Learning to Stand
Here's What To Do
Once I have great control of my head and neck, help me learn how to stand by supporting me through the following stages of standing.
First, help me "stand" while you hold me up.
- Lift me into a standing position, and hold my chest and back.
- Gently bounce me to the beat of the music and see if I'll start bouncing myself.
- Practice standing for very short amounts of time.
Next, help me stand by holding onto low and sturdy furniture (like my crib rails, a coffee table, or the seat of a chair or couch.)
Finally, encourage me to pull myself up into a standing position.
- Ask me to pull up and climb into your lap for a hug.
- Place a favorite toy on the edge of a low table to encourage me to use the table to stand.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Give me a big hug before we begin.
Engage:
- "Can you stand up and reach your toy truck?"
- "Wow! You're standing all by yourself! You're such a big girl!"
Encourage:
- Sit behind me so you can catch me when I fall!
- Make sure that our home is childproofed as I'm learning to pull up onto furniture. Anything tall (bookshelf, dresser, TV, etc.) should be secured to the wall. Anything with sharp corners (like a coffee table) should be padded. Move my crib mattress down to the lowest setting.
Reflect:
- What stage of standing am I in right now? How can you best support me as I learn to stand?
Not quite ready?
Help prepare my legs for weight bearing. Lay me on the floor with my legs bent and my feet touching a wall. Encourage me to push the wall with both feet.
Ready for more?
Encourage me to "cruise" with furniture. When I'm standing at a coffee table or a couch, place a favorite toy at the other end. See if I'll move down the furniture to get the toy, using my hands for balance.
As your child masters this skill...
They will use furniture to pull up to standing from a seated position.