Babies learning to stand may look wobbly, but they are really in
more control than they appear, especially when they focus and
hold on to an object like a toy, according to Purdue University
research. "Babies learning to stand often sway and appear out of
control, but in this study, once we handed them a toy their
standing posture improved and they were more stable," said Laura
Claxton, an assistant professor of health and kinesiology who
studies motor development in children. "Even though babies are
top heavy and their neuromuscular systems are immature, this
shows infants have more control when standing than many believe.
Without the toy to hold, they go right back to being unstable."
The findings also support previous research that swaying, while
it may look shaky, is another way babies explore the
environment. Early instability is functional, Claxton said. Body
sway provides sensory information that allows infants to learn
how to appropriately control their body within their
environments. However, too muc