Parentpedia

What Experts Say

At around 9 to 10 months old, your baby will literally reach for new heights as she embarks on yet another major milestone: pulling up to stand. From a developmental point of view, this is no simple feat.

Experts consider this one of the most important gross motor (large muscle) milestones because it shows that your infant has the stability and strength in her legs and trunk to support her body, two things that are necessary for her next big accomplishments: cruising (walking while holding on) and walking.

In the meantime, you'll find that every opportunity she gets, she'll want to try out her newly learned skill. Depending on her leg and trunk strength (to improve hers, have her stand on your legs while you hold her), or how tired she is, she may stand for just a few seconds before dropping on to her tush, or she may want to take her time enjoying the new view. Keep a hand close by so that when she does decide to sit, she doesn't clip her chin or forehead on whatever she's holding on to.

It's also important to make sure that what she's pulling up on can support her weight, and that potentially hazardous items now within her grasp (like that glass picture frame sitting on your coffeetable, or the end table drawer that's filled with choking hazards) are removed or secured, pronto!

And don't wait until your infant is actually pulling up to stand before making her crib safer.

"I tell parents to remember that infants often surprise us," says pediatrician Tanya Remer Altmann, M.D., F.A.A.P, editor-in-chief of the American Academy of Pediatrics' "The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones." "You never know when your baby might decide to try pulling herself up to stand. So as soon as she turns 6 months, play it safe and lower the crib mattress."