Every parent anticipate and eagerly await for the day when your child will take the first few steps. Walking is an integral part of a child’s physical development. As soon as the infant grabs control over her neck and head, the process of her back getting strengthened to prepare her arms and torso for balancing her body weight and shifting them onto her legs, begin. Parents have to be extremely cautious in taking necessary precautions to ensure that their baby adapts the right body frame and posture while exploring to move their legs forward in an effort to start walking. They have to dutifully boost their baby’s confidence by constantly cheering and coaching them.
Walking milestones
Before starting to walk confidently, a child has to pass through a host of milestones. Lets take a look at it step by step.
1. Rolling over
Right from the age of 4 to 6 months, a child’s body starts preparing ground and collecting strength for torso and legs to enable the child to walk independently. It begins with the rolling over stage when the child learns to turn over from front to back and then vice-versa. This activity assists in making the neck and back muscles strong and you can lend a helping hand by spending time with hthem.
2. Sitting
After rolling comes sitting, which the child achieves at as early an age as 6 months and hence. By this time baby has managed to gain enough courage and sturdiness around the spine area to be able to sit on her/his own without a back rest. Initially they might tumble over, but to steady off her balancing sense hold her hands, sing a song while swaying to the rhythm and lend a helping hand as and when required.
3. Crawling
Between the age of 7 to 10 months the baby starts leaping and lunging forward on forearms and knees, trying to push her way ahead. This is the crawling stage, however the style of crawling may vary from child to child.
4. Standing
As soon as your baby is between 9 to 12 months of age, one fine day you might notice her holding on to crib rail to ensure enough grip to help her stand on her feet. The child would now try to support his/her hands on anything which would lend a good grip. This proves that now it has reached the stage where it can willingly shift all the body weight to legs and also, buckle under it.
5. Cruising
The last stage before the child begins to walk is cruising, when the child begins to cautiously take side steps by holding on to the aisle of the furniture or with someone’s help. At this stage it is essential to give incentives to reach to a point with the aid of cruising, and henceforth encouraging it to try taking the hands off the wall or the support, it might be clinging .
Things to consider
1. As a considerate parent, you might be worried if your child does not attempt to walk even after turning one whereas children of the same age are easily cruising along their way. Your child might be a late bloomer, so do not panic and do not lurch him.
2. Walking can be influenced by the size and weight of the baby. Infants with a heavy weight and bigger torso tend to walk late while smaller babies can easily gather the strength to get upright and walk faster.
3. An ear infection can delay the child from walking as it throws off the balance of the child. However, having an older sibling can instigate the child to achieve his walking milestone at an early age as he wants to imitate his elder competitor.
4. Leaving your child barefoot is advantageous as they learn to walk fast this way. Being without shoes allows direct contact with the floor which helps in balancing.
5. Once the child learns to walk, it opens a whole new world for her to explore and interact with. As they try to be on their own, it boasts up their confidence.
Walking Do’s and Don’ts
1. Once your child is on a walking spree, do get him/her a push toy which can provide an added support and grip to lean on.
2. While on her walking excursion your child will stop at every new thing it notices around. Be prepared for these incessant starts and stops which might delay the walking-with-ease a little.
3. Do count on some stringiness and late-night freaks which might be an outcome of tiredness and over-stimulation caused due to new training process.
4. Don’t over dress your child as bulky outfits and slippery socks can slow them down. Also, the apparels should not be too loose or too light. The best would be a light baby suit without feet.
5. Don’t put your child in a walker as it slows down the motor movement of the baby and even causes back problems at a later stage.
