Helping Your Toddler Learn To Walk
Watching your toddler fall over and over again when trying to walk will break your heart. You want to protect your child from all harm, but you want him or her to walk too. What if your child is over 12 months and not walking yet? Walking is such a big milestone in a child’s life we tend to stress over when it will happen and how. Teaching your child to walk seems like a difficult task, but based on the number of children and adults walking, it’s clearly doable.
As with any milestone in a child’s life, walking happens at different ages for different children. Some children crawl earlier than others, just as some children walk earlier than others. Just because your child crawled early doesn’t mean he or she will walk early. If your child is moving around sufficiently, pulling himself up and holding on while taking steps you have nothing to worry about, your child will walk, and probably soon.
Babies may wait as late as 16 months or longer to walk. Walking is a big step; it’s the first real step toward independence from mommy and daddy. Walking happens all alone, no hand to hold, furniture to hold or walker to stand in. Your child will take this step when he or she is comfortable letting go, literally.
Holding your child’s hand or hands and letting him walk around the house or yard allows him to strengthen his leg muscles and practice walking while still in the security of his parent’s hands. Doing this every day will bring your child closer to letting go and walking alone. You may also want to purchase shoes specifically made for helping babies learn to walk. Children that walk barefoot, use their toes to grip the floor. However, the hard soled shoes help your child balance, but still provide room at the toe for gripping the toes. These shoes are available most places where children’s shoes are sold.
If you are anxiously awaiting the day your child walks, relax and be patient. Once walking starts it’s a whole new world for you and baby. Dangers hide everywhere, including places you will never even realize. So for now, enjoy your baby and when the time is right, he or she will be on his or her way to exploring the world though walking.
Learn more about baby modeling and how to care for your newborn baby.
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