diff --git a/sleap_io/model/instance.py b/sleap_io/model/instance.py
index 25dcd0aa..f019bd20 100644
--- a/sleap_io/model/instance.py
+++ b/sleap_io/model/instance.py
@@ -308,6 +308,39 @@ def numpy(self) -> np.ndarray:
                 pts[self.skeleton.index(node)] = point.numpy()
         return pts
 
+    def update_skeleton(self):
+        """Update the points dictionary to match the skeleton.
+
+        Points associated with nodes that are no longer in the skeleton will be removed.
+
+        Additionally, the keys of the points dictionary will be ordered to match the
+        order of the nodes in the skeleton.
+
+        Notes:
+            This method is useful when the skeleton has been updated (e.g., nodes
+            removed or reordered).
+
+            However, it is recommended to use `Labels`-level methods (e.g.,
+            `Labels.remove_nodes()`) when manipulating the skeleton as these will
+            automatically call this method on every instance.
+
+            It is NOT necessary to call this method after renaming nodes.
+        """
+        # Create a new dictionary to hold the updated points
+        new_points = {}
+
+        # Iterate over the nodes in the skeleton
+        for node in self.skeleton.nodes:
+            # Get the point associated with the node
+            point = self.points.get(node, None)
+
+            # If the point is not None, add it to the new dictionary
+            if point is not None:
+                new_points[node] = point
+
+        # Update the points dictionary
+        self.points = new_points
+
 
 @define
 class PredictedInstance(Instance):
diff --git a/sleap_io/model/skeleton.py b/sleap_io/model/skeleton.py
index 56424c43..d17d7844 100644
--- a/sleap_io/model/skeleton.py
+++ b/sleap_io/model/skeleton.py
@@ -542,10 +542,10 @@ def remove_node(self, node: NodeOrIndex):
             changes.
 
             It is recommended to use the `Labels.remove_nodes()` method which will
-            update all contained to reflect the changes made to the skeleton.
+            update all contained instances to reflect the changes made to the skeleton.
 
             To manually update instances after this method is called, call
-            `instance.update_skeleton()` on each instance that uses this skeleton.
+            `Instance.update_skeleton()` on each instance that uses this skeleton.
         """
         self.remove_nodes([node])
 
@@ -556,16 +556,29 @@ def reorder_nodes(self, new_order: list[NodeOrIndex]):
             new_order: A list of node names, indices, or `Node` objects specifying the
                 new order of the nodes.
 
+        Raises:
+            ValueError: If the new order of nodes is not the same length as the current
+                nodes.
+
         Notes:
             This method should always be used when reordering nodes in the skeleton as
             it handles updating the lookup caches necessary for indexing nodes by name.
 
-            After reordering, instances using this skeleton do NOT need to be updated as
+        Warning:
+            After reordering, instances using this skeleton do not need to be updated as
             the nodes are stored by reference in the skeleton.
 
-        Raises:
-            ValueError: If the new order of nodes is not the same length as the current
-                nodes.
+            However, the order that points are stored in the instances will not be
+            updated to match the new order of the nodes in the skeleton. This should not
+            matter unless the ordering of the keys in the `Instance.points` dictionary
+            is used instead of relying on the skeleton node order.
+
+            To make sure these are aligned, it is recommended to use the
+            `Labels.reorder_nodes()` method which will update all contained instances to
+            reflect the changes made to the skeleton.
+
+            To manually update instances after this method is called, call
+            `Instance.update_skeleton()` on each instance that uses this skeleton.
         """
         if len(new_order) != len(self.nodes):
             raise ValueError(
diff --git a/tests/model/test_instance.py b/tests/model/test_instance.py
index e3181ec3..4fe3f5f8 100644
--- a/tests/model/test_instance.py
+++ b/tests/model/test_instance.py
@@ -164,3 +164,36 @@ def test_predicted_instance():
         str(inst) == "PredictedInstance(points=[[0.0, 1.0], [2.0, 3.0]], track=None, "
         "score=0.60, tracking_score=None)"
     )
+
+
+def test_instance_update_skeleton():
+    skel = Skeleton(["A", "B", "C"])
+    inst = Instance.from_numpy([[0, 0], [1, 1], [2, 2]], skeleton=skel)
+
+    # No need to update on rename
+    skel.rename_nodes({"A": "X", "B": "Y", "C": "Z"})
+    assert inst["X"].x == 0
+    assert inst["Y"].x == 1
+    assert inst["Z"].x == 2
+    assert_equal(inst.numpy(), [[0, 0], [1, 1], [2, 2]])
+
+    # Remove a node from the skeleton
+    Y = skel["Y"]
+    skel.remove_node("Y")
+    assert Y not in skel
+
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+        inst.numpy()  # .numpy() breaks without update
+    assert Y in inst.points  # and the points dict still has the old key
+    inst.update_skeleton()
+    assert Y not in inst.points  # after update, the old key is gone
+    assert_equal(inst.numpy(), [[0, 0], [2, 2]])
+
+    # Reorder nodes
+    skel.reorder_nodes(["Z", "X"])
+    assert_equal(inst.numpy(), [[2, 2], [0, 0]])  # .numpy() works without update
+    assert (
+        list(inst.points.keys()) != skel.nodes
+    )  # but the points dict still has the old order
+    inst.update_skeleton()
+    assert list(inst.points.keys()) == skel.nodes  # after update, the order is correct