come back in 3 months

The OP’s DD is “just” 6 months old - I would be absolutely amazed if they though this needed any kind of referral at this point. They weren’t concerned when my non-weight bearing DD2 wasn’t walking at 17 months! They said they would only possibly consider a referral if she wasn’t walking at 18 months.

But do speak to your health visitors, OP, if only to get some reassurance.