Developmental Milestones: Standing - BabyCentre UK

The view from the top can be very exciting for your baby! Learning to stand opens up yet another new world to explore and it’s vital for their development and independence.

Advertisement | page continues belowEncouraging your baby to stand and enjoy their new point of view will stimulate and engage them. It’s also that all-important first step towards walking.

When will my baby be able to stand?

Before your baby can stand they will need to gain muscle strength and coordination, which will also help them learn to roll over and sit on their own (Sharma et al 2022). At around six months your baby will be able to sit with some support from you and by seven or eight months they should be able to sit comfortably on their own (Sharma et al 2022). At around the same time you should be able to help them to stand up by gently pulling them up and then giving them support (Sharma et al 2022). By around nine or 10 months, your baby should be able to pull themself up to stand (Tidy 2023, Sharma et al 2022).

While they're learning this skill, they may only be able to stand for a few moments before they fall backwards with a gentle bump. They're likely to lean forward onto a sofa or coffee table to help themselves stay upright for longer (Sharma et al 2022). Keep an eye on your baby at this stage. If you have a coffee table, you may want to attach cushioned corners and edge protectors to the sharp corners. They're unlikely to hurt themselves falling backwards in a cleared space but it may frighten them. Be ready to give lots of cuddles, kisses and reassurance. Around their first birthday, confidence and balance will help your baby to achieve their ultimate goal of standing alone without any help from furniture or people (Sharma et al 2022).

How will my baby learn to stand?

Newborn to two monthsFrom birth, your baby has the reflexes needed to 'stand' by bracing their legs and feet against a surface (Sharma et al 2022). If you hold your newborn upright on your lap, supporting their head, you'll feel them pushing gently against you. They're not trying to walk, it's just basic instincts kicking in (Sharma et al 2022). For now, their legs aren't nearly strong enough for them to stand. This reflex will disappear after a couple of months (Sharma et al 2022). Three months to six monthsBy three months this reflex has been replaced by movement your baby wants to make for themselves (AAP 2022). Your baby will start to put weight through their legs when they want to. Naturally, your baby doesn’t have enough strength at this age to stand, so if you hold them in a standing position and put their feet on the floor they’ll sag at the knees. By the time your baby is about six months old, they’ll take their own weight if you support them to stand up and will bounce on their legs while you hold them (Sharma et al 2022). You can see how excited your baby is when you gently pull them to standing and how much they enjoy bouncing. Watch them look around for your approval.

Advertisement | page continues belowSix months to 10 monthsBy seven months their muscles will be strong enough to stand but they won’t have the balancing quite right (Sharma et al 2022).If you prop them up next to the sofa, they'll hang on for support. Initially this will be a huge effort for them. With their legs wide apart and their body bending forward, they’ll grunt and strain against gravity. They may even teeter as they clutch the edge of the sofa.You can help make your baby safer by clearing the space around them of toys and sharp objects, and laying a few cushions on the floor in case of a fall.Advertisement | page continues belowLearning how to fall is an important part of mastering standing and walking. You can see this process starting at around six months. When you're supporting your baby in a standing position, they’ll put their arms out to save themselves if they tilt off balance sideways (Sharma et al 2022). A month later they will have learned to put their arms and hands out to help them gently fall to the ground on their front (Sharma et al 2022). By around nine months or 10 months, your baby will probably try to pull to stand while holding on to the furniture (Sharma et al 2022, Tidy 2023). However, they may still be unable to lower themselves, instead falling backwards with a gentle bump (Sharma et al 2022). When your baby pulls themself up on the furniture they’ll stand on their toes first. With some practice they’ll eventually stand flat on their feet, which makes them more stable (Sharma et al 2022). Standing will soon become second nature. With something to hold on to, your baby will soon pull themself up with ease. 10 months to one yearAdvertisement | page continues below At about a year old your baby may be able to stand independently. They may even begin to work out how to bend their knees and learn to sit down after they’ve been standing (Sharma et al 2022). This is harder than you may think!Advertisement | page continues below

Once my baby can stand, what will they do next?

Once your baby has learned to stand they will do so for as long as they can. Upright, they will discover a whole new world to explore. If they fall on a carpeted floor or a soft surface, this probably won’t hurt them. However, they may still cry in frustration rather than in pain. The thrill of standing is gone and that’s what hurts! As your baby gets better at standing, they'll start to cruise (moving around upright while holding on to furniture) (Sharma et al 2022). They may then feel confident enough to let go of any support and stand on their own or be able to take small steps when you hold their hands. Your baby may even bend down to pick up a toy when they’re standing.

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How can I encourage my baby to stand?

Your baby needs to get the hang of standing and pulling to standing from sitting. You can help by giving them lots of practice at standing – on your knees when you’re sitting down or leaning against the cushions at the back of the sofa (Somerset NHS FT 2023). Their ability to move toward and grab toys is more coordinated now (Sharma et al 2022). If you put toys just out of reach on the sofa, this will encourage them to pull themselves up off the floor to get them (Somerset NHS FT 2023).

Advertisement | page continues belowHere's how you can give your baby some standing up practice:

• Kneel or sit on the floor in front of a sturdy coffee table or a low sofa. Put some favourite or interesting toys on the furniture.
• Sit your baby on your knee with their feet on the floor.
• Encourage them to reach forward and hold onto the furniture.
• Put your hands around their hips and help them to stand by moving their hips forward as they straighten their legs. (Somerset NHS FT 2023)

Here are some other tips to help them get on their feet:

• Let your baby roll, crawl, bottom shuffle or cruise at their own pace (Harvey 2020). Exploring their environment will stimulate their natural curiosity, encouraging them to reach and grasp.
• Use a baby walker or bouncer. These are great for short periods of up to 20 minutes at a time. Both walkers and bouncers encourage your baby to stand on their tiptoes. If your baby spends a lot of time using walkers or bouncers, this could delay their walking (NHS 2023).
• Set up play dates with friends or relatives with children (NHS 2023). Playing alongside babies of a similar age will encourage your baby to copy their peers. Plus, it’s more fun!

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Be your baby’s biggest fan Lots of encouragement, clapping and smiling from you will give your baby the confidence they need to try new things. As they learn to stand, they may need some help working out how to sit down again. If they get stuck and cry in frustration, resist the urge to pick them up. Show them how to bend their knees and encourage them to try it for themselves.

My baby is almost 12 months old and isn’t standing yet. Should I be worried?

If your baby isn't able to put weight on their legs and stand by the time they’re a year old, or you’re worried about how they’re developing, talk to your doctor or health visitor (Harvey 2020, Tidy 2023). Babies develop skills differently, some more quickly than others. Usually there’s nothing to worry about (Tidy 2023).If your baby was born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), or with a condition linked with developmental delays, such as Down's syndrome, keep in mind that they may reach this and other milestones later than other babies (AAP 2020, NHS 2022, NICE 2017).

Advertisement | page continues belowLearn more about your baby's development:

• Milestones from birth to six months
• Milestones from seven months to a year