“Cut the bonds” so that the child begins to walk. How to teach your baby to walk independently What to do to make your child walk faster

According to doctors, a healthy, properly developing baby should “go” in the period from 9 to 18 months, especially if you create for him favorable conditions. Which? I propose to look into the article “How to teach a child to walk independently without support” together.

Somehow, while “walking” through the Internet, I came across a message from a young mother claiming that her baby was trying to get up at almost 6 months. She is naturally delighted, but the doctor commenting on her words is not at all. He claims that the baby’s muscles are not yet strong, as is the musculoskeletal system. Consequently, the consequences of early walking can be disastrous: from incorrect foot placement to curvature of the lower leg.

The situation gets worse if the little one has certain health problems that his doctors and parents do not yet know about. True, this does not prevent the latter from trying with all their might to help the child learn to walk faster.

At the same time, such fears should not darken the mood if the baby himself tries to get up or take the first step ahead of time. In any case, Dr. Komarovsky is sure of this. According to him, a child gets up on his own if his body is already fully formed and ready for new achievements.

How to understand that your baby is ready

The age at which the little one takes his first step varies from person to person. According to orthopedists, this happens in most children at 1 year of age, but still it is not worth adjusting everyone to the standards. In the end, the indicator is influenced by genetics, temperament (sanguine and choleric people progress faster than melancholic and phlegmatic people), climate (southerners develop faster than northerners), and finally, illness and stress.

It is a well-known fact that children who grow up in a favorable environment without conflicts and quarrels from their parents take their first steps faster (sometimes even at 10 months) than those who live in constant swearing and screaming. By the way, stress can be caused not only by them, but also by frequent moves and strangers in the house.

Illness is another unfavorable factor. Even a common cold can delay the onset of the cherished hour, so if the baby has suffered it, there is no need to rush to help him walk yet.

Ideally, it is important to simply observe the child to understand that he is able to take his first steps. So, take a closer look. If you notice that the toddler:

• able to stand up while holding onto something;
• move along the support;
• travel from room to room on all fours;
• walk by the hand;
• conquer small horizons and climb onto low chairs...

So he is ready to walk. This is directly indicated by the fact that all this is done with great pleasure.

If you most often push him to these actions, but he himself does not receive joy from them, stop. You should not rush things, so as not to face unpleasant consequences. In the end, if time passes and the child does not express a desire to walk, it makes sense to show him to the doctor. Problems with the musculoskeletal system and the central nervous system can inhibit the ability to walk independently. Moreover, for the most part they can be corrected. All that is needed is timely diagnosis and treatment.

What to do to make it go faster

Do you want your baby to start at 11 months? Then start preparing him for this... from the cradle. Gymnastics is also useful for newborns. Already in a month, they need to be regularly placed on the tummy: this way the gases will be less annoying, and the muscles of the back and neck will become stronger.

At 3-4 months it’s time to learn to roll over. This will engage your back muscles and then help you take your first steps faster. By six months the baby begins to sit up. It happens that children come to this earlier, although doctors do not recommend this. From 6 months you can and should crawl, for a long time and with pleasure. The latter will happen if you constantly, as if by chance, leave your favorite toys out of reach. Then the kids follow them, and the skill is honed faster.

By the way, scientists have discovered interesting fact during the study. It turns out that children who actively crawled in infancy are easier to teach and incredibly successful in school, compared to those who immediately “went.” Perhaps this is indirectly explained by the fact that such kids are more inquisitive by nature.

How to quickly teach walking

Parents often ask pediatricians how to teach their child to walk faster. They answer that it is necessary to use gymnastics. There are a number of exercises that will take no more than a few minutes a day, and the results will be excellent. Among them:

There are other ways to learn to walk, without extraneous devices. Moreover, experts advise starting with them when answering the question of how to teach correctly.

At first, steps in the “from one to another” style will be barely noticeable, and the time without parental control will be minimal. But if you train daily, it will increase. At this stage, it is important to help, but not to overdo it: now one wrong move can ruin everything. And first of all, this concerns safety.

First steps Most children master it before the age of one year. Curious and active babies acquire this skill earlier - at the age of 9 months, fearful and slow ones later, sometimes only by 1.5 years. Walking upright is not an innate skill, it needs to be learned, and parents can influence this process. The main thing is to take into account the individual developmental characteristics of your baby, his physical condition, character and temperament.

Stages of development: from crawling to the first steps

Experts say that locomotor skills, or a person’s ability to move in space, develop according to a certain pattern. First, the child learns, then crawl, then stand up with support and walk. Some children skip the crawling stage or move in their own way: pushing off with their knees, hands, or crawling on their stomach. It is believed that such babies take their first steps later than others.

Crawling brings great benefits: it strengthens muscles, opens up new possibilities when moving in space, and encourages experiments with body position. Therefore, in order to prepare your baby for walking, it is recommended to go through all the preparatory stages.

How to help your child take his first steps?

The main indicator of readiness for a new skill is the baby’s ability to move with support for some time. Another condition: strong arm and back muscles. On initial stage You can encourage movement along the high sides of the crib or other furniture. In the process, you need to protect the little man as much as possible by laying a blanket or mattress.

At the next stage you cannot do without the help of adults. The baby begins to move, leaning on both hands of loved ones. Once he gets the hang of it, one hand can be removed. Soon the child will take his first timid steps on his own.

Auxiliary equipment

Children love to move with the help of their parents' hands, but this activity tires adults. That's why many people buy walkers, put their child in them and calm down. But most pediatricians do not approve of this device, motivating their opinion with the following arguments:

• Coordination of movements in walkers does not develop correctly;
• The child will be afraid to move independently;
• There is a high risk of injury: the device may tip over at high speed;
• There are many low-quality models on sale that can cause harm.

Children's reins are another matter. When using them, the muscles of the back and arms of an adult are not too tense. The walking butuz is under strict control, but is able to determine the direction of movement.

A stroller can also be used as an equipment. The child will acquire the necessary skills while being outside. Of course, a stroller is not suitable for taking the first steps.

Video on how to teach a child to walk

Safety precautions

Often parents have no idea what their one-year-old baby is capable of. By the time of the transition from crawling to walking, the baby must be completely protected from injury. Preventive measures are as follows:

• All hanging fabrics, tablecloths and napkins must be removed, and curtains and curtains must be checked for strength.
• It is necessary to remove medicines, documents, household chemicals and others at a higher level dangerous items;
• It is worth giving up light furniture: coffee tables, whatnots, floor lamps, which the baby can knock over. The cabinets need to be secured.
• It is important to avoid contact with electrical appliances.

The floor surface on which the child will walk on his own for the first time should be smooth, but not slippery. There is a lot of controversy about the advice to wear for a baby in which he will learn to walk. The hard sole reduces the sensitivity of the feet; it is easy to slip in sandals. Booties and socks without rubber fasteners with smooth soles are also dangerous.

Unfortunately, bruises are inevitable in the process of learning to walk. According to scientists, falling from their own height is safe for babies, since children instinctively know how to group themselves.

Important!Adults need to react calmly when a child falls. The baby should not see his mother’s frightened face, otherwise he will temporarily give up his intention to walk. It is better to support the baby in his attempts to get up again.

Factors that hinder locomotor development

Very rarely, congenital diseases, which are detected during examinations by specialists, interfere with the baby’s first steps. More often, the reasons that a child is in no hurry to assume a vertical position are individual characteristics. For example, it is more difficult for well-fed children to stand up, so you need to monitor the child’s weight.

It happens that a baby stops trying to walk after suffering an illness or painful teething. In this case, you need to wait until the baby regains his strength.

Stress experienced by a child can slow down the learning process. It can be caused by any seemingly insignificant reason. For restless, anxious children, it is important to create an atmosphere of warmth and love in the family. Children with a phlegmatic type of temperament master walking skills more slowly.

Techniques and exercises

Hypertonicity, a condition in which the muscles are tense, can delay a child’s first steps. It is difficult for a child with hypertonicity to stand on his entire foot; if he is held, he will be on his tiptoes in a standing position. In this case, doctors also recommend baths with herbs.

Already at the age of several months, you can do exercises with your child to strengthen all muscle groups. Any physical activity: swimming, crawling over obstacles, doing pull-ups with the help of an adult will strengthen motor skills and the muscular corset. Exercises approaching the first steps include:

Fitball exercises. The adult sits the baby on the ball, positioning it facing away from him and begins to swing it to the right and left. Then he lifts him up and encourages him to move his legs over the surface.

Exercises with a toy. A bright object is placed on a soft chair so that the baby can see it. The purpose of the lesson is to encourage the child to first crawl to the chair, then rise with support and get the toy.

From dad to mom. One adult holds the child’s hand, the second encourages him to reach him. To do this, the baby needs to let go of the support and take the first step.

Stepping over an obstacle. A string is pulled between two large objects. The baby, holding the hand, must step over it. The exercise develops the ankle joints.

Attention! Use of any medicines and dietary supplements, as well as the use of any therapeutic methods, is possible only with the permission of a doctor.

Children around 10 months old are very active. It’s difficult for little fidgets to stay in one place for a long time, because the world is so interesting, and you need to have time to learn everything in it. It is at this time that babies begin to take their first steps. And parents are so worried that their little one’s walking explorations won’t end in tears. After all, on the one hand, a new skill is progress in the child’s development, and on the other hand, it is another reason to get some kind of injury. So mothers and fathers try to insure their child everywhere and always. But how to teach a child to walk independently, without adult support?

When is a child ready to take his first steps?

Learning to walk independently is not an easy task, so the baby thoroughly prepares for this: he stands up, holding the side of the crib, moves along it, walks, leaning on a stroller or cart.

By about one year old, children are already actively moving around the apartment from room to room, but on all fours. They crawl first to mom and then to dad, experiencing pleasure from the movement as such. At the same age, they usually take their first independent steps and begin to walk without support or outside help.

And at one year and two months, most babies can easily stand up and sit down, overcome obstacles, climb onto low chairs and sofas, and even, holding the hand of an adult, can walk up the stairs.

At about one year the child begins to walk independently

Safety precautions

First of all, parents need to take care of the baby’s safety while walking.

• Pay attention to shoes - they should be designed for walking. No knitted booties or soft sandals will do. The most the best option There will be light leather shoes with hard soles. If there is even the slightest doubt that it will not slip when walking, sand it with sandpaper.
• The surface on which the child learns to take his first steps must be level and smooth, and in no case slippery. Otherwise, injuries are inevitable. But the point here is not only about injuries - a child, having made several unsuccessful attempts to walk on such a surface, may lose faith in his abilities or lose interest in learning.
• If a child is learning to walk in an apartment, make sure in advance that there are no steps, thresholds, rugs, etc. on his way, otherwise he will stumble.
• The sharp corners of interior items should be as far away as possible, because if the little one falls, they may hit them.
• It is not recommended to use walkers, since when they are used, many children lose the desire to learn to move independently.

1. Walking independently is quite difficult process. But parents are able to prepare their child for it in advance. This is possible even in the first months of life.
2. It is very important to make sure that your baby spends at least 10 minutes a day lying on his tummy. Such regular exercises will help strengthen the muscles of the neck and back.
3. Babies quite often like to roll over from their back to their tummy and back when changing diapers. They begin to make such movements at the age of 2–6 months. These efforts should be encouraged. For example, you can hold your baby's favorite toy first in front of him and then move him to the side. Thus, all muscles develop, and the child prepares for the next stage of his development - acquiring the skill of rising from a lying position.
4. At about the age of four months, children make attempts to sit, leaning on something, and at six months they are already sitting independently. The child needs to be helped to take this position by carefully pulling him by the arms. Encourage him to turn in one direction or another with the help of a bright toy - this, again, will strengthen his back muscles and improve orientation in space.
5. At the age of six months to one year, children actively learn to crawl to the objects that most attract their attention. Parents should encourage such movements in every possible way. You can, for example, place your favorite toys a little further away, this will help the baby make a short trip around the house.
6. Hold your baby by the armpits and let him jump on your lap. Teach him to bend and straighten his legs. As a rule, children easily cope with this task between the ages of seven months and one year. If the moment has come when your baby begins to stand up, using various objects as support, such as a sofa, chair, etc., it’s time to start strengthening the muscles of his little legs more actively.

Education

The first signal that the child is preparing to walk independently are confident attempts to move along support, for example, along the sofa, the sides of the crib or other stable interior items.

If the baby already stands up and sits down perfectly without outside help, moves along the walls, leaning on them with his hands, then he is quite ready to take the first steps.

Now is the time to teach him to walk correctly without support. And here some valuable recommendations will help parents.

• You need to support the child by the armpits, as is done in the first months of life. Move forward synchronously with him, and here you will benefit from the help of another adult who could intercept the baby at the right moment.
• The second adult is opposite and stretches out his hands to the walking baby. At that moment you let him go, and it turns out that the baby walks independently, relying only on your hands. In this way, it is very important to teach him how to navigate correctly, because when walking along a wall, the nature of the movement is radically different. The above method is the simplest and most reliable, but always remember to be safe.
• If the child has already had experience in moving independently, it is very important that he is not afraid to fall and squat at the right moment. Therefore, you must be sure to belay him when moving and catch him when he bends or stands unsteadily. You can attract the baby with toys or other objects that interest him, then he will move along the right trajectory.
• At the very beginning of learning to walk, make sure that there are soft pillows or specialized cushions in the path of the baby’s intended movement. They can prevent injury from unplanned falls.
• If you see that your baby is still moving uncertainly, standing, swaying from side to side, do not work with him for too long. His spine is not yet strong, which can provoke the formation of incorrect posture when walking.
• Try to teach your toddler to sit down from a standing position. After all, this is how he will be able to take short breaks, which will relieve his legs from excessive stress.
• If you started training on the street, special devices - “leashes” - will help you in the very first stages. Thanks to them, you can prevent injury without holding your baby under your armpits. They are safety belts. Of course, this is not the best method of teaching walking, but its use is acceptable when the child begins to walk more confidently, and you want to make his movement as safe as possible.
• Some children are already early age very active and physically developed. If your baby shows a genuine interest in walking independently, don’t interfere. When his body is strong enough, early steps will only benefit the baby. But if he shows dissatisfaction and protests at the first stages of training, temporarily postpone this process.

What problems may arise

It happens that children at one year old cannot yet take even a few steps on their own or with the help of adults. In this case, it is necessary to urgently contact a pediatric neurologist.

And some babies do not stand on their entire foot, but walk on their toes. Parents panic about this, believing that some deviations in the development of the baby’s musculoskeletal system are to blame. But Dr. Komarovsky is sure that there is nothing wrong with this.

Video by Dr. Komarovsky: what to do if a child walks on tiptoes

Common mistakes

When teaching their children to walk independently, mothers and fathers often make mistakes that do not allow children to master the necessary skills in a short time. To prevent this from happening to you, just don’t make some mistakes when learning.

1. Baby walkers - useful invention, but pediatricians are categorically against their use. The fact is that such walking does not provide support, which can inevitably lead to deformation of the child’s foot. In addition, the child sits in the walker, so the entire load falls on the spine, and not on the legs, and the straps do not allow him to move freely and unhindered.
2. You should not teach your baby to walk before 9 months. Otherwise, he may develop flat feet or damage his fragile spine.
3. If a child stands up independently, holding onto a support, this does not mean that he will be able to sit down with the same success - he needs help. Otherwise, such an unbearable load can lead to sprained ligaments and deformation of the feet.
4. If children's shoes are of low quality, it is better to discard them. And when learning occurs while walking outside, preference should be given to orthopedic models, because they are able to evenly distribute the load and support the foot in the correct position.
5. There is no need to overprotect the child when walking. He may well learn to walk on his own - the main thing is to give him freedom. The parents' task is only to provide assistance and insurance against falls.

Try not to make these mistakes. Then the baby will certainly delight you and master the skill of walking independently very quickly.

Video “Walkers: pros and cons”

There is no need to rush and force the child to walk. Don't look up to other kids. Remember that all babies are individual. And everyone will certainly take their first independent steps. But when this happens will depend not only on how actively the parents helped the development of their little one, but also on his personal biological clock.

Often, in an effort to help their child go as early as possible, parents make many mistakes.

When do babies start walking

Typically, children begin to walk at one year of age, but it is considered normal for a child to take his first steps between 9 and 18 months. This depends on many factors, such as the child’s temperament, his constitutional characteristics (proportional ratio of body parts) and even heredity.

Calm and well-fed children are often in no hurry to learn new motor skills; to explore the world around them, the already acquired skills of sitting and crawling are quite enough for them. And mobile and active fidgets sometimes move so quickly from one stage of development to another that parents barely have time to grab a camera to capture their progress.

It may happen that during the first attempts to walk independently, the child acquired a negative experience: he hit himself hard, was scared of something, or was sick during this period - then he may postpone mastering this important skill for some time.

Walking is a simple matter only at first glance. So seemingly grown up the easy way movement is actually a complex and fairly coordinated work of various muscle groups, motor (motor) zones of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, vestibular apparatus. Walking is impossible without the ability to maintain good balance and precise coordination of movements. Therefore, before the child’s first steps, the muscles of the legs and back must become stronger, the nervous system and vestibular apparatus must mature, and the skeletal bones and ligaments must become strong enough to withstand vertical loads.

The beginning of walking is preceded by the acquisition of a number of important motor skills by the baby. At about 7–8 months, the child begins to stand on his feet, holding onto the railings of the crib or playpen. The baby enjoys standing so much that he strives to stand up, using every opportunity to lean on something. After the child has learned to stand, holding onto a support with both hands, he gradually begins to let go of one hand to take a toy, and then (at about 9 months) he tries to take the first steps, holding on to furniture or a wall and moving along it. At the age of 9–10 months, the child learns to bend his knees and sit up from a standing position. By 11–12 months, the baby is usually quite strong and can stand, bend and squat without support. And only after mastering these skills will the child be ready to take his first steps.

Most babies crawl confidently on all fours by 9 months. This method of movement promotes the development of connections between the right and left hemispheres of the brain, the correct formation of the spine and is a training of the muscles and vestibular apparatus in preparation for walking, so do not be upset if the little one is in no hurry to change crawling to upright walking. There are also many children who are “not born to crawl” and move in space in a way convenient for them - some “ride on their butts,” others “walk” on their knees.

If, upon examination by a neurologist and orthopedist at the age of 1 year, no pathology was detected in such children, the lack of walking until 16–18 months should not worry parents, since any physical activity strengthens muscles and develops coordination of movements, and therefore prepares the child for walking. It is important that the baby is active, cheerful, learns new skills and improves already acquired ones.

How a child takes his first steps

Each child is individual and develops according to his own schedule. But parents often worry when their child acquires a particular skill much earlier or later than other children they know. There is an opinion that if a baby starts walking early, he will have crooked legs. Studies have shown that there is no direct connection between the age at which walking begins and the curvature of the legs. Bony skeleton The child is able to withstand the load of his own body weight, provided that the baby moves from one stage of development to another independently. If parents do not try to rush things, the baby will take his first steps only when his musculoskeletal system is strong enough and he is ready for it.

It should be noted here that trying to take the first hesitant steps is not walking. Parents can proudly say that their child really starts walking only when the baby learns to break away from the support, walk a few meters on his own, stop and change the direction of movement. The period of time between the first timid steps and independent walking sometimes ranges from several weeks to several months.

When do you need to consult a pediatric orthopedist?

Mastering the skill of independent walking is very important stage in child development. Some orthopedic problems are identified precisely at the moment when the baby begins to walk, so during this period parents need to pay attention to the placement of the feet when walking, the shape of the legs, the gait and posture of the baby. Here are a few main points that should alert parents and be a signal to contact a specialist:

• If a child, standing on his feet or trying to take a step, does not rest on his entire foot, but only on his toes, crosses his legs, he often stumbles out of the blue. This may be a sign of impaired muscle tone. There are muscular hypertension (excessive muscle tension) and dystonia (individual tension of various muscle groups), which in the future can become one of the reasons for the baby’s lag in physical development, the formation of incorrect posture and gait. Such children need the supervision of a neurologist and orthopedist.
• Parents may notice that a baby's legs are "curved like a wheel" as they begin to walk. O-shaped (varus) curvature of the legs is quite common in children in the first years of life. The cause of the development of varus deformity may be heredity, muscle weakness, underdevelopment of the ligamentous apparatus, softening of the bones due to a lack of vitamin D. If the changes are not very pronounced, this deviation may go away on its own as the child grows, increases motor activity and strengthens the muscles. If the baby has signs of rickets, excess weight or other diseases associated with metabolic disorders, he must be under the supervision of an orthopedic doctor.
• Normally, the child places his feet parallel to each other or slightly spreading his toes outward, while the load on the foot should fall mainly on its outer part. If a baby “rolls” his feet inward when walking, then most likely there is a valgus deformation of the feet, as a result of which the child may develop an X-shaped (valgus) curvature of the legs: when in a standing position with knees closed, the distance between the baby’s ankles is more than 4– 5 cm. The causes of hallux valgus are rickets, excess weight, and mechanical damage (trauma). Such children must be observed by an orthopedic doctor, who will assess the condition of the child’s bones and muscles and, if necessary, prescribe therapeutic massage, gymnastics, wearing orthopedic shoes or other types of correction.
• If, when walking, the child’s feet are strongly turned towards each other with their toes, creating the effect of clubfoot, or, conversely, they are strongly spread in different directions, then he should also be shown to an orthopedist.

If you notice any signs that are concerning, it is best to consult a pediatric orthopedist. Only a specialist can assess whether the abnormalities are serious and require treatment. The sooner you see a doctor, the easier and more effectively it will be possible to correct the disorders identified in your baby. As planned, you should visit an orthopedic doctor at 1, 3, and 6 months, then when the child turns 1 year, 1.5, then at 2 and 3 years.

Choosing children's shoes for the first steps

This is one of the main questions that arises for parents of a baby taking his first steps. The foot of a child starting to walk is not yet formed, its muscles are quite weak, the ligaments are elastic and stretchable, the physiological curves have not yet acquired their final shape, so improper loading can lead to disturbances in its development. That is why it is important that the child wears well-chosen shoes at home and on the street, which will support the child’s feet, promote the correct distribution of the load and the natural formation of the arches of the feet, preventing the development of flat feet.

It is advisable to put shoes on the baby as soon as he begins to make attempts to stand on his feet. Household sandals and boots should be light and comfortable, but at the same time meet all the requirements for children's shoes.

Children's shoes not only perform a protective function, but also participate in the formation of a child's foot, so you need to approach the choice of children's shoes very seriously. Baby's first shoes should really be “firsts” – i.e. new. It is not recommended to wear shoes inherited from older children, since when worn, they take the shape of the foot of their first owner and will no longer fit correctly on the foot of another child, which can lead to disruption of the formation of the “successor’s” feet.

It is better to choose shoes together with your baby, so that you can try them on right away. It is better to try on in the afternoon, since by the evening any leg swells a little.

Children's shoe size

If your child's feet vary slightly in size, you should choose boots based on the larger foot. When assessing closed children's shoes, it is difficult to understand by appearance whether there is enough room for toes, so orthopedists recommend preparing a stencil before going to the store in order to use it to find a pair of the right size. To take measurements, place the child on a thick sheet of paper or cardboard, trace the foot and cut out a design along the contour. In addition, some specialized stores have stopometers that help determine the length of the baby's feet.

It is preferable to choose boots or summer sandals made from natural “breathable” materials.

Primary requirements:

• A rigid closed back that reaches the baby’s ankle and securely fixes the heel.
• Moderately hard flexible sole with a textured non-slip surface and a small heel (up to 0.5 cm high).
• Convenient and reliable clasp that secures the leg well at the ankle.
• Absolutely flat insole.
• The toe of the boot should be round, wide and sufficiently rigid to protect the toes from injury. When choosing between an open and closed toe, it is better to give preference to a closed one. The distance from the edge of the sock to the toes should be 1–1.5 cm: in summer time this reserve will come in handy if the leg swells from the heat, and in winter it will create an air layer so that the baby’s legs do not freeze. In order to save money, you should not buy boots for growth (several sizes larger), the child’s foot will dangle in them, and it will be very uncomfortable for him to walk.
• Boots, like sandals, should hold well and not fall off the foot, and also not deform when walking. To understand whether your baby is comfortable in the chosen shoes, before purchasing, give him the opportunity to walk around in them for 5-10 minutes.

What mistakes do parents make when their child starts walking?

Many parents, in raising and caring for their child, are guided by popular judgments, which are not always justified from a medical point of view. Application in practice of such useful tips may harm the baby's health. Here are some common misconceptions:

• A child who cannot walk must be led by the hand.

Some parents, in an effort to promote the early development of their child, begin to lead him by the hand. Such a load may be too much for the child’s fragile musculoskeletal system and lead to deformation of the legs and spine.

• At home, the child should walk on the floor barefoot.

Many parents believe that it is beneficial for children to go barefoot. But here great importance has a surface on which bare feet stomp.

When walking on a flat surface of a home floor (linoleum, tiles, parquet, laminate), there is no reflexive contraction of the foot muscles, and the main load falls on the weak ligamentous apparatus, as a result the natural formation of the arches of the foot is disrupted and flat feet can develop. Therefore, it is advisable that the child does not walk barefoot, in socks or soft slippers at home, but takes his first steps only in appropriate shoes. But sand, small pebbles or short grass on a country lawn are good for training the developing muscular-ligamentous apparatus of children’s feet, and walking barefoot on such surfaces is very useful for a child.

• Children's shoes must have arch support.

There is a widespread belief that proper children's shoes must have arch support, while orthopedists claim that healthy child Forced correction of the arches of the feet is not only unnecessary, but can even be harmful. An instep support that roughly supports the longitudinal arch of a baby’s healthy foot can interfere with the natural process of its formation and, conversely, lead to the development of flat feet.

The wearing of therapeutic orthopedic shoes for children is prescribed only by an orthopedic doctor according to indications, while the specialist takes into account the individual characteristics of the feet of each particular child.

Why do you need a walker for a child?

The modern children's products industry is doing everything possible to make life much easier for mothers. One of these assistants is walkers. Parents often rush to purchase them, confident that they will thus help their child learn to walk independently - as soon as the baby makes his first attempt to stand on his feet.

In fact, several arguments can be made in favor of walkers:

Using them frees up mom's hands and gives her the opportunity to do household chores.
Walkers help the child move to an upright position, opening up new horizons for him. The baby gets the opportunity to move freely around the house, satisfying his needs for movement and exploration of the world around him.
The diameter of the walker does not allow the baby to reach dangerous objects with his hand, and the bumper makes it difficult to open forbidden doors and drawers: that is, being able to move, the child is in relative safety.

But still, the help that walkers provide to parents is not comparable to the harm they can cause to a child if used incorrectly. Therefore, mom and dad who are planning to buy this vehicle for their baby need to know some common misconceptions about its benefits, as well as the safety rules associated with this type of transport.

Walkers will help your child learn to walk

The mechanism of walking in a walker is significantly different from the mechanism of independent walking. In the first case, the child leans forward, pushing off with the toe of the foot, and not with the entire foot (which is important for independent walking), and this can lead to incorrect placement of the feet and affect the child’s gait.

In addition, in a walker, the child does not learn to maintain balance and fall correctly, grouping and protecting important parts of the body from impact.

Due to the fact that the baby is deprived of the ability to squat, climb and crawl, his muscles are much less trained and strengthened in a walker, and prolonged stay in an upright position can lead to overstrain of the back muscles, curvature of the spine and deformation of the legs.
In addition, by placing a child in a walker, parents can deprive or significantly shorten the crawling period, which is very important and useful for his development. A child wearing a walker does not stimulate the need for independent movement, because in order to achieve a goal, he does not need to make significant efforts.

Thus, the use of walkers may not only not speed up, but also slow down the baby’s acquisition of new motor skills.

A child wearing a walker will not fall or hit himself

In fact, walkers are quite dangerous for a child. They can roll over and get stuck in doorways; Having accelerated, they hit the obstacle hard. Particularly dangerous are thresholds, steps and joints of one floor covering with another that is different in texture (for example, the transition from carpet to laminate). Developing significant speed, in such places the walker can tip over along with the baby and cause injury that is much more dangerous than if the child simply fell from his own height. Constantly being in a walker, the baby will not learn to be careful and avoid collisions.

In addition, even when their movements are limited, children manage to reach some dangerous objects that were previously inaccessible to them.

Walkers stimulate the development of intelligence

Although walkers expand the baby’s viewing angle and give him the opportunity to better explore the space of the apartment, they cannot be called useful for the intellectual and mental development of the little man. If the baby stays in a walker for a long time, he will not be able to sufficiently understand the boundaries and capabilities of his body. And given that the natural process of cognition in children of the 1st year of life proceeds through feeling with their hands and testing “by tooth”, without reaching out to interesting objects, the baby is deprived of the opportunity to fully get acquainted with the world around him.

In order not to harm the child’s health, you can use a walker, observing several conditions:

Do not put your baby in a walker before 8 months. The child must be able to sit well and confidently on his own, stand on his feet and, preferably, crawl.
The height of the walker should be adjusted so that the child's feet are in full contact with the floor surface. The baby's feet should be shod in properly selected shoes.
The time the baby spends in the walker should not exceed 15–20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
A child wearing a walker must not be left unattended.
Before purchasing a walker, you should consult your pediatrician and orthopedist. Children who have symptoms of rickets, are overweight, and are under the supervision of an orthopedist for diseases of the musculoskeletal system are contraindicated in walkers.

Dangerous places in the house for a child's first steps

It’s not without reason that they say: when a child learns to walk, parents forget what it’s like to sit. With a change in body position, new horizons and corners of the home space open up for the tireless researcher. In order not to overshadow the newly-minted pedestrian’s delight in the acquired skill with endless shouts, prohibitions, and to avoid injury, adults should make the home environment surrounding the baby as safe as possible. It is best to go down to the child’s height level and from this height assess which objects may pose a threat to him.

There should be no interior parts in the rooms that the baby could turn over or tip over, wires should be securely hidden, electrical appliances should be unplugged from sockets, plugs should be placed on sockets, sharp corners of furniture should be covered - for example, using special covers.

The most dangerous rooms for a child are the kitchen and bathroom. In the kitchen, hot drinks standing on the edge of the table pose a great danger. It is better to remove the tablecloth from the table so that the child cannot pull it off along with the dishes and its contents, and remove sharp and breakable objects away. The baby should not be in the kitchen when all kinds of kitchen appliances are on Appliances, which he can reach. Of particular danger are ovens and gas and gas burners. electric stove. Hot surfaces that the baby can touch and splashes from cooking food that get on the baby's skin can cause severe burns.

The bathroom is no less dangerous than the kitchen. The bathroom door should always be tightly closed. Household chemicals, medicines, shaving accessories and other dangerous items should be stored out of the reach of children. Do not leave your baby in the bathroom alone, unattended, even if he is engaged in some activity that you think is safe.

For the safety of the child taking his first steps, you can buy special devices in children's stores. A special leash - a belt for children starting to walk (the so-called “reins”) will help protect your baby from falls and injuries on the street, and you can purchase a soft protective helmet to protect your baby’s head.

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The first step is one of the most exciting moments in a child’s development. Moms and dads always look forward to their baby mastering the skill of moving independently on his legs. And at some point, parents begin to think about how to teach their child to walk so that he can do it without support.

At what age do children start walking?

According to the conventional norm, based on statistical data, babies begin to walk between the ages of 9 and 16 months. But each child is individual, so going beyond the specified limits is not a mandatory sign of any developmental pathology. There are children who stand on their feet at 7 months, and after a while they are already walking. Others, on the contrary, have not yet mastered the skill of independent walking at the age of one and a half years. This depends on various factors:

• Heredity. Doctors usually ask at what age mom and dad mastered a particular skill. If one of the parents started walking late in childhood, most likely the baby will also be in no hurry to take the first step.
• Body type. All skills are usually more difficult for strong children, so they also begin to walk later than their thin and light peers.
• Gender of the child. Girls are often ahead of boys in development, this also applies to the ability to walk independently.
• The degree of development of the body muscles and sense of balance. This factor largely depends on the parents, who, with the help of exercises, can help the baby strengthen his muscles and learn to maintain balance.
• Temperament. Calm and contemplative children may crawl longer and go later than active toddlers seeking to satisfy their curiosity.
• Psychological atmosphere in the house. Constant quarrels in the family can lead to stress in the baby. He will not try to walk on his own until he feels completely safe.

Leading and being late

Don't rush your child to get on his feet and take the first step. If this happens too early, not due to the individual characteristics of the baby, but due to excessive activity and desire of the parents, the consequences can be negative. The baby's muscles are not yet strengthened enough and are not ready to withstand the weight of his body. This is especially true for overweight children. The result of such parental haste can be valgus deformity of the legs and feet.

A different situation arises when the child is already 16-17 months old and has not yet begun to walk. The reasons may be different: from the baby’s weakened immunity to more serious disorders, such as the consequences of birth trauma. In this case, you cannot do without consulting specialists. If doctors have not identified any abnormalities in the development of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system, the delay may correspond to the individual rhythm of the child’s development.

How to determine if your baby is ready to walk

Before teaching a child to walk independently, parents should observe him to determine whether he is ready for this.

The baby is physically and psychologically ready to start walking if he is able to:

• stand on your feet, holding onto a fixed support, sit down from this position;
• rise from your knees independently;
• remain in an upright position for a long time;
• stand without support;
• attempt to move while holding onto furniture or walls;
• release the support to take 1-2 steps.

Recipe for the occasion::

Preliminary preparation

The correct gait of a child must be developed even before he begins to walk. Special exercises will help develop your baby’s muscles and speed up the development of independent walking:

• Place the child on his back and grab his ankles with both hands. Bend the baby's legs at the knees and place them flat on the floor. Take 2-3 “steps”, moving your legs forward, then back. Repeat 4-5 times. When performing this exercise, which develops the correct placement of the feet, it is important to ensure that the child does not curl his toes.
• Place the baby on the fitball with his stomach, holding him under his arms. Lightly roll back and forth, touching the baby's feet to the wall and encouraging him to straighten his legs when pushing off. Repeat 5-7 times.
• Place the baby on his back. Holding a wooden stick at the height of the baby’s straightened legs, ask him to reach the stick with his feet. The goal is to raise your legs at a right angle, without bending your knees.
• Place the baby on the floor so that his feet are completely pressed to the floor. Take the child by the hands and ask him to sit down, spreading his knees to the sides, then stand up. When standing up, raise the baby's arms up so that he stands on his toes.
• Place the child on the floor, pressing his back to you. Hold your knees with one hand, preventing them from bending, and with the other hand, hold your stomach. Ask your baby to bend down to pick up the toy in front of him, then straighten up. Repeat 3-4 times.

Exercises to master walking skills

The following complex is designed to be performed with children who are confidently standing on their feet:

• Place the child on the floor with his back to you, holding his stomach with one hand. With the other hand, take the baby by the shin, lifting the baby’s leg bent at the knee. Hold in the raised position for 5-7 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times with the right and left legs.
• Starting position - as in exercise No. 1. Holding the child’s bent leg with your hand, make a movement simulating stepping over an obstacle (slightly straightening the leg forward and down). Repeat 3-5 times, alternating legs.
• IP - as in exercise No. 1. Place a large book or a strong box 6-7 cm high in front of the child. Taking the baby’s leg by the ankle and bending it at the knee, place it on the “step”, pressing the foot tightly to the surface. While supporting the child, help him lean on this leg, straightening it and climbing onto the box. Place the other leg next to it. Go down again and repeat 3-5 times with each leg. When it starts to work out well, you can put 2-3 steps of different heights.
• Turn the child with his back to you, holding him under the armpits and placing his feet on yours. Walk around the room a little so that the baby can understand the principle and reinforce this movement for himself.
• Place a small light ball in front of the baby. Take the child’s slightly bent leg with your hand and hit the ball with it. Repeat 4-5 times with each leg. After this, you can invite the baby to try to kick the ball on his own.

When a child masters walking, it is important to ensure that his gait is correct: the baby should place his feet parallel and not spread too wide.

Stimulating interest in walking

Until the baby understands that moving independently is an interesting activity, thanks to which you can learn and see a lot of new things, he will have no incentive to learn to walk. Parents will have to be smart to encourage their child to break away from the support.

• Offer a toy to a child standing near a support. The baby will take it with one hand. After that, offer him another, no less attractive toy. To take it, the child will have to let go of the other hand, standing without support.
• Place several chairs at a short distance from each other, placing interesting objects on them. The child will be able to move from one of them to another. Over time, the chairs move further and further apart.
• Joint games with parents are the most interesting thing that can be offered to a child. The baby will enjoy storming sofas with mom and dad and overcoming small obstacles from various items home furnishings (pillows, cushions, etc.).
• The example of other children who can walk and even run well will help encourage a child to move independently. Let the little one watch how those who are no longer led by the hand have fun on the playground.

Helping devices

Walkers

These devices are created more for the convenience of parents than for the development of children. Walkers give the mother the opportunity to free her hands while watching her child in order to have time to do something around the house. They soften impacts on surrounding objects and provide the baby with some independence and mobility. The baby cannot fall or hit a sharp corner. But you should not leave a child in a walker for a long time, this can harm the child’s body.

• The process of a child learning to walk will not speed up, since other muscle groups are involved when moving in a walker. The baby pushes off the support with the toes of his feet, and does not step over, as it should be when walking. This may further provoke the wrong type of walking - on toes.
• A child placed in a walker too early may miss important developmental milestones such as crawling. As a result, his muscles and joints will not be properly prepared for upright walking. In walkers, the vertical load on a weak spinal column increases, which in the future can lead to poor posture and more serious consequences.
• This type of movement does not engage or strengthen the back muscles, which can lead to problems with the spine.

For healthy children, it is permissible to be in a walker for no more than 30-40 minutes a day. Devices are strictly contraindicated for children with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, suffering from rickets, decreased or increased muscle tone, as well as children who do not yet know how to sit confidently.

Walkers

Unlike walkers in which the baby sits, rolling walkers are designed for children who can stand confidently on their feet. The child pushes such walkers in front of him, moving freely. Children like bright and interesting devices, because on their front part there are usually various educational toys. With such helpers, even the most cautious children will be able to master the skill of walking without fear of falling.

Reins for children

Designed to support a baby who has poor balance and is learning to walk. The device allows mothers and fathers to protect the baby from falls. At the same time, parents do not need to bend over and strain their backs.

The danger is that with the help of such a leash it is impossible to teach the child to maintain balance. He will get used to the fact that there is no need to be careful when falling. But the baby must learn to fall in order to avoid serious injuries.

Choosing your first shoes

The correct choice of first shoes is very important for the health of the baby’s musculoskeletal system. It reliably protects the baby’s legs from mechanical damage, and also helps shape the child’s feet. High-quality and properly selected shoes will help give your baby stability and make his first steps more confident.

To determine the size, you need to place the baby on a sheet of thick paper or cardboard and circle each foot with a pencil. With the cut out stencil you can go to the store. If one foot turns out to be slightly larger, you should select the size according to it.

It is better to opt for children's shoes that meet the following criteria:

• made from natural materials;
• light in weight;
• has a high heel for rigid and reliable fixation of the heel;
• with a closed round toe;
• the sole is non-slip and not overly soft, has a textured surface and a heel of approximately 0.5 centimeters;
• securely fixes the leg in the ankle.

Many parents immediately buy orthopedic shoes for their baby. This type of shoe is medicinal and is purchased only for medical reasons. The recommendation to wear orthopedic shoes is given by a specialist, taking into account diagnoses confirmed by x-rays.

You should not buy shoes one size larger. In shoes that do not fit properly and dangle on their feet, the baby will begin to tuck his socks inward, constantly keeping his knees bent.

To teach a baby to walk, he must first be prepared for it. It is necessary to stimulate the child to new achievements, while focusing on his mood. If the baby refuses to do something, you cannot insist or force, this can completely discourage him from moving independently and delay the development of walking skills indefinitely.