Pulling to Stand Exercise

Here's an exercise to help my daughter become more comfortable with pulling to stand (pulling up).  We're hoping as her gross motor skills develop, her torticollis will improve.  We want her to get comfortable with transitioning from tummy to knees to supported standing.  Below, you will see my video demonstration of this exercise, as well as a written explanation with pictures.

Video Tutorial:




Step-by-Step Instructions:

1.  Lay out a heavy, stable object that baby can safely pull up on. The object should have a spot where baby can firmly grasp both hands around. We used our ottoman with the lid off.

Step 3

2.  Place baby on tummy and facing the object you want her to pull up on.

3.  If baby is not yet able to get up on all fours by herself, then she's unlikely to be able to reach high enough to pull up. In this case, bend one of baby's knees and gently place that bent knee underneath the body. This should encourage baby to lift tummy off floor and provide her with some leverage to reach the spot on the object where she will grasp onto.

4.  Once baby firmly grips onto object, you want her to use her upper body strength to pull herself onto her knees.

Step 4

5.  In order to pull up to stand, she will need to transfer her weight from knees to feet. Baby should transfer weight from knees to feet one at a time. See image below for more details.

Step 5
She is attempting to transfer her weight from her left knee to left foot.
Once she plants her left foot on the ground, she will do the same on her right side.

6.  Support and/or spot baby's body as she attempts to pull up on the object.

Step 6

7.  Throughout this entire exercise, make sure to be supporting and/or spotting baby.  Even if baby can complete this exercise independently, make sure you carefully spot her just in case she slips or loses balance. 

Disclaimer: I am not a physical therapist or medical professional.  If you wish to do any of these physical therapy exercises on your own child, you should first seek approval from your child's physical therapist.  Click here for full disclaimer.