The short answer
An NHS child-development guide includes pulling to stand among skills seen at around nine months, while stressing that milestones are a rough guide and babies vary. If you have wider concerns about movement, speak with your health visitor or GP.
In this guide · 11 sections
Keep in mind
- Pulling to stand commonly develops between eight and twelve months.
- Not pulling to stand at nine months is not, by itself, a delay.
- Secure furniture and televisions and remove new hazards within reach.
- Wheeled baby walkers and forced standing are unnecessary.
When do babies start pulling up?
Babies pull themselves up at different times. An NHS child-development guide includes pulling to stand among skills seen at around nine months, but describes milestones as a rough guide because children develop at different rates.
At a routine review, your health visitor or GP can consider pulling to stand alongside sitting, reaching and how your baby uses both sides. Watching these skills develop over time is more useful than comparing your baby with someone else’s.
What happens before pulling to stand?
Your baby may first roll or belly-crawl towards furniture, stretch out their hands for support and rise onto their knees. Next they might lift their bottom, move one foot forward or pull upwards with both hands. These movements do not have to appear in one fixed sequence.
For example, reaching for a toy beside the sofa might prompt them to rise to their knees, even if they cannot stand all the way up yet. This can be part of learning about balance and strength. Watch your baby's own new attempts rather than comparing their sequence with another baby's.
What if a nine-month-old is not standing?
Not pulling up by nine months, on its own, is not evidence of a developmental delay; consider your baby's wider movement pattern.
However, discuss it with a doctor if your baby cannot sit without support, uses one side much less than the other, or loses a skill they previously had. For babies born early, corrected age may be used when assessing development.
Why can a baby stand up but not sit down?
Pulling to stand and lowering back down are different movements to learn; your baby may need time and a safe chance to practise.
If your baby stands up in the cot or play area and calls for help, make sure they are safe first. You can allow opportunities to explore movement, but there is no need to keep them standing for long periods or make them repeat the manoeuvre.
How can you make your home safer?
Anchor furniture and televisions securely, keep hot drinks and dangling cords out of reach, and use stair gates where needed. Follow UK product and fire-safety guidance for your home.
Move hot drinks away from table edges, remove dangling tablecloths, keep cables beyond reach and install safety gates at stairs. When your baby starts standing in their cot, review the mattress height against the manufacturer's instructions. Don't place toys in the cot that could help them climb out.
Can babies pull to stand before crawling?
Yes. Some babies crawl on hands and knees for a long time, while others belly-crawl, shuffle on their bottoms or discover other ways to move. Traditional crawling is not a required stage before pulling to stand.
If your baby can change positions by themselves, uses both sides of their body and continues trying new movements, watch their development in that wider context. A missing single skill cannot give a definite answer on its own.
What can you do today?
Prepare a safe, non-slip place on the floor. Put an interesting toy somewhere your baby can see and reach towards, allowing them a chance to change position to get it. Stay close to prevent falls, but don't pull them up by their arms or force them to stand.
There is no need to pull your baby up or make them repeat a movement; let them explore positions they choose while you stay close.
When should you seek advice?
Not pulling up at eight or nine months alone is not an emergency. But speak with your baby's doctor if they also struggle noticeably with other movement skills, such as sitting, use their arms or legs unevenly, or if something about their movement development concerns you.
Losing movements they could previously make is an especially important reason to seek assessment rather than waiting. Share your observations at a developmental check so that screening or further evaluation can be arranged if appropriate.
When to seek support
Some signs need emergency help; other concerns can be discussed with your child’s healthcare team.
- Loss of movement skills already gained
- Noticeably uneven use of arms or legs
- Concerns about unsupported sitting at nine months or overall movement
Sources used for this guide
- NHS / Bedfordshire and Luton Children’s Health — 9 months: child development milestones
- NELFT NHS Foundation Trust — Under 5’s developmental milestones
English editorial review:
The English text and regional guidance have been checked editorially. This is not an individual clinical assessment.
Luluna provides general parenting information. It does not diagnose conditions or replace your child’s healthcare professional.
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