Content

• Steps

At some point between the ages of 10 and 18 months, most babies will begin to walk. In the usual order, children will crawl first, then come to the stage of holding something to stand up and follow. However, every baby is different, so it is possible that your baby will either learn how to walk, or get up suddenly and walk in astonishment. The crux of the matter is that you must encourage and train your baby to be comfortable with walking.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Help your baby practice standing

1. 

   Have your baby stand on your lap and jump on your lap. This exercise will strengthen the muscles in your child's legs, especially if your baby is still crawling or just starting to grab something to get up.
   • You need to show your child how to bend the knee and practice knee bends to develop motor skills so that he can stand up, sit down.

2. 

   
   
   Buy your baby a nodding chair (vibrating chair). When your baby is 5 to 6 months old, put your baby in a chair and nodding to start building muscles in the legs.
   • Do not let your baby use a walker. The American Academy of Pediatrics (The American Academy of Pediatrics) does not recommend the use of walkers for young children. Studies have shown that these frames or cars actually slow down motor development and cause spinal defects in young children. They also pose safety risks, as the walker can flip or roll down stairs.
   • Walkers are banned in Canada and AAP is also recommending the United States to adopt a similar restriction for parents to stop using walkers for their children.

3. 

   
   
   Use toys to encourage standing up. Place the toy above, out of reach, or in a position where your baby must stand to get it.

4. 

   Help them sit down each time they stand up on their own. Most babies begin to stand up on their own before they know how to sit, so don't panic if your baby is crying and seeking help while standing.
   • When your baby starts to fuss, instead of picking up, help him sit down by gently flexing his knee and supporting until he or she sits safely on the floor.
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Part 2 of 4: Helping your baby to follow objects

1. 

   
   
   Arrange the furniture in a straight line so that your baby can follow it more easily. Your baby will use furniture and surfaces / objects as support so they can walk around. Move the furniture in a solid line, ensuring that the furniture has been designed to be safe for children so your baby can walk around on her own.
   • In fact, once your child starts holding on to something and going, you need to rearrange the house so that everything becomes safe for children, because when they begin to reach a new height, that means with your baby exposed to more potential dangers.
   • Help your baby stop holding onto the furniture by holding out your hand and letting your baby clasp your fingers with both hands. At some point, your baby will grab you with just one hand or even no longer need to.

2. 

   Give your baby a push toy. Pushing toys like a small supermarket car or toy lawn mower will help your baby practice both holding and toddler. This toy also helps your baby learn to control while learning to walk, improves balance and boosts confidence.
   • If your baby is just starting to roll and walk, offer a wheelless toy. Once you are confident that your baby is strong enough, introduce a wheeled push toy.
   • Always check to see if the toy is sturdy, has a good grip or handle, and the wheels should be large as this will make it harder for the toy to flip.

3. 

   Pull the baby up. Let your baby grab your finger and pull him up, so he is basically controlling his own weight. Have your baby walk around while providing support under his arm.
   • The more time a child spends time practicing the legs, the sooner he or she will move on to the walk-in stage.
   • Helping your baby while standing will help your baby's legs stretch and not bend later. Imperfections usually resolve on their own by the time the baby is 18 months old, but can also last until the baby is 3 years old.

4. 

   Praise your baby's efforts. Most babies have an inherent desire to please their parents and hear praise, applause and cheers. So let your baby know when he or she stands up or can walk well with clear words of encouragement and approval.

5. 

   Do not buy indoor shoes for babies. There is no need to invest in a collection of shoes for your baby, the best shoes for children are bare feet.
   • As long as the indoor surface is clean and safe for toddlers, then let your toddler experience it with their own feet (or wear non-slip socks if you wish) As much as possible, this helps build muscles in the feet and ankles, develops soles of the feet, and helps children learn coordination and balance.
   • If your baby is going outdoors, make sure their shoes are light and flexible. Avoid wearing boots or sneakers that are too ankle-high, and your child can slow down as these entangled shoes limit the baby's movement.

6. 

   Do not force your baby to stand or walk with your support if he or she doesn't want to. This can frighten and delay the child's standing or walking.
   • Many babies will go when they are ready, so don't worry if your baby doesn't start to walk until he's 18 months old, or possibly 18 months older.
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Part 3 of 4: Helping your baby learn to walk

1. 

   Turn balance into a game. In order to encourage your baby to get used to holding him on his feet, parents should turn it into a fun game with lots of encouragement and praise.
   • Sit on the floor with your baby and help her stand up. Then, count aloud to see how long they can stand still before they drop to their knees. Clap your hands and give praise after every attempt to keep your balance.

2. 

   Encourage your baby to practice walking instead of sitting. Place your baby flat on the ground in a standing position instead of sitting on your buttocks.

3. 

   Stand on the other side of the room and encourage your baby to walk toward you. This will give your child enough confidence and motivation to take the first step.

4. 

   Making your baby's first step a big deal. The first steps in life are a big moment for your baby, so show interest and cheer as much as possible when she starts to walk.
   • Cheer up each time your baby learns to walk to let them know they are doing the right thing and gain more confidence to keep walking.

5. 

   Expect some stop and start. Don't worry if your toddler angel returns to crawling after a painful fall or illness. Your baby is still in the process of developing other aspects such as naming names or hand-hand feeding, so it may take a few weeks or even months to postpone learning to walk.
   • Some babies may find it more comfortable to start crawling so they can crawl / toddlers before fully grasping the process of walking.

6. 

   Let children fall within safe range. When learning to walk, children can sway, swing, or even dive to improve their walking skills. Besides, the majority of young children do not have a good depth of perception, so they tend to bump into or fall on objects instead of walking over them.
   • As long as your home is safely positioned for your toddler and you supervise your baby carefully at all times, don't stress over what is certain will happen and many falls. Babies may cry when they fall, but the problem is more fear than pain.
   • Diapers and nappies are also a good cushioning material for every fall and your baby will forget the fall even faster than an adult. Therefore, avoid being overly important every time your baby encounters insignificant falls during learning to walk.
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Part 4 of 4: Support as your baby walks

1. 

   Don't compare your baby's development with other babies. Not all babies are alike, so don't panic when your baby doesn't start to walk by a certain age. The time it takes a child to reach a particularly critical stage, such as learning to walk, can vary due to differences in body weight, even personal personality. Remember that the milestone is approximate, not a constant moment or an absolute requirement for each child.
   • Some preterm babies may be more slow to reach critical stages than others at full term.
   • Also, sometimes the baby is just afraid to take your finger off and take the first steps of life. Therefore, it is important for parents to cheer and support their children as they learn to walk and not to put too much pressure or stress on them.

2. 

   Don't be too alarmed if your baby's feet look like they have flat feet. In fact, it's just because the baby is so plump that the feet are full. About 2 to 3 years old, the "excess" flesh on the baby's legs will disappear gradually and you will see the soles of the baby feet become normal.
   • The baby's feet can also curl inward, looking like a half-moon, this is the remaining sign of infancy. Over time, the child's legs will straighten out.

3. 

   Make sure your baby's inward feet will straighten up on their own. Inwardly, the foot inward condition, or "clubfoot", is caused by a twisting phenomenon of the tibia bone in the body, in other words, the child's shin bone twisted inwards.
   • This condition will resolve on its own within six months after the baby's first steps.
   • If after six months your baby's feet are still curled in, talk to your pediatrician about leg stretching exercises to correct the problem.

4. 

   Check your baby's feet to make sure they're straight. Some children have a natural desire to walk around with the tips of their toes, which really helps them develop a sense of balance. This is almost always a habit that will always go away on its own, but sometimes, although very rare, it can be a sign that a child's heel or foot muscles are too tight.
   • If your baby's feet cannot naturally straighten, or if your baby keeps walking on their toes until they are over 3 years old, let the pediatrician know as it could be a sign of developmental problem .

5. 

   Talk to your pediatrician if your baby falls more than usual, his legs appear hard to flex or he keeps falling to one side. These could be neurological, joint, or spinal problems.

6. 

   Let your child explore gradually as they begin to feel more comfortable with walking. As your baby begins to gain confidence and becomes more comfortable with walking on a flat, smooth surface, have him try walking on a steep or uneven surface. These new environments will help children develop a sense of balance. advertisement