During the first year of life, a child develops at a high speed. The first six months of life are spent in a horizontal position, but after six months, he will sit up and soon walk. What stages of physical development will a child go through before walking, how to help him, how to protect him – we will tell you in this article. In this article we are giving best tips that How to teach a baby to walk.
Physical development of a child by month, How to teach a baby to walk
1 month
The baby is just getting used to the environment. His body is in physiological hypertonicity: arms are pressed to the body, fists are clenched, legs are bent, and feet are turned inward. All this is a normal variant. At this age, the mother can talk to the baby a lot, stroke him. The more tactile information the baby receives, the stronger his nervous system will be. In the first month, it is better to carry the baby in the cradle position, and during periods of wakefulness, lay him on his tummy.
2 months, How to teach a baby to walk
The baby has grown, his body has relaxed a little. It’s time to do gymnastics – roll the baby on a fitball, slowly and carefully. This exercise will relieve colic and help train the upper shoulder girdle. At two months, the baby begins to hold his head better, but do not rush – hold it. You need to lift the baby through the side, but in no case from a position lying on his back. Now it is important to pay attention to how symmetrical the baby’s skills are: he turns his head in both directions, likes to lie on both his right and left sides. Otherwise, it is better to consult a pediatrician.
3 months, How to teach a baby to walk
At this age, many mothers note that it has become easier for them with the baby . Feeding and sleep patterns have already been established, and the mother most often understands the reason for the baby’s crying. At three months, specialists have a whole list of requirements for the child:
- tries to roll over onto his stomach;
- holds head up for a short time when lying on stomach;
- holds bent legs in the air;
- puts hands in mouth;
- reacts animatedly to familiar faces;
- Perhaps the child already knows how to take toys in both hands.
It is at three months that the child is “moved” to the floor. Firstly, this will protect the baby from falling from a height, secondly, the floor is a hard surface, it is easier to roll over and prepare for crawling.
4 months, How to teach a baby to walk
At this age, the baby’s arms and legs are raised, as if he is standing on all fours. At 4 months, the child is honing the skills that he began to master at three months. Now the baby will definitely turn over onto his stomach, will lie flat, without leaning to any side. If you notice a “skew” of the body to one side, you need to consult a pediatrician.
5 months, How to teach a baby to walk
The child becomes active and easily makes contact. Often, he lies on his stomach for a long time, bends his leg at the knee, trying to crawl or kneels. The baby will stand on straightened arms, but if this does not happen, do not worry – all children are different, give your baby time. One of the favorite activities of children of this age is to touch their mouth with their foot. This exercise helps to stretch the back of the thigh, which will help the child sit with a straight back.
6 months
The first question to the mother of a six-month-old child: “Aren’t you sitting up yet?” And the control question: “It’s time already.” Don’t worry. Pediatricians give a lot of time to master this skill – up to 9 months. But this is not the main achievement of the age of 6 months. At six months, the baby can:
- lean on the handles while lying down;
- get up and rock on all fours;
- spend a lot of time sitting on your hip;
- laugh and get angry.
If your little one can’t do something from this list yet, don’t worry!
Important! If the child does not sit and stand up on his own, then you should not do this. This can be dangerous for the child’s health.
7 months
If the baby is not sitting yet, he is now actively striving for it. Most children begin to crawl and sit at this age. In addition to attempts at verticalization, the child learns to transfer an object from one hand to the other, shows an interest in food and wants to eat from a spoon. He already listens attentively to speech and tries to imitate adults.
If a child at 7 months has not yet stood up with support, do not rush things. It is dangerous to put children on their feet before they do it on their own.
8 months
Most children by this age have already crawled, sat down and stood with support. If this has not happened, then it is time to contact specialists. There is no need to be afraid of this. Gymnastics is often enough to stimulate these skills.
9 months
A new skill appears – the baby learns to lie on his stomach from a sitting position. This movement strengthens the muscles responsible for walking. Most likely, he already spends a lot of time surrounded by his favorite toys, and now trains the so-called pincer grip – he takes a toy with his thumb and forefinger. Now is the time to cultivate independence in the child. This is not about spending time on his own. Do not help the child if you see his efforts. For example, a toy got under the pillow, and he wants to get it out. Help only if the child is upset and cannot do it.
10 months, How to teach a baby to walk
If the child is slightly ahead of his peers in his development, most likely at 10 months he will try to walk with support and take a few steps without using his hands. He will fall, but children are very hard-working and this will not upset the baby at all.
11 months, How to teach a baby to walk
There is very little time left until the main event of the first year of life. A little more and the baby will start walking. But, first of all, he must strengthen all the necessary muscles. Nature is very wise in relation to the little person and there is no need to argue with it. Fortunately, now a lot of competent information can be found on the Internet. And most likely, you are a responsible mother and know for sure: modern doctors are categorically against any auxiliary walking stimulators, such as reins and walkers. The more time the child spends in a position standing on all fours, the healthier his spine will be in adulthood. At 11 months, pediatricians recommend observing how the baby explores this world and makes new discoveries. If there is a lag in physical development, do not be afraid to contact specialists. Massage and gymnastics will be useful and will help to catch up with peers in development.
12 months
It’s hard to believe, only a year has passed, and your child is no longer that little screaming bundle, he can already do a lot on his own. His weight has tripled, and the baby has grown by an average of 30 cm. If the child has not walked, he will do so any day now. Do not forget to capture this important event, after a while you will look at these photos and videos with warmth in your heart.
How to make your home safe for your baby, How to teach a baby to walk
A child who can crawl and walk can be anywhere in the room and the house in just a few seconds. There is no point in making only the place where the child spends most of his time safe. Of course, you need to talk to him about the dangers, but it is better to create a safe space throughout the house.
- close all sockets with special plugs;
- put knives, vinegar, gas lighters (matches) and household chemicals out of the reach of children;
- if the furniture has sharp corners, you can seal them with silicone pads;
- If there are stairs in the house, install a safe and strong fence;
- Make sure that all chargers are also kept out of the child’s reach, especially if they are in the habit of leaving them plugged in;
- Do not leave your child alone in the kitchen if the gas stove is on.
Small children can suffer from various injuries and it is difficult to avoid them. Take care of the safety of your home and then, when playing with your baby, you will not have to be distracted by dangers.
How to choose first shoes? How to teach a baby to walk
When a child starts taking his first steps, it’s time to buy his first shoes. Choosing them is easy:
- flexible sole, maximally follows the movement of the foot when walking;
- the width can be adjusted individually using Velcro or fasteners;
- children’s shoes should have an insole without a supinator;
- the back holds its shape well, but is moderately rigid;
- fingers should be free;
- Shoes should be light so as not to hinder the baby’s movements.
If parents have the opportunity to buy shoes made of genuine leather, that’s good, but if not, then shoes made of artificial material with a genuine leather insole will do.
No matter how tempting it is to buy shoes for your child that are several sizes too big, it is better not to do this. Experts recommend buying no more than one size.
If the orthopedic doctor, after a personal examination, did not recommend orthopedic shoes or insoles for your child, simply choose high-quality and comfortable shoes.
If your baby takes his first steps in winter, make sure that the soles of his outdoor shoes are not slippery and that the insole can be removed and dried. Shoes are not needed for home use, as the baby’s foot will continue to develop for a long time, and shoes interfere with its natural development. Buy orthopedic mats and offer your baby to walk on them – he will like them.
