Does standing your infant up on their legs really make them bowlegged?

Question

My son is 2.5 mos. and he has very strong legs. If you pull him up into the standing position, he will stand there for as long as you'll let him. (Holding his hands of course) My mom and sister had a fit the other day when I did this, though, claiming I was going to make him bowlegged. I've never heard of that. Anyone else? TIA

Answer 1

No. Bow-leggedness is caused by RICKETS, a serious nutritional disease:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickets#Presentation
Signs and symptoms of rickets include:

Bone pain or tenderness
dental problems
muscle loss
increased tendency for fractures (easily broken bones)
Skeletal deformity
Bowed legs
Cranial, spinal, and pelvic deformities
Growth disturbance
Hypocalcaemia (low level of calcium in the blood), and
Tetany (uncontrolled muscle spasms all over the body).

Answer 2

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Answer 3

NO - this is indeed a wives' tale and simply not true. Check all the baby books available and you'll find that all of them makes a comment about this and how it is nothing but a wives' tale. My daughter also loved to be in standing position from the time she was 2 months. Now she is almost 8 months old and her legs are extremely strong but not bowlegged. Overall trust your instincts and don't do anything to the baby that he does not enjoy or visibly causes pain or distress. However if he enjoys it then it's great fun and it'll strenghten his legs big time. Good luck!

Answer 4

My now 5 yr old daughter started this at 2 months and she is totally normal. She even walked at 10 months and people were telling me not to let her walk because she would get bowlegged (yeah like I could stop her from walking). My 4 month old son also started this at 2 months and does it all the time. I think that forcing them to stand at young age prob isn't a good idea but babies know what feels right to them and they wouldn't do something that was uncomfortable for them. Don't listen...you know what's right for your baby. Good luck and congrats on your new baby!!

Answer 5

I think its bogus. I had all 3 of my babies in walkers, my son at 3 months. He was a big boy and held his head up from birth. He loved the thing, they all did. At 8, 7, and 4 all of them have perfectly straight legs. I'll never believe that bowlegged story.

Answer 6

I'm studying to be a medical assistant. Standing too early can cause them to be bowlegged. Their bones are mainly made of cartilage for the first few years of life. So, when they stand too much on it, it tends to make the cartilage bend. Hence, the bow legs. Also Ricketts can cause bow legs. My son was also the same way. He's got slight bow legs, but he's growing out of it. Nothing to worry about too much.

Answer 7

No not at all!!! How else are they goint to strengthen their legs? Why do people think they make bouncy swings and walkers? Babys dont just walk or stand out of no where. As far as being bowlegged, they only thing that contributes to this is poor walking shoes and just how the baby teaches themselves how to walk.

Answer 8

I have never heard of that so I am guessing it is an old wives tale.We used to do that with my daughter when she was that age(she is now a year old) and she has no problem with her legs at all.She actually started to walk at about 9-10 months.My daughter has always had very strong legs all muscle,hardly any fat.If anything I think it might help them get stronger.

Answer 9

Well, I don't think that's an old wive's tale. I knew a baby that had bowlegs and her standing too early was a big contributor in it.

Answer 10

My son is the same age and my mom said the exact same thing. I don't believe it does...it's an old wives tale