Pulling to Stand and Sleep: How to Handle This Milestone
Your baby is pulling to stand in the crib and it is wrecking sleep. Here is exactly what to do.
Pulling to Stand and Sleep: How to Handle This Milestone Pulling to Stand and Sleep: How to Handle This Milestone As your little one grows, each new developmental milestone brings a wave of excitement—and sometimes, a new set of challenges, especially when it comes to sleep. One such milestone that often leaves parents feeling exhausted and bewildered is when their baby starts pulling to stand in the crib. Suddenly, your once-peaceful sleeper is upright, practicing their new skill at all hours, and sleep seems to go out the window. If you're currently navigating this tricky phase, know that you are not alone. This article will provide you with gentle, attachment-safe strategies to help your baby master this exciting new skill while preserving precious sleep for the whole family. Understanding the "Why": Developmental Leaps and Sleep For babies, learning to pull to stand is nothing short of revolutionary. Imagine seeing the world from a completely new vantage point after months of lying down or crawling. This newfound perspective is incredibly stimulating, and it's natural for babies to want to practice this thrilling skill constantly—even when they should be sleeping. Their brains are working overtime to integrate this new motor skill, and this intense cognitive and physical development can significantly impact their sleep patterns [1]. Research indicates that developmental milestones, particularly motor ones, can temporarily disrupt sleep. A study published in Infant Behavior and Development found that among infants who achieved pulling to stand earlier (by 8 months), this milestone was time-linked to a period of disrupted sleep [2]. This highlights the intricate relationship between motor development and sleep-wake regulation. It's not a regression in the negative sense, but rather a temporary disruption as your baby's brain and body adapt to their incredible new abilities. Gentle Strategies for Navigating Pulling to Stand and Sleep [personalized sleep schedule](/sleep-schedule) [regression timeline](/regression-predictor) [sleep schedule printable](/free-printables) 1. Maximize Daytime Practice (and Practice Sitting Down!) The more your baby practices pulling to stand and, crucially, sitting back down during the day, the faster they will master this skill. Dedicate plenty of awake time to encouraging this new ability. Place toys on a low surface to entice them to pull up, and then gently guide them into a sitting position. Make it a game! Celebrate every successful sit-down with enthusiasm. This repetitive practice helps solidify the motor patterns, making it less novel and exciting to practice in the crib at night [3]. Many babies can pull themselves up but haven't quite figured out how to get back down. This can lead to frustration and crying when they find themselves stuck standing in the crib. Practicing sitting down during the day is paramount to helping them navigate this challenge independently at night. 2. Optimize the Sleep Environmen