We have been standing our baby on his legs since he was about 2.5 months. Also, he likes to walk up our body or take a couple steps across the couch or floor. Recently a bunch of my friends told me that this is bad because it can cause their legs to get bow-legged and it can be bad for their hip joints. I asked my midwife about this and she said that it was fine. She did the same to all her kids and they are athletic and not bow-legged. She said just to make sure that he is getting his tummy time so that he learns to crawl. Anyone know about this? Our son does does get really happy and excited when we let him stand. I should also mention that he is big for his age (around the 85% percentile on the height/weight charts). Thanks mamas!
I have my son standing on his legs for short periods of time. Let your son be the one to give you the clues as to how much he can do. My son collapses his legs when he's had enough and I just give him a break. Some times he'll start pushing up on me again when he wants more "standing" time.
There is NOTHING wrong with babies standing at this age. The stretching and standing strengthens the muscles, ligaments, and joints. This attempt to stand actually aids in making the baby's legs stronger and sturdier. Bowlegs are caused from rickets or some other physical condition, but not from early exercises. Many babies and toddlers appear bowlegged or knock-kneed. This is part of their normal growth as their legs "untwist" from their cramped position during fetal development.
Source: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0816/is_1991_March...
I don't think there is anything wrong with it as long as you don't over do it. Yes he still needs his tummy time and his legs aren't ready to walk yet so make sure you only do it a few times a day. its a good way to strenghten his legs up when he is ready to walk. I'll bet he will be like my son, as soon as he learned to walk he wanted nothing to do with a stroller, he wanted to walk everywhere and never stop. Good luck!
my son was a stander early too. now he even takes a step with one foot. we are not encouraging him...he just started on his own. our baby is in the 75th percentile like yours and is always developmentally ahead of the benchmarks for each month. sounds like you have a livewire like us. he'll stand for hours and then sit when tired. babies are born bowlegged from the way they w ere squashe inside of you. the bowleggedness will stay for quite a while...ask your ped. tummy time is a challenge for us here..he'd rather stand. hope this helps.
my chiropractor is very against standing a baby on their legs because their hip joint and ligaments are still forming. unless a baby is pulling (him)self up on his own to standing you should not put stress on their hip area. for that reason johnny jumpers should not be used until later and excersaucers should be on a higher level so they can't push on the bottom yet.
