Teaching babies to walk: We believed most of you will agree with us that walking is such a great milestone of baby’s growth. And it is exciting to see your baby’s first step. But when it will happen and how you could help her get success? Well, we hope some below information will help!
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Baby Care
Baby walking timeline
Actually, there is no predicted moment for a baby first walk. However, most of the babies will take her first steps around 9 to 12 months and master it around 14 or 15 months. For some, it will happen later by 16 to 17 months.
On a wonderful day, you will see your baby walking for the first time but actually, it is a long-haul internal growth. Since the day she was born, a baby has been developing strength and skills which she will need to walk. If paying attention, you will notice about 2 months old, while you hold your baby on the up-standing position she moves her legs in stepping motion. Around 3 to 4 months, a baby is able to roll over, rise up her head and push up her body with her arms a little during tummy time. These actions will help to build upper body strength. About 5 months, a baby may enjoy bouncing up and down if she is held upright (see product: Jungle jumper zoo…). Bouncing would reinforce leg strength. Then sitting up skill will develop mostly from 6 months to 9 months; which contributes to baby’s balance and coordination. About 9 months, a baby starts to learn to pull up firstly by gripping something to support. Then she will be able to cruise from one piece of furniture to the other. After master cruising, she will walk with assistance from the parent then do it unassisted by 15 months.
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Signs of readiness
Each baby is different and has her own schedule for the development. If she is not yet ready for walking, pushing her is just a painful effort. As mention below, walking is the consequence of an internal development of muscle strength, bones, coordination, and balance. To force her walking too soon has serious disadvantage than benefit. Her bones are still weak and cannot prop up the body. Therefore, try to notice a couple of signs that show she is ready of both mental and physical strength to start walking:
- She can pull her body into the standing position while holding onto furniture, wall or any stable objects.
- She can cruise and walk with support. While cruising, baby train muscle strength, coordination, and balance.
- She can squat and stand up again. Then it will be soon that your baby will take her first independent steps.
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Some useful tips to teach your baby to walk
It requires a lot of patience, encouragement and practice to make your baby comfortable with walking.
- Since the moment your baby can pull up and start to cruise, she is very curious and tries to explore around. To keep her safe, you should clear your house, make sure that every sharp corner is covered and furniture is secured to wall or floor.
- After baby masters cruising, you can use toys to help her walk. At this stage, it’s not a big deal for most babies to walk behind a push toy. Just make sure that its base is sturdy and not slippery.
- Even though some toys to help baby walk are not a bad idea, the best way is to help her take few steps in front of you while holding under her arms. Occasionally, you can let go one hand, so she can practice balance.
- Barefoot is good to feel the ground and get balance. So it is much easier for baby to learn to walk with barefoot. Only when your baby goes out, she needs shoes. It is recommended to choose which ones made of an airy and soft material with a flexible sole.
- As soon as your baby feels comfortable and confident enough, she will take independent steps. So it’s important to praise her progress even little.
In brief, there is a little parent can interfere with the baby walking timetable. She will get it while she’s ready. So there is nothing to worry if your baby prefers and spends more time on crawling. You should only contact your pediatrician if your baby experiences some below situations:
- Her legs length is not even.
- She walks on her tiptoes consistently. Actually, while the baby is cruising or starts to walk, “toe-walk” is normal. Sometimes, she does it because she likes it. However, in very few cases, if your baby toe-walks frequently, that may a sign of different serious problems. One of most severe one may relate to brain functions.
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Some best baby learning to walk toys on Amazon
The choice based on below criteria:
- Number of customer reviews
- Highly rated (4 – 5 stars)
- Having deals/discount
Hope that helps you ease yours!
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