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| |    Standing by Dr. Benjamin Spock reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. Standing usually comes in the last quarter of the first year, but a very ambitious and coordinated baby may stand as early as seven months. Occasionally you see a child who doesn't stand until after one year, but who seems to be bright and healthy in all other respects. Some of these are plump, easygoing babies. Others just seem to be slow getting coordination in their legs. There's no need to worry about such children as long as your doctor or nurse practitioner finds that they are healthy and they seem bright and responsive in other ways. Quite a number of babies get themselves into a jam when they first learn to stand up but don't yet know how to sit down again. The poor things stand until they are frantic with exhaustion. The parents take pity on their boy and unhitch him (in other words - release his grip) from the railing of his playpen and sit him down. But, instantly, he forgets all about his fatigue and pulls himself to his feet again. This time he is crying within a few minutes. The best a parent can do is to give him especially interesting things to play with while he's sitting, walk him in the stroller longer than usual, and take comfort in the fact that he'll probably learn how to sit down within a week. One day he tries it. Very carefully he lets his behind down as far as his arms reach and, after a long moment of hesitation, plops down. He finds that it wasn't such a long drop and that his seat is well padded. As the weeks go by, he learns to move around while hanging on, first with two hands, then with one. This is called cruising. Eventually, he has enough balance to let go altogether for a few seconds when he is absorbed and doesn't realize what a daring thing he's doing. He is getting ready for walking.
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