All parents look forward to when their babies first start to roll over, then sit down, crawl, stand at the support and, finally, take their first steps. There are many forums where mothers share the achievements of their beloved children. And how many disappointments are caused by the realization that your bootuz is in some way behind peers.
Especially a lot of worries raises the question of the first steps of the baby. Perhaps experienced parents also know how to teach children to walk, but for young couples this task is not easy. By medical standards, a healthy baby should begin to walk between the ages of 9 and 15 months. But each baby is individual. Each has its own terms and capabilities.
Why is the baby still not walking?
And the precious child is 9 months old, and parents begin to worry, go to pediatricians, neuropathologists, orthopedists, etc. The main question that parents ask doctors is: "How to teach children to walk?"
There are many reasons why butuz does not go. Let's look at them:
- The character or temperament of the child. Calm and unhurried children begin to walk much later than their peers. Phlegmatic and melancholic in no hurry in principle. They can sit for hours at Mom’s toys on the handles. They do not have a need to move standing.
- Weight of the child. Probably, many have heard from pediatricians that overweight children begin to take their first steps later. And it is true. It is more difficult for heavy babies to stand on their legs, the load on the spine increases, and the muscles are not ready for independent walking. Analyze the situation, consult a specialist. You may have to adjust the child’s nutrition, add physical activity. Only then can a child be taught to walk without support.
- Ready muscles of the back and spine. This factor plays an important role. Before learning how to walk, a butuz must do a great job. First, he learns to hold his head, roll over, sit down, crawl, get up, walk with support, and only after that you can teach your baby how to walk. Doctors generally believe that the main indicator of a child’s willingness to walk independently is his ability to crawl. During this process, all the muscles of the body are trained. And before you teach your child to walk on his own, you need to teach him to crawl.
- Heredity. It is believed that the age at which a child begins to walk is laid genetically. If mom or dad went late, then the baby has every chance to repeat their experience.
- Stress. Weaning, change of scenery, quarrels of parents, illness - all this can significantly delay the time of the first steps. Create a safe environment, an atmosphere of love, care and tenderness. Butuz will be easier and faster to develop.
- The desire of the child to walk. It so happens that the baby does not need a change of space. Everything suits him. He is healthy, has no physical abnormalities, but he also has no desire to take the first steps. After all, the baby is already a person with his own character, habits and temperament. Do not rush him. There will be nothing wrong if the child starts walking a little later. Parents need to be patient and try to arouse the child's interest in vertical movement.
- Fear of walking. It is possible that the baby had an unpleasant experience associated with upright posture. The task of parents is to rid the child of this fear. Do not insist, rush things. Surround the bootuz with care, let him feel your protection.
- Musculoskeletal and neurological abnormalities. The reason that the child does not walk may be pathologies in the musculoskeletal system. Consult your pediatrician, visit other specialists. Of course, if the baby reveals something, additional treatment will be needed. Therefore, before you teach a young child to walk, you need to make sure that he is in good health.
- Walkers. Specialists in this matter were divided into two camps. Some believe that the use of this device is extremely harmful to the health of children. The second insist that the walker is a visual aid on how to teach a child to walk independently. In general, this is a good help for parents, but only if the baby is not constantly there. Mom can put her child there, for example, when she needs to do business, cook dinner or do a manicure. Even doctors agree that using walkers is possible only after 9 months.
General recommendations
By medical standards, the baby should take the first steps from 9 months to 15. It has already been written above that there can be many factors that a child does not walk on.
There are many recommendations and methods for teaching children to walk. All of them are correct. Parents only need to choose the one that is most suitable. But it is necessary to take into account general recommendations.
The age when you should start training should not be less than 9 months. This is due to the fact that the muscular structure of the baby is not yet formed and the spine is not ready for upright posture.
Preparation
You need to start preparing from the first months of the appearance of butuza. How to do it right? Preparation should be as follows:
- You need to spread it on the tummy. So the muscles of the back get stronger.
- Provoke him to turn over first from side to side, and then from the tummy to the back, and vice versa. All muscles are involved in such exercises.
- Encourage your baby to crawl. You can put your favorite toy in front of him so that the baby crawls to it. Increase the distance over time. It is important to teach the child to crawl even more than to walk. Crawling strengthens the muscular skeleton, prepares the spine for walking.
- The child should be able to independently stand at the support and walk along it.
If the kid copes with the last task “perfectly”, then we can safely say that he is ready for the first steps.
Advice
How to quickly teach a child to walk? The kid boldly and quickly moves at the support - this is a sign that you can start classes. But do not rush things. Conduct all classes in a playful way. You should not insist on walking if the baby is naughty, he is hungry or not healthy. During the training, a joyful atmosphere is important, laugh, have fun and please the baby.
Fitball lessons, catch-ups and other exercises
Fitball exercises are suitable as muscle strengthening. Put the baby in front of you, hold it by the belt and swing the ball in different directions. This exercise teaches you to maintain balance and strengthens your back muscles.
If the child knows how to crawl, try to increase his motor activity. Play catch-up for a toy. Move your favorite bootuz object from place to place, it should crawl to it.
As an inventory, you can use a stroller or special trolleys, the handles of which the baby holds and steps. Pull a thick rope so that the child steps over obstacles. This exercise helps strengthen various leg muscles.
First, teach the baby to break away from the support. Hold it first with both hands, then you can release one hand. The next step is to let go of both hands. When to do this depends on the child. Whether he confidently walks with one handle, whether he sets his legs correctly, staggers or not.
Threesome game
If you include a second adult in the game, then you can do the following. One leads the butuza, holding it under the armpits, and the second adult holds out both of his hands to the baby. The first is to let the child go. In this case, the second should hold it by the tips of the fingers. With the boldness and firmness of the baby, the time of “independent” walking can be increased. Perhaps this is the best exercise. But do not forget about insurance.
It is good to teach the baby to sit upright. This will protect the spine from overwork, and the bootuz itself from injuries in the fall.
Safety is a priority
What if the child is afraid to walk? How to teach a little coward? It all depends on the parents.
It is necessary to take care of the safety of the baby during training:
- Remove any excess objects that he might trip over from the floor.
- Do not teach your child to walk on a slippery surface. This increases the likelihood of injury. The kid will be even more afraid, and it will be more difficult to teach him.
- It is better to conduct classes in orthopedic shoes, where the foot will be securely fixed.
"Hide" negative emotions, get the reins
And the main rule, how to teach a one-year-old child to walk when he is afraid, is not to show negative emotions to the parents themselves. Do not gasp and scream at any staggering baby.
You need to hold it tightly by the handles for the first time, then just be there or use the reins. This is a special device that is mounted in the area of the shoulders and under the arms of the child. It avoids falls. Parents should encourage the child with words, smile more often, praise and hug the butuza.
Conclusion
Following these recommendations and listening to themselves and their baby, parents will easily answer the question of how to teach children to walk. Remember, everything has its time. Patience and a little effort.