Like many exciting milestones, your baby will stand when they’re physically and developmentally ready. However, there is a general time frame you can expect your baby to begin standing and many ways you can encourage and support them!
When Do Babies Start Standing?
Most babies will start pulling themselves up to standing between nine and twelve months. But, of course, some babies may reach this milestone a little later, while others might be thirteen or fourteen months.
When your baby starts standing, they will use furniture or your hand to pull themselves up. It is unlikely your baby will be able to stand independently until at least ten or eleven months. However, most babies will not stand on their own until after their first birthday.
Around fourteen to sixteen months, your baby should be able to stand for several seconds without additional support.
Can My Baby Stand Too Early?
There is no danger or real drawback if your baby is an early stander. However, holding your baby in a standing position while supporting them under their arms will strengthen their legs.
The only real downside to a baby who stands early is that this new skill may interrupt their sleep schedule. However, once your child learns they can stand, they will want to practice this new skill, and their crib is an excellent place to start!
Once your child begins standing, you need to lower their crib to prevent accidental tumbles.
Tips for Encouraging Your Baby to Stand
Purchase Standing & Jumping Toys
Purchase your baby a stationary standing toy that allows them to practice standing. Walking toys are not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and they are, in fact, banned in Canada. A study reported in the journal Pediatrics discovered that between 1990 and 2014, roughly 230,000 children ages 15-months and younger were seen in the emergency room for walker-related injuries.
Instead opt for a stationary activity center or a doorway bouncer. If you do not have the space or wish to purchase a stationary standing toy, encourage them to use the couch, coffee table or any other sturdy piece of furniture.
Let Them Play Barefoot
Barefoot is the best way for your baby to learn to stand and walk! Not only does the sensory input from their bare feet send essential messages on how to grip and feel to their brain, but socks can make your baby more likely to slip. If they must wear socks, use ones that have grips on the bottom.
Babies don’t need shoes; the extra weight and unfamiliar feeling of shoes can make learning to stand and walk challenging.
Make It Fun
Children learn best through play so make it a game! Place fun and enticing toys on the couch or table to encourage them to pull themselves up. Make sure the item you are plaving the toys on is sturdy enough to support their weight. Avoid using chairs or stools as they could topple over.
Let Them Use You for Support
In place of furniture, they can use you as support to practice standing. For example, hold their hands and provide a firm base for them to push up from the floor. You can also hold them under their arms and hold them upright.
Keeping the Space Safe
Once your baby starts moving, you will need to ensure their standing and soon-to-be walking space is safe. Learning how to stand up means many falls and potential bumps and bruises. As much as you may want to protect your little one, you won’t be able to prevent every injury, but there are steps you can take to make the space safer for your baby.
- Use corner pads on coffee or end tables to soften bumps and prevent cuts.
- Keep their path clear. While your baby is learning to stand and walk, any objects on the floor present obstructions your child could trip or fall over, causing injury.
- Get down at your baby’s eye level and look around for potential dangers. Anything they could pull down onto their head, grab and put into their mouth, or outlets and wires. A choking hazard at this age is anything smaller than their fist and can fit into their mouth.
- Keep them on soft surfaces like carpets or play mats as they learn to stand and walk. A diapered bottom will cushion some of the falls, but additional softness will help!
- If your baby cannot sit up alone by nine months, it could be a sign of muscle weakness.
What Comes Next?
After standing comes walking, but there will be a bit of a period between the two. There is usually a period of two to three months between your child learning to stand and taking their first steps.
Just like learning to stand, you cannot make them walk faster or sooner than their developmentally ready. Still, you can continue encouraging them by giving them plenty of opportunities to practice.
Before your baby learns to walk independently, they will learn to cruise, holding onto furniture while walking.
When to be Concerned
All babies develop at their own rate so don’t feel panicked if your baby is not standing by ten months. However there are a few situations in which you should speak to your pediatrician.
- If your baby is extremely stiff or floppy they may have a condition which affects their muscle tone.
- If your baby only uses one side of their body or seems to extremely favor one side of their body their could be a condition called hemipplegia and warrants a chat with their doctor.
- If your baby is unable to bear weight on their legs they mack lack muscle tone in their legs and core.