When a child starts to walk and how to help him

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

At one and a half - it's not too late. Have patience.

When the child should go

Something pediatricians agree on. The average baby takes Your Baby's First Steps at 12 months old. The key word here is average. And your unique one has every right (approved by pediatricians and physiologists) to go at a different age.

The scope of the norm in this case varies very widely - from 8 months to one and a half years.

Many parents take pride in the fact that their children start to walk earlier than most. It seems to them that this speaks of the development of the child. But this is just a far-fetched excuse to amuse your parental pride.

The period in which the child will go is related to his development, physical or intellectual abilities in exactly the same way as the shape of the nose or hair color. In plain text - nothing. Someone is red, someone has gray eyes, and someone went on their own at 8 months.

However, there are still certain situations when a delay in the start of walking should alert you.

When to start worrying

First, a healthy child must somehow take the first independent step before 20 months Child development: Early walker or late walker of little consequence. By this age, children are strong enough to be able to do this without much effort. If the child refuses to walk or does it only with support, it is necessary to contact the pediatrician. You may need additional examinations from other specialized specialists - an orthopedist or neurologist.

Second, the big picture of 14 Month Old Not Walking: Should I Worry is important. It is one thing if a child does not walk, but his motor functions are obviously developing: he confidently rolls over, sits down, reaches for toys, crawls, tries to climb up against the wall of the crib or climb onto the sofa, enthusiastically jumps up when you hold his hands. And it is completely different if his physical activity seems insufficient to you. This is also a serious reason to additionally consult a doctor.

If none of these situations apply to you and your children, relax. The child will definitely start walking as soon as he is ready for this.

What determines when the child goes

By and large, this is a lottery. Not a single pediatrician will undertake to predict the exact timing, even observing a particular baby from birth and knowing everything about the family history. However, there are some patterns to make assumptions.

Here are the main factors that can influence (but not necessarily) at what age a child will take the first independent steps.

Genetics

If dad or mom started walking at an early age, it is likely that the children will inherit this trait. The converse is also true. If, for example, dad preferred to crawl for up to a year and a half, his son may choose the same tactics.

Weight and physique

Chubby and heavier children have a harder time getting on their feet and balance than their leaner and more muscular buddies.

Some personality traits

Getting up on your feet and taking the first step without support is a rather risky undertaking. Some children act according to the principle "into the pool with their heads": they simply remove their hands from the wall or sofa and walk into the unknown. Of course, they fall, sometimes it hurts, but they try again. Perhaps this propensity for risky behavior is part of their 10 Things to Know About Walking nature that will stay with them forever.

Other babies, on the contrary, behave more balanced - they walk, only being confident that they can cope with this task. Caution and the ability to calculate their own strength can also be innate features of their personality.

Duration of pregnancy

Children who were born prematurely, as a rule, begin to walk a little later than their peers.

How to help your child take the first step and start walking with confidence

It is impossible to force children to go to a certain date. Walking, for all its seeming simplicity, is a very complex and energy-consuming process: what is it worth only to maintain balance on one leg at the moment when the other takes a step. The child's body must mature for this stage. But you can help Ways to Help Baby Learn to Walk. True, you will have to start long before the first step.

What to do in 2 months

Around this age, babies first try to roll over. Encourage this movement. Place your child more often in a soft, safe space filled with colorful toys - so that you would like to look at them and, possibly, reach them.

Make sure that children spend more time on their stomachs. Trying to lift your head and look at the world around you strengthens the muscles in the back and neck, which play an important role in maintaining balance while walking.

What to do at 4-6 months

The period when the child learns to sit down and, possibly, crawl. Provide a place to explore the world: let the children spend more time not in a crib or playpen, but on the floor - spread some blankets and put toys. Trying to grab objects is a great workout for small muscles.

What to do at 6-8 months

The child is already sitting confidently, or even crawling. Give him dynamic tasks: for example, roll a bright ball on the floor so that you want to catch it. This ball hunt trains the vestibular apparatus and coordination.

Another exercise with the same purpose looks like this: put the child with his back to you and gently rock.

What to do at around 8 months of age

As children grow stronger and more curious, they tend to break away from their familiar gender. For example, get a toy lurking on the couch. Or try to climb on your mom (dad), holding your trousers or a dressing gown with your hands.

Encourage these movements. Place your favorite bears in a prominent place. Or, when the child is sitting, invitingly pull your arms to him from the height of your own height, without bending over, to induce him to reach out to you.

If you see that the child is ready to rise, help him to do it. Then show how to bend your knees to get back to the safe floor.

During this period, it would be good to buy a stationary gaming center, with which you can play only on your feet. This encourages children to spend more time standing.

What to do at 9-10 months

Teach your child to stand unsupported. Just a couple of seconds. To do this, while he is holding on to something, offer to take a favorite or a new toy. This will cause him to lift his arms from the support.

A slightly more advanced exercise: Help the child to stand up and then use a plastic stick as a support. Move the object carefully - the baby will begin to walk after him. A stroller can also play the role of a stick: while walking, put it next to it, let it grab the frame and slowly move forward.

Also, heavy, stable toys on wheels (toy lawn mowers, carts) will become a good simulator: by pushing them in front of them, children learn to perform step by step.

What to do at 10 months and older

At this age, many children already know how to walk. But often they are frightened by the large open space around. Make sure that the child has the ability to move "along the wall" - that is, in a maximum of two steps, move from one support to another. This will create a sense of security.

A regular gymnastic hoop can be used to get children to go out into the open. Throw it over the child, allowing you to lean on your hands, and lead the hoop to the center of the room. The kid will follow the support.

But experts advise to give up the popular walkers.

Firstly, these objects reduce the child's desire to learn to walk: well, really, why, because he already knows how to move in space in this convenient contraption? Second, walkers are simply not safe. Thanks to them, children in a matter of seconds can be where they should not be. For example, in front of a staircase leading down or at a table, on the edge of which there is a cup of hot coffee. Adults simply do not have time to keep track of this.

After realizing that your child is already trying to walk, be sure to get on all fours and look around from the height of his eyes. Sharp corners, sockets, edges of tablecloths that you want to grab onto and drag down, an iron on an ironing board and the like - all these dangers must be neutralized.