Most babies learn to walk between 10 and 18 months. However, they must crawl, stand, and then walk before they can. Remember that every child is a separate case, so your child will likely have to work hard before they learn to walk and take their first steps. The key is lots of encouragement and exercise to get your baby to get used to walking.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Helping Your Child Stand Up
Step 1. Make your child jump by putting his feet in contact with your legs
Doing so will strengthen your leg muscles, especially if you are still crawling or standing only.
Also, you should show him how to bend his knees and let him practice, to develop motor skills to stand up and sit down
Step 2. Buy a bouncer
At the age of five or six, buy your baby a bouncer that will allow him to start strengthening the leg muscles.
- Avoid the walker. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) discourages the use of baby walkers. Studies have shown that they slow motor development and cause back problems. They are also a safety risk, as they can tip over or fall down stairs.
- Baby walkers are also banned in Canada, and the AAP is seeking to extend this ban to the United States as well.
Step 3. Use toys to get your baby to stand up
Place a toy out of the reach of the child, for example high up or in places where they have to stand up to reach it.
Step 4. Help your baby sit up after he gets up on his own
Most babies begin to stand up on their own before learning to sit, so don't be alarmed if your baby cries for help while standing.
Avoid picking him up when he starts complaining. Instead, teach him to sit down, bending his knees gently and supporting his weight until he reaches the floor safely
Part 2 of 4: Helping Your Child Walk
Step 1. Align the furniture to help him walk
Walking is the stage where the child begins to use furniture and other surfaces or objects for walking. Line up the furniture, making sure it's childproof, so it can walk independently.
- In fact, when your baby begins to walk, it is best to make the house childproof, because it can reach new heights and, probably, new dangers as well.
- Help your baby break away from furniture while walking by making him hold onto your fingers with both hands. Very soon, he will begin to hold himself with one hand and even let go of that one as well.
Step 2. Get a push toy
A push toy, such as a cart or lawn mower, will allow your child to practice walking. In addition, he will gain more control because he will learn to walk, improve his balance and gain confidence.
- If your child is learning to walk on their own, start with a toy that doesn't have wheels. Once strengthened, give him one on wheels.
- Always check that push toys are sturdy and have a bar or handle to hold on to, as well as large wheels to prevent the toy from tipping over.
Step 3. Put your baby on his feet
Let him cling to your fingers and help him stand up to support his own weight. Let him walk and support him by holding him from under your arms.
- The more time he spends exercising his legs, the sooner he will learn to walk on his own.
- By supporting your baby as he walks, you will help him strengthen his legs and prevent them from becoming crooked. Crooked legs tend to straighten around 18 months, but the problem can last up to 3 years.
Step 4. Commend your child for their efforts
Most children have a deep desire to be praised by their parents, to receive praise, applause and cries of encouragement. So let your child know when he is doing a great job, standing or walking, offering him visible encouragement and praising him.
Step 5. Don't buy him specific shoes for walking around the house
There is no need to invest in baby shoes, because the best shoes are no shoes at all.
- Since the home surfaces your child walks on are clean and safe, let him walk and explore barefoot (or with non-slip socks if you prefer) as much as possible to help him build muscle mass in his feet and ankles, develop soles of the feet, balance and coordination.
- If your child has to walk outside, make sure his or her shoes are light and flexible. Avoid ankle boots or high-top sneakers, because excessive ankle support can actually slow him down, hindering his movements.
Step 6. Avoid forcing him to stand or walk with your help if he doesn't want to
This may only instill fear in him and delay him in walking and standing.
Many babies will only walk when they are ready, so don't be alarmed if your baby doesn't walk until they are 18 months or older
Part 3 of 4: Helping Your Child Walk
Step 1. Make balancing a game
To encourage your baby to balance on two feet, try to make it a fun game by encouraging and praising him.
Sit on the floor with him and help him up. So, it matters how much he can stand on his own. Clap and praise him after every attempt
Step 2. Encourage your baby to walk instead of sitting down
Stand him up instead of sitting him up.
Step 3. Stand across the room and encourage him to come towards you
That way she could become more confident and motivate him enough to take his first steps.
Step 4. Make your first steps a great thing
First steps are a very important time for your little one, so make sure you show as much enthusiasm and encouragement as possible in their first steps.
By encouraging your baby to walk, you will let him know that he is doing something right and will give him even more confidence to keep walking
Step 5. Expect some false starts
Don't be alarmed if your little walker returns to crawl after a bad fall or illness. Your baby is also working on other fundamental developments, such as memorizing names or getting used to solid food, so it may take a few weeks, if not even a month, to walk.
For the first time, some babies may find it more comfortable to crawl instead of walking and then toggle the two before walking completely on their own
Step 6. Let your baby fall, in a safe environment
When your baby begins to walk, he may skid, zigzag or even fall in an attempt to improve his motor skills. Also, many children lack a sense of depth, so they tend to trip or fall on things rather than dodge them.
- As long as your home is childproof, for a walk, and you will be there all the time, don't worry about the inevitable and numerous falls. After falling, he may cry, but the truth is that he will be more frustrated than sore.
- His diaper and little butt act as shock absorbers for falls, and he will soon forget, before you, that he tripped and fell. Avoid making a tragedy about small falls, because he is learning to walk on his own.
Part 4 of 4: Supporting Your Child While He Walks
Step 1. Avoid comparing your child's development to that of other children
Not all babies are the same, so don't be alarmed if yours isn't walking at a certain age yet. The time it takes for your baby to reach an important milestone, such as walking, can vary based on weight or even personality. Remember that the walking timeline is approximate and not set in stone or a prerequisite for any child.
- Some premature babies may have trouble reaching the most important milestones, compared to other babies born in the right time frame.
- Most of the time, babies are just afraid to let go of your grasp and take their first steps. So it is very important not only to encourage and support them to make them learn to walk, but also not to put too much pressure and anxiety on them.
Step 2. Don't be alarmed if your baby appears to have flat feet
In fact, it's just a little bit of fat that wraps around the foot. At the age of about 2 or 3, that extra "softness" on the feet will go away and you should begin to see the real arches.
Also, her little feet may curl inward, looking like half moons, another leftover from childhood. Over time the feet will straighten on their own
Step 3. Make sure your baby's inward feet straighten on their own
Also known as clubfoot, the toes in are caused by an internal tibial twist, which means that the tibia is turned inward.
- This defect will correct itself in the first six months of your baby's first steps.
- If after six months, your baby still has his feet in, ask your pediatrician about stretching exercises to correct the problem.
Step 4. Make sure your baby is fully placing his foot as he walks
Some children feel the overwhelming desire to walk on toes, which effectively helps them acquire a sense of balance. This fixation also goes away over time, but in some rare cases, it can indicate too tight muscles in the heels and feet.
If your baby cannot physically place his foot on the ground on his own, or walk on toes after age three, consult your pediatrician, as there may be a developmental problem
Step 5. Consult your pediatrician if your baby falls too often, if his legs feel too stiff or if he only ever stumbles on one side
They could be warning signs of any nerve, joint or even spinal problems.
Step 6. Let your child explore when he is safer walking
As he becomes safer and more comfortable walking on smooth floors and surfaces, allow him to walk even on sloped and uneven surfaces. These new environments will help him develop a sense of balance.
