Standing up without pulling up...

[*Kimberly*]

I am not sure where to put this so feel free to move it if necessary.   

My son is just over a year old.  He has been pulling himself to a standing position since he was about 10 months old and has been walking since about a year.  However, right now the only way he can get himself to a standing position is to pull himself up on something.  He seems to want to walk more than crawl now but because he has not quite got the balance thing completely figured out (along with tripping over things) he often falls and then has to crawl over to something to stand back up to walk again.  So, here is my question (finally), what can I do to help him learn/figure out how to stand up without pulling himself up.  I am concerned that he doesn't really see a need to figure anything else out right now because there are so many things he can pull himself up on.  I know that most kids seem to do the tee-pee thing (arms and legs extended, like an upside down V) and then stand from there but I am not sure how to teach him how to do that, or any other ways to stand. 

Thanks, in advance, for all the help.   

Kimberly

[mari]

Nathan was an early walker, 9 months, but could only walk from something that he had pulled himself up onto.  Alex was a later walker, 13 months and she didn't learn to stand without pulling herself up onto something until she was about 16 months I think.  I takes a little more strength and a little bit of working out.  He'll figure it out soon.

[KathrynK]

hi Kimberley
my friend's ds walked at 10.5 months and was exactly the same. He finally started to stand up by himself at around 13.5 months. My friend didn't know how to teach him, but he just worked it out by himself one day. Like Mari said, it just takes time. He'll be fine!

[*Kimberly*]

So, ya'll are saying...quit pushing him!      It is hard for me to not think ahead and see what is next and then try to figure out how to help him get there, ya know?  Thanks for the advice, I really do need to hear that sometimes.   

[KathrynK]

It could be worse, you could have my dd who at 14.5 months has never crawled, just shuffles around on her bum, and at this rate will be 18 months before she is walking... sigh..

[mari]

My niece was 18 months before she was walking, I remember my sister being worried about it.  She is a very clever little 12 year old now and walks very well  .

My mum says, they won't do it until they are ready, they are too busy doing other things, which is true.  Nathan walked at 9 months, but he didn't wave or clap hands or say mum like other kids his age, he was too busy walking to be bothered with all that!!

[KathrynK]

It's mad how they are all so different, isn't it? I walked late at 18 months, and dd is just the same- she already has about 12 discernible words and is definitely more interested in talking than walking!

[*Kimberly*]

I just read my Parents magazine and it had an article on this.  It had 12 10 month olds and showed just how different they all were.  It really helps to see it in from that perspective sometimes, I know I get caught up in when the 'book' says he should be doing something.  BTW...my son has no words, he has some sounds, but no words, not even a sound that means a word.  Why talk when he can scream and get the same response?  ::lol::

[KathrynK]

Why talk when he can scream and get the same response?  ::lol::

 

[jumblebox]

Thanks for mentioning the "tee-pee" position! Now I know what DS has been trying to figure out! We thought he was about to start somersaulting or something...

We don't have any real words, either... at least that we can translate. Constant jabbering in complete paragraphs, but... anyone know what "ish!" might mean? He says it very vehemently, while waving his arms in the air. LOL

[*Kimberly*]

Sorry, no idea.  Brendan says "ah-da" and "da".  :shrug::

[Katet]

My ds#1 took 5 weeks from steps from something & standing & walking from the middle of the room... ds#2 let go & took steps one day( after walking around furniture for 4 months) & then same day he stood up in the middle of the room... each child is different.
"true walking" - where they stand up from the middle of no where (as opposed to independant steps from a "pulled up" standing) is actually average age of 15months according to a friend who is a physio... many children "walk" from pull up at a much younger age, but can't stand & walk from the middle of no- where for up to 3-4 months later.

[*Kimberly*]

Thanks for the info!