Your baby’s perspective on the world changes dramatically once they’re able to stand. They see things they never noticed before. They feel stronger. And soon they will combine their curiosity with that strength and begin to walk!
When do babies start standing? What are some signs that they’re getting ready for this exciting milestone? And how can you help them achieve it?
We’ve put together a timeline of skills needed to stand, as well as tips on supporting your baby as they venture into this exciting stage of their development.
Key Takeaways
Table of contents
- Milestones leading up to standing
- When do babies start standing?
- Tips to help your baby start standing
Milestones leading up to standing
Before we dive into “all things standing,” let’s look at the many milestones your baby achieves leading up to it. Standing is a skill that develops over time. In fact, your baby is getting ready to approach this milestone from the time they are only a few days old.
Tummy time (as early as a few days old)
Tummy time is your baby’s first real exercise! According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), placing your baby on their stomach is a critical part of developing their neck, shoulder, and arm muscles.
This early strength training lays the foundation for sitting up, crawling, standing, and eventually walking.
Holding head up (2-4 months old)
As your baby spends time on their tummy, they’re not only lifting their head but also turning it from side to side. This movement builds the muscles in their neck. Between two and four months old, your baby’s neck muscles become strong enough to hold up their head.
Because your baby can see farther at this point, it’s a great time to introduce toys just out of their reach. Trying for the toy further develops your baby’s neck and chest muscles.
Weight-bearing practice (3-6 months old)
Between the ages of three and six months, your baby will start trying to practice bearing their own weight.
This can look similar to the step reflex seen in babies from newborn to about 2 months, but now the movement is purposeful, not a reflex. Although walking is still a long way off, weight-bearing practice prepares your baby for the coordination they’ll need when their muscles are ready.
Rolling over (4-6 months old)
It's a big deal when your baby learns to roll over. It means they're able to move their entire body! Rolling over strengthens muscles and coordination. It also helps your baby develop a sensory awareness of the way their body moves.
Sitting up & kneeling (6-9 months old)
Once your baby begins to sit up and kneel, they’re well on their way to developing the core strength, balance, and coordination they’ll need to stand.
Crawling (6-12 months old)
Your baby will reach all their milestones at their own pace, but the time frame for crawling is especially wide. In fact, some babies don’t ever crawl. Instead, they go right from rolling to sitting to standing.
If your baby does crawl, though, you can be sure they’re developing more strength in their legs and core.
Crawling also organizes your baby’s hip joints into a position more comfortable for supporting their body weight, and it allows them to practice working both sides of their body together, too.
When do babies start standing?
Once your baby has experienced these “pre-standing” milestones, they're ready to tackle the real thing! Babies typically start to stand between 7 and 12 months old. Standing falls into these three phases and happens in this order:
- Pulling up
- Supported standing
- Unsupported standing
Your baby will begin their standing process by pulling themselves up. They might do this by holding onto a chair, couch, table, or your hands. They’ll practice standing supported like this for a while, and once they feel confident on two feet, they’ll experiment with independent standing.
Your baby may only stand unsupported for a few seconds at first, but the more they practice, the more they’ll build stamina and strength for longer standing sessions.
As they get better at standing on their own, their leg, hip, and core muscle control, balance, coordination, and motor skills will grow.
Tips to help your baby start standing
Encourage movement.
As we’ve been discussing already, your baby needs strong leg, hip, and core muscles to be able to stand. Movement-based milestones like tummy time, rolling over, sitting up, and crawling slowly build those important muscles and motor skills.
Encourage lots of movement, and try massaging your baby’s feet to help them become more aware of sensory input and body awareness.
Support independence.
In the weeks and months before they’re ready to try standing, give your baby plenty of time to get those muscles working. Create a safe place on the floor where they can move freely. Surround them with plenty of toys to pique their curiosity.
Set up opportunities for your baby to practice pulling themselves to standing. As long as they’re sturdy and stable enough to hold their weight, position them near a small step stool or kiddie table.
If you’re in a new place or one without built-in safety, you can let your baby hang out in the Newton Travel Crib & Play Yard for some supervised independent play time, too!
Place toys above your baby.
Move some toys from the floor to an elevated place, like a couch or coffee table (be sure to cover corners and other sharp edges). Draw your baby’s attention to the new playing surface and encourage them to reach for the toys.
As your baby plays, they’ll strengthen their muscles, improve balance, and gain confidence in standing.
Give your baby a toy to hold.
In the early days of standing, your baby will be wobbly. This is normal and even gives them a chance to explore and find balance.
Holding a toy can actually help steady your baby. A study in the National Library of Medicine found that babies stood longer, swayed less, and maintained better posture when they held something in their hands.
Schedule play dates with similar-age babies who can stand.
So much of your baby’s best learning comes in the form of imitation. Being around babies who are already standing may inspire them to try standing, too.
Expect falls.
Falling is a normal part of learning to stand. Being on two feet is hard! It will be a process of trial and error as your baby gets the hang of it.
Make sure you’re nearby. Start your baby on soft surfaces, and make sure the floor is free of hard or sharp objects.
You may also want to anchor some of your furniture to the wall. Even if your baby isn’t able to walk to your bookcase or cabinet yet, standing is a good indication that they'll be able to soon!
And don’t worry about your baby getting hurt when they fall. As long as they’re in a safe, soft place, they’ll take a tumble in stride. They’ll fall and then get right back up to try standing again!
Up, up, and away!
Now that you’ve got some tips in your back pocket, your baby will be standing before you know it! This is a great time to move your baby’s crib mattress to its lowest setting to prevent them from climbing and falling.
Have fun with your baby during this new phase of their development. This is one of the last milestones that you can enjoy while sitting. Soon you’ll be chasing your little one around the house, the playground, and everywhere else!
Remember that Newton is always here to help you keep your baby comfortable and safe. Our baby products meet the highest standards in safety, design, and innovation to give you peace of mind as your baby grows.
Frequently asked questions
Can babies stand too early?
As long as you let your baby lead the way when it comes to standing, it’s fine for them to hit that milestone on the earlier side. But remember that all babies develop at their own pace, so avoid trying to push the standing milestone before your little one is ready.
Is it OK to try to teach my baby to stand at 3 months old?
It's not a good idea to make your baby stand when they're not ready. Between the ages of 0 and 3 months, your baby is working on leg, hip, and core strength. Standing isn’t actually possible until your baby’s muscles can support it.
Does standing too fast create bowleggedness?
Bowleggedness, a condition where a person’s legs curve outward at the knees, does not develop because your baby stands early. Instead, bone growth disorders, bone fractures, and other factors can cause it.
