The baby can start walking at around 9 months of age, but the most common is that the child starts walking at the age of 1, however, it is normal for the baby to take up to 18 months to walk without it being no cause for concern for parents because it usually does not represent a health problem.
Parents should only be concerned if the baby is over 18 months old and shows no interest in walking or if after 15 months the baby also has other developmental delays such as still not being able to sit or crawl, for example. In this case, the pediatrician will be able to evaluate the baby and request tests that can identify the cause of this developmental delay.
5 games to help baby walk faster
These games can be performed naturally, during the time that the parents have to take care of the baby and can be used if the baby already sits alone, without needing any support and if he also shows that he has strength in his legs and can move, even if it does not crawl very well, but does not need to be carried out before the baby is 9 months old.
- Hold the baby's little hands while he is standing on the floor and walk with him in a few steps. Be careful not to tire the baby too much and do not force the shoulder joints by pulling the baby too hard or too fast for him to walk. If the baby is standing holding the sofa or a firm support table, place a toy on the end of the sofa so that he is attracted to the toy and try to reach him walking. With the baby lying on the floor on his back, support your hands on his feet so that he makes strength, pushing his hands. This game is a favorite of babies and is great for developing muscle strength and strengthening the joints of the ankles, knees and hips. Offer toys that can be pushed upright like a doll's cart, supermarket or cleaning carts so that she can push around the house as much as she wants and whenever she wants. Stand two steps away in front of the baby and call for him to come to you alone. With a tender look and the joy on his face he will feel safe trying to reach you. As the baby may fall, it may be a good idea to try this game on the grass, because that way if he falls, he is less likely to get hurt.
If the baby falls you should support him with care, without scaring him so that he is not afraid to try to walk alone again.
All newborn babies up to 4 months of age, when held by the armpits and with feet resting on any surface, seem to want to walk. This is the gait reflex, which is natural to humans and tends to disappear at 5 months.
Check out more games that help the baby's development in this video:
Care to protect the baby who is learning to walk
The baby who is learning to walk should not stay on a walker, because this equipment is contraindicated because it can impair child development, causing the child to walk later. Understand why this can happen here.
When the baby is still learning to walk he can walk barefoot inside the house and on the beach, on the coldest days, non-slip socks are a great option because that way the feet don't get cold and the baby feels better on the floor, making it easier to walk like this.
After he has mastered the art of walking alone he will need to wear proper shoes that do not hinder the development of his feet, providing more security for the child to walk. The shoe should be the correct size and should not be too small or too loose to make the baby walk more firmly. Therefore, while the baby is not walking safely, it is best not to wear slippers, only if they have elastic at the back. See other features of the ideal shoe here.
Parents always need to accompany the baby wherever he is because this phase is very dangerous and as soon as the baby starts walking he can reach everywhere in the house, which may not have arrived just by crawling. It is good to keep an eye on the stairs, placing a small gate both at the bottom and at the top of the stairs can be a good solution to prevent the child from going up or down the stairs alone and getting hurt.
Although the baby does not like being trapped in a crib or in a pigpen, parents should limit where they can be. Closing the room doors can be helpful so that the child is not alone in any room. Protecting the corner of the furniture with small supports is also important so that it does not hit the head there.
