How to Teach a Baby to Let Go and Stand

As anxious as you are to see your baby achieve physical milestones, most physical achievements like standing alone can't really be taught. Your baby has to learn himself to master physical tasks at his own pace. Most physical skills build on one another; babies first learn to sit before crawling and to crawl before pulling up and standing alone. What you can do is give him time, space, encouragement and opportunity to work on his skills when he's physically able to do so.

  1. Typical Age for Standing

    • Trying to get a baby whose legs aren't ready for it to stand is a waste of time. Although very young babies will bear weight on their legs when you hold them upright, that doesn't mean they're ready to stand on their own. Most babies pull themselves up on furniture around age 9 months, but this varies considerably from baby to baby. Boston Children's Hospital points out that between 10 and 12 months, many babies let go and stand on their own; most will walk alone by age 15 months. It takes about 1,000 hours of practice for a baby to progress from pulling himself up to walking, according to Parenting.com.

    Giving Him Opportunities

    • You can't expect your baby to learn to pull himself up and stand if you don't give him room to maneuver. Provide a clear path on the floor to low, soft stools or other sturdy but padded objects he can pull himself up on. Put toys on the top but within his vision range to motivate him to go after them. Arrange the furniture so he can cruise easily between one piece and the next. Once he masters pulling himself up, hold out a toy or snack in front of him to encourage him to let go, first with one hand and eventually with both.

    Things to Avoid

    • If you want your baby to learn to stand alone, put the bouncy seat, walker and exercise saucer away, Nemours Health and Prevention Services recommends. These activities encourage bouncing and walking on toes rather than muscle strength needed to stand alone and walk. Don't hand your baby everything he points at or cries for; encourage him to move and get to things that catch his eye on his own.

    Dressing for Success

    • If you want your baby to stand firm on his own two feet, take his shoes off. Going barefoot is best for babies, unless they're outside. Shoes, especially shoes with hard, slick soles or rubber soles that "stick," can make it harder for your baby to get his footing. Tactile feedback from bare feet on the ground can help your baby achieve balance and a normal gait, advises Dr. Erica Armstrong, family practice physician, for the Spectrum Health website.

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