8–20 monthsFine Motor SkillsPhysical Development: Moving and Handling
Pulls to standing, holding on to furniture or person for support.
Observe whether the child: pulls to standing, holding on to furniture or person for support.
What it looks like
Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.
Emerging
Just starting
Child reaches to grasp furniture/adult hands and may lift bottom slightly or get onto knees, but cannot complete the pull to standing. They need significant adult assistance to rise.
What you might see
When placed near a sofa edge, does not reach up to grasp it and remains seated/lying.
Grasps an adult’s hands but does not attempt to push through legs to rise.
Lifts arms toward furniture but then drops back without attempting to pull.
Grabs the sofa edge and rocks forward but only gets to knees, not standing.
With an adult holding under arms, partially straightens legs but cannot bear weight independently.
Starts to pull up, then slides down to sitting within a few seconds.
Expected
On track
Child pulls up to standing using furniture or an adult for support in familiar, stable setups, though movement may be slow or wobbly. They may pause partway and re-grip to finish standing.
What you might see
Uses both hands on a low table to pull from kneeling to standing, with a brief wobble.
Re-grips the support mid-way (hand-over-hand) to complete standing.
Pulls to stand to reach a toy on the sofa, then stays standing while holding on for 5–10 seconds.
Exceeding
Going further
Child consistently pulls to standing by grasping furniture or a person and straightening legs to full standing, then maintains the position while holding on. They repeat this across different rooms/contexts when motivated.
What you might see
Pulls to stand at more than one piece of furniture (sofa, coffee table) without being lifted.
Straightens legs to full standing and keeps one or two hands on support while looking around.
Repeats pulling to stand several times during play, especially to reach objects.
Pulls to stand at a new support (e.g., sturdy chair) by adjusting hand placement and foot position.
Pulls to stand, then shifts sideways while holding furniture to reach another spot.
Pulls to stand from sitting without first being placed on knees, using furniture for leverage.
Try this at home
Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.
Playtime: Place a favourite toy on the sofa and watch whether your child pulls up to stand using the sofa edge for support.
Transition time: When you open a low cupboard (supervised), notice if your child pulls to standing by holding the door edge or your hands.
Outdoor: At a sturdy bench, see whether your child reaches up and pulls to standing to look over the seat.
Dressing: Hold your hands out while your child is kneeling—do they use your hands to pull to a full stand?
Daily routine: Watch whether your child pulls to stand in different rooms (living room vs. bedroom) or only in one familiar spot.
Connected behaviours
Behaviours that scaffold, follow, or co-emerge with this one.
The framework source and supporting developmental research.
Framework source
Development Matters in the EYFS (2012), Physical Development: Moving and Handling (8–20 months).
Pulling to stand is a key observable milestone indicating developing postural control, strength, and coordination in early mobility.
Developmental research
WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group (2006). WHO Motor Development Study: Windows of achievement for six gross motor development milestones.
Large-scale normative research describes typical windows for gross motor milestones such as standing with support, supporting developmental expectations and observation-based assessment.
Five-level rubric (detailed)ShowHide
The full progression underlying the three levels above. Used by the platform’s reasoning agent when planning activities and observations.
Not Yet
Child does not attempt to pull up to standing when near furniture/adult support, or cannot lift their body weight upward. They remain lying/sitting without using hands to rise.
When placed near a sofa edge, does not reach up to grasp it and remains seated/lying.
Grasps an adult’s hands but does not attempt to push through legs to rise.
Lifts arms toward furniture but then drops back without attempting to pull.
Emerging
Child reaches to grasp furniture/adult hands and may lift bottom slightly or get onto knees, but cannot complete the pull to standing. They need significant adult assistance to rise.
Grabs the sofa edge and rocks forward but only gets to knees, not standing.
With an adult holding under arms, partially straightens legs but cannot bear weight independently.
Starts to pull up, then slides down to sitting within a few seconds.
Developing
Child pulls up to standing using furniture or an adult for support in familiar, stable setups, though movement may be slow or wobbly. They may pause partway and re-grip to finish standing.
Uses both hands on a low table to pull from kneeling to standing, with a brief wobble.
Re-grips the support mid-way (hand-over-hand) to complete standing.
Pulls to stand to reach a toy on the sofa, then stays standing while holding on for 5–10 seconds.
Secure
Child consistently pulls to standing by grasping furniture or a person and straightening legs to full standing, then maintains the position while holding on. They repeat this across different rooms/contexts when motivated.
Pulls to stand at more than one piece of furniture (sofa, coffee table) without being lifted.
Straightens legs to full standing and keeps one or two hands on support while looking around.
Repeats pulling to stand several times during play, especially to reach objects.
Reflexive
Child pulls to standing efficiently from different starting positions (sitting, kneeling) and adjusts grip/foot placement for new supports. They may begin to transition along furniture (cruising) after pulling up.
Pulls to stand at a new support (e.g., sturdy chair) by adjusting hand placement and foot position.
Pulls to stand, then shifts sideways while holding furniture to reach another spot.
Pulls to stand from sitting without first being placed on knees, using furniture for leverage.
