Baby milestones: standing and cruising
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Your baby will probably begin practising her standing skills from five or six months, bouncing up and down while you hold her upright on your knees.
All the while, she's strengthening the muscles in her legs ready for the next stage.
By her tenth month, she may be able to pull herself up to a standing position, perhaps even daring to let go of whatever she's holding and going handsfree for a few seconds before plopping down to the floor again. (It can take a while before she works out how to bend her knees and have some control over this movement.) She may even have acquired the strength and confidence required to take some wobbly steps round the room, clinging to the closest piece of furniture or pair of knees for support. This is known as cruising. It's still early days, though, so you shouldn't worry if your baby's showing no interest in doing any of these things yet. If she's able to bear her own weight when you hold her in a standing position on your lap and bounce her, then she's on the right track and will get there soon.
Bear in mind that a cruising baby can cover distance with surprising speed, so don't leave her alone unless you're confident there are no hazards in her path. It can be a slightly nerve-racking time, but give her time, space and encouragement to practise, despite the bumps, bruises and tears there's bound to be along the way.
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You may notice your baby cruises on her tiptoes. There's no need to worry if she does this - it's fairly normal, and before long she should automatically begin to use the whole of her foot to support herself while moving around. If you're worried that her feet are turned either in or out to a great extent, mention it to your health visitor or GP.
Encourage your baby's standing and cruising skills by giving her physical support and praise while she gains confidence, strength and balance. Prop her up sometimes close to a sturdy chair or sofa - then give her lots of applause when she manages to stand there for a while. She'll probably look really chuffed about it! Once she's good at cruising, you can try moving furniture slightly further apart to give her more of a challenge - walking unsupported is only one step away.
This extract is taken from Baby's First Year
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