Is it safe to allow my baby to stand?

Question

My son is 4 months old and loves standing up an my legs. He will even push himself up to stand if i sit him facing towards me (he pushes his legs into my stomach or bends his knees and pushes himself up) and most of the time when i am holding him the only way to get him to sit is either having him face outwards or to the side (as you may have guessed he is a rather active baby). I personally see no problem in allowing him to do stand as i think it could strengthen his legs however someone told me that babies shouldn't be allowed to stand as it will damage their legs. I do not quite believe this and i see many people allowing their babies to stand up even though unsupported they would be able to.

My question is will it damage my sons legs by allowing him to stand up?

Just to add i never allow my baby to stand for more than a minute or two at a time.

Answer 1

Its perfectly safe to let your child try to stand. It may even develop his walking skills in the future. I do that all the time with my baby brother, he loves it!

Answer 2

I was told that standing at any age will not hurt the baby b/c if he/she wasn't ready, they wouldn't do it! It's like when you pick up a little baby and want them to stand so you can check them out and they have, what I call, noodle legs! They won't stand if they don't want to.  

Answer 3

It's f9 too let your baby stand just make sure someone stand by him in case he falls.. he will sit down when he's tired lol.

Answer 4

It will not damage his legs. It is awesome he is so active. Have a great day.

Answer 5

It's probably better to let him crawl.  It's not so much the legs that are the problem, but the low back/lumbar spine.  The structures there are not yet competent to bear the weight of the upright child.  They will be soon, though.

Answer 6

There used to be an old school rule that babies that wlaked too soon had higher chances of bowed legs.  No worries.  If you baby wants to work those leg muscles then by all means you go girl!!  My 2 boys were actually flexing their legs within weeks of being born.  I thoguht all babies were like that until i started holding other babies and would hold them up to stand and thier little legs just went limp, i thought that was odd actually.  Let those little muscles work all they want to.  They are not supporting thier own body weight bcuz you are holding their weight so it's just flexing and gentle strengthening.  This is a good thing.

Answer 7

its fine he will fall when he isnt wanting to stand anymore

Answer 8

My daughter used to do the same and my granny kept telling me off.  She had very strong legs and actually took her first steps at eight and a half months.  I wouldn't worry, he wouldn't try to do it if he couldn't.  Babies aren't daft.

Answer 9

Yep, it's good for them to help develop muscles, or so I've heard.  My son is 11 weeks old, and loves to stand himself up when I'm holding him on a Boppy or my lap.  It's so cute!

Answer 10

It's perfectly fine.  It's a complete wive's tale that you shouldn't allow a baby to stand.

The simple fact that he can do it with your help signifies he's ready for that exercise.

Answer 11

yeah duh

Answer 12

It's fine

Answer 13

The best judge of what's best for your baby, is probably your baby. If your baby tries to stand up, it's probably ready to try. If I was you, I'd let him, it'll strengthen his legs, and before you know it, he'll be walking.

Good luck :)

Answer 14

the old wives tale came when a lot of babies got bow legs, their mums were told they had them standing too soon. However science proved it was a dietary deficiency and nothing to do with standing.They love to stand  when they are ready.

Answer 15

"The other big question parents often have concerns the safety of allowing younger infants to stand up with support and bear weight on their legs. Most younger infants are able to do this between 2 and 4 1/2 months, and no, it won't cause them to have bow-legs."

Answer 16

Not only is it okay it is necessary for your baby to gain the strength in his legs to learn to walk.  You are doing no damage at all.