My little guy has started pulling up. I do not like this stage of child development. I know it is a crucial one, but I just don’t like all the bumps and bruises that come along with it.
About 2 weeks ago, he did it for the first time. His car seat was sitting on the floor and he crawled over to it, grabbed the sides, and was in a standing position. I thought, “Uh oh. I hope this is a fluke.” But, it wasn’t. Now, there is no stopping him. Today, he tried pulling up on the couch twice and fell both times. He was not very happy.
One of his favorite places to do his new trick is when I am unloading the dishwasher. I cringe every time he does it for two reasons. I’m afraid he is going to hit his head on the dishwasher coming down, or worse, hit his head on the very hard, marble floors that I have in my kitchen. Once, I dropped a pan, and it bent the entire side of the pan when it hit the floor. I can’t imagine what damage can be done to a tiny head!
But, we will just have to keep helping him figure it out. A watchful eye is always important when any baby enters this stage. Suddenly, they have a whole new view of the world, and it is enticing. Also, many new things are within their reach for the first time, so it is important to evaluate what is on top of that coffee table for the first time. In addition, it might be time to adjust your crib so that he is safe if he does decide to stand up in it.
As your baby gets more used to standing, he will get more daring, also. He will start standing for longer periods of time. Then, he will start testing it out by holding on with one hand so he can look around better. Then, comes the shuffling along the furniture and before you know it, they are walking!
While I don’t love this stage, I know my baby is thrilled by it! And, I guess I’m happy for him, too.