Many parents often panic when it comes to their baby "not walking yet".
we are often asked "when should my baby be walking, as his cousin is walking and she is 10 months old."
The answer is when baby is ready!!! and can be anything from 12months -approximate 18 months old.
You can encurage baby to walk by helping in numerous ways but in general if your child is nurtured in a safe environment, well loved,a balanced diet catered for, stimulated through various play activities then the natural progression will take place.
Please do not think well thats obvious,After looking after children for over 24 years you will be surprised.
( please do not take offence at the following comments !!!! these are personal experiences of families struggling and here are just to show examples so you don't make the same mistakes)
- On some occasssions parents leave it up to the nursery or childminder to do the job so they can tell other members of the family "yes she is walking".
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Have left babies in a nursery setting. Gone to work, come home from work, tea then bathed baby and straight to bed with no quality playtime.therefore babies emotional needs not met by parent.baby showing signs of bonding problems.
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Some inexperienced parents not knowing how to meet child's needs have simply left baby to their own devices in cot or playpen except at feeding and changing time.thus child delayed in development.
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Other parent have been so eager to get baby walking child has developed bow legged by standing on feet to early.(and even toilet training as early as 4 months).
see picture1 of a newborn baby with a reflex walking action. Babies are born able to do this. It is not an indication that your baby can walk
This reflex action will disappear after a few weeks
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picture 1
see picture 2 a good way to encourage a baby to walk,watch your back though especially if baby is ever so eager he doesn't want you to stop.
picture 2
So here are a 5 ways you can help your baby learn to walk.
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From 5-6 months onwards encourage gentle, muscle toning by laying baby on back and front on a thick baby blanket or playmat on the floor.Position baby toys within easy reach. Gradually move them away so baby has to use hand eye coordination, arms and legs to learn to roll over.
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let baby wear bare feet as much as possible especially when learning to crawl in the house or beginning to stand with the furniture. A baby will use their big toes to balance. so standing with the furniture is a natural progression before walking commences.
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Make sure your baby does not wear hard shoes until walking steadily unaided.
ARTICLE WRITTEN BY NURSERY NURSE (N.N.EB) (T.D.L.B)
S .SUDLOW. DIRECTOR OF CHEEKY CHUMS EARLY YEARS BOUTIQUE.
