Watching your baby learn new skills and grow in confidence is a fun and rewarding time for parents. The first year of your baby’s life is full of wonder and many questions, especially when it comes to understanding when your baby will start standing. Many people wonder, “When will my baby start standing?” or “At what age can I start helping my baby stand up?” or even, “Is it okay for my baby to fall when they try to stand up?”
If you’ve experienced these questions, you’re in luck! This article will guide you through everything you need to know about when and how your baby will learn to stand.
When Do Babies Stand With Support?
For babies, ages 4-12 months are full of fast-moving and emerging developmental stages. The first skill your baby needs to master to stand independently is learning to stand with support.
Around four months, your baby can push his feet down on a hard surface or your legs as you hold them securely under his arms.1,2 As they do this, your baby will love to look at your face as you talk to them or tell them a story. They may even start jumping up and down as you speak.2
As your baby approaches six months, they should begin to put weight on their legs and be able to support themselves on their legs.3 You still need to hold them firmly under their arms because they are not yet ready to stand unaided. Take time while your baby is standing to show them their surroundings. Tell them the name or shape of the objects they see or the color of their toys. Babies are curious, and this is a great way to help them explore their surroundings.4
Around 9-11 months, you will notice that your baby is gaining more confidence in their newfound ability to stand. During this time, many babies can stand up only with the support of furniture or your hands. They can pull on furniture with one leg to guide them into position. They can also try cruising or shuffling around the furniture as they explore the next step: walking.5,6
When Do Babies Stand Unsupported?
Once a baby stands up without support, the amount of time it takes to reach that developmental milestone can vary greatly. The most common timeframe for a baby to stand without support is around 11-12 months, but some babies may do so before or after 12 months.
After your baby pulls the furniture, he will begin to stand independently for a few seconds before holding back on support or lowering himself to the ground.6 Many babies will begin to walk around furniture while maintaining a grip on the furniture.
Around 12-14 months, you may notice that your baby will start to stand up from the floor independently without support. So hold on to your hats because a walking baby is in your near future!6
What Should You Do If Your Baby Falls?
As your baby learns to stand and eventually walk, falls are inevitable. The best thing you can do to help reduce your baby’s risk of injury is to make sure they are in a safe and secure environment while they are exploring. Here are some tips:
- Use a baby gate to block access to the stairs.
- Remove or cover the hard edges of the furniture.
- Remove sharp objects from the room even if you don’t think your baby will find or reach them.
- DO NOT use a baby walker. Serious injuries can occur with a baby walker, even with parental supervision.7
- Secure heavy furniture to the wall, and remove any light furniture that your baby might pull.8,9
If your baby has a severe fall or isn’t acting like themselves after a fall, always seek medical attention. Your doctor can examine your baby for injuries and provide medical treatment.
How Long Do Babies Stand Before Walking?
When your baby can stand independently, the exciting world of walking is just around the corner. Most babies will take their first steps with support around 9-12 months and usually start taking unsupported steps around 11-15 months.6,10 When your baby reaches 18 months, you will be hot on his heels, chasing him while walking and running without support.11 Watch out, world, your baby is on the move!
Although there is a standard timeline that outlines a baby’s developmental milestones, it’s important to remember that every baby is on their own journey. These guidelines help you understand what milestones to watch out for and when, but they’re not a hard-and-fast rule. One baby can stand without support by 11 months of age, while another may not until 15 months of age – and that’s okay.
If you have questions about your baby’s developmental milestones, the CDC has put together a checklist of developmental milestones you can use to track your baby’s progress.12 Your doctor will periodically check your baby’s progress during their well-baby checks.
Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or believe your baby hasn’t reached the developmental milestone of erection when they should. They can address your baby’s needs and begin therapies to help them reach their full potential.
