We’re pretty sure that when your baby girl tried to stand up for the first time, you were there to help her and hold her. Each time she did this, she acquired more muscular strength and coordination. Now, after a few months, it’s very likely that she is trying to stand up without your help. Maybe she’ll wobble a little bit, but she’s putting a lot more effort than before.
After practicing many times by holding on to furniture or your hands, your baby has reinforced her balance to stand up alone. However, sometimes and even though she has enough leg strength to support her weight, she prefers to hold on to you to feel safer and protected. This is totally normal. Maybe she just needs to gain a little more self-confidence. That’s why, to encourage your baby, you can try this exercise and repeat it several times:
- Sit on the floor and cross your legs. Then, sit your baby on your knee and let her feet touch the floor.
- Put your hands around her hips and help her stand up.
- See if she keeps her balance long enough to let her go for a few seconds.
Sitting like this will allow you to be near your child in case she falls. However, remember that falling down is part of the learning process, so don’t worry if it happens frequently. Always encourage your daughter to try it again.
To make these exercises of standing up more fun, you can organize a play date with other children! Kids learn by imitation and, that way, your baby can observe and copy the skills of her peers.
Usually, babies develop this skill when they’re around 7 to 12 months, this means that it takes several months to consolidate it. You’ll need to be patient and project the confidence your baby needs to help her achieve this milestone. Maybe she’ll wobble and fall a lot before getting the hang of it. Don’t worry, each child learns in a different and unique way. What’s important is that you’re there to celebrate when she finally stands up by herself!
If you want more information about this topic, read this article 🙂