From 0-4 or 5 months, your baby has been working on strengthening their extensor muscles (the muscles on the backside of their body). They strengthen these muscles through tummy time. Around 4-5 months This may look like a lot of “swimming” when on their belly with arms and legs up in the air. It also presents as an affinity for extending their legs when you try to sit them up. This is not ‘real’ standing, it is the activation of their extensor muscles.
While some newborns seem to love standing, it can sometimes actually be a sign of tension in their little bodies, or what’s sometimes called high muscle tone. If your baby seems stiff, has trouble relaxing or bending their arms and legs, seems uncomfortable a lot, or doesn’t move their arms and legs dont hesitate to ask for help. We can take a look and offer some helpful advice.
But back to the 4-5 month mark… even if your little one looks like they’re ready to stand, it’s actually more important for them to develop a good balance between the muscles on the front of their body (their flexor muscles) and those back muscles (extensors) we talked about earlier. This balance is key for them to be able to sit and crawl before they start pulling themselves up to stand. So, even though those strong back muscles are awesome, instead of focusing on more “standing practice,” it’s better to work on strengthening their core muscles. This will create a really solid foundation.
And hey, let’s be real, around this age, babies are getting a lot more visually aware and cognitively curious. Being upright lets them see everything that’s happening, which is super exciting for them! So, their desire to be upright is totally understandable!
My advice is:
- Roll baby to the side to sit them up instead up pulling up directly from their back
- Have baby start out by prop sitting with their hands on the floor in front of them.
Around 6-7 months old, your baby should be getting pretty good at holding most of their weight in their legs when you help them stand. However, even if they seem to love it, it’s still a good idea to limit the amount of time they spend in supported standing positions until they can pull themselves up to stand on their own using furniture.
Your baby will stand when they’re ready. Remember, every baby develops at their own pace.
