When should a child start walking independently Komarovsky. When will the baby take his first step? And how can I help him with this? The baby went earlier or later than the optimal time - is this good or bad?

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  • Parents, without exception, tend to be proud of the achievements of their children. The first tooth came out, the child sat up on his own, crawled, reached for a toy on his own, took the first step - all these are reasons for incredible pride.

    For some reason, mothers and fathers believe that the sooner their child stands on two legs and starts walking on his own, the better. And those whose little ones don’t want to sit down, crawl and walk tend not only to panic, fearing for the health of their beloved child, but also to blame themselves for the fact that their child is developing more slowly than others. The famous children's doctor Evgeniy Komarovsky tells whether it is possible to teach a child to walk independently and whether this should be done.

    About norms and deviations from them

    In pediatrics, there are certain standards for the physical development of a child. Typically, the average baby begins to stand with support at 7-9 months. He begins to cope without support (or even takes his first steps) by 10-12 months. If a child does not walk at 1 year and 2 months, this is not necessarily a sign of a serious illness. Such a baby does not need to be treated immediately.

    If the pediatrician reasonably considers the child healthy, then it does not matter at all when the baby begins to walk - at 6, 8 months, at 10 or at 18. In the notorious statistics, of course, the timing of the start of upright walking is also discussed - from 10 to 15 months. However, in practice they can differ greatly from these values, since all children are very individual. Komarovsky advises not to compare your child with other children and with average standards. This is a thankless task; it leads to the development of neuroses in both the child and his parents.

    Why doesn't the child walk?

    The ability to develop walking is influenced by a huge number of factors:

    • weight and build of the baby;
    • readiness of muscles and spine;
    • his state of health (whether there are any chronic or acute diseases);
    • child's temperament, character traits;
    • heredity;
    • the child's desire to walk.

    Komarovsky considers the baby’s desire to move vertically to be the key factor. Nature has arranged everything in such a way that the desire to walk appears precisely when there are optimal physical capabilities for its implementation.

    If the child has successfully completed all the previous stages (rolling over, sitting, crawling), he is quite ready to stand and walk. However, there is no need to rush him. Children who are forced into an upright position by their parents are at great risk. The load on the spine (especially if the baby is chubby and overweight) can cause further problems with this same spine.

    If the baby is somatically healthy, and the pediatrician who is observing him declares that the child has no diseases, then Komarovsky advises not to specifically teach the child to walk for up to a year. Nothing terrible, according to Evgeniy Olegovich, will happen if the little one spends a couple of extra months in a horizontal position.

    About walkers

    Many parents believe that walkers will help solve the problem of “non-walking”. They buy this (not the cheapest) device and calm down - everything that depended on them has been done. Dr. Evgeniy Komarovsky says that the main benefit of walkers is the benefit for parents. Walkers - great way keep your child occupied and free own hands. While the child is in a walker, the mother can be calm - the child will not fall anywhere, will not hit a sharp corner, or be injured. If we're talking about As for the short time it takes a mother to cook dinner or take a shower, there is nothing wrong with a walker.

    The terrible thing begins when parents, with the help of these same walkers, try hard to teach the child to walk and keep the baby in this device all the time until he sleeps.

    The earlier mom and dad start using walkers, the stronger and more dangerous the vertical load on the child’s spine.

    Before standing, the baby must go through the crawling stage, since in the process of moving on the belly, on all fours, on fists, even backwards, the child’s back, legs and arms muscles are trained and strengthened, which then allows him to start walking with minimal load on the spine.

    Walkers may cause acquired curvature of the legs. The fact is that a child in a walker pushes off the surface with the outer side of the foot. If this method of movement is practiced often, incorrect walking is formed. Crooked legs for a boy, maybe not so much a big problem, but it doesn’t make the girl look good.

    It's no secret that walkers are a common gift for families with a small child. Considering all of the above, Dr. Komarovsky recommends that donors replace the walker with a playpen. This device will help the child have a good time, not fall or get hurt, or climb somewhere, and will give the mother precious free time for cooking, ironing and putting herself in order.

    For more details, watch the short video of Dr. Komarovsky.

    How to teach walking?

    Komarovsky says that The best way teach a child to walk - first teach him to crawl and in every possible way encourage such a horizontal (and therefore relatively safe) way of moving in space.

    Sometimes it happens that a child is afraid to start walking. Physically, he is ready (and even tried) to walk on his own, but he fell, was badly hurt, something scared him, and after that the little one does not want to take any steps. In this situation, parents should gently and unobtrusively help their child - but not learn to walk, but overcome fear.

    The correct way to teach a child to walk is to teach him when he himself is ready for it, but for some reason cannot overcome his fear. It is quite difficult for parents, especially those with little parenting experience, to understand when the baby is ready to move on two limbs. There are several sure signs that there is physiological readiness:

    • The child can stand on his feet for a long time, holding onto the side of the playpen or the railings of the crib.
    • The child learned to step over, holding on to the sides or railings.
    • The child learned not only to stand, but also to take a sitting position from a standing position (this indicates developed back muscles).
    • The child is already walking, but he does it in his own way - he walks on his knees, tries to move on his toes.

    Conquering fear is not as easy as it seems; it will take long and hard work from mom and dad. It is best to work with your child in game form, encouraging him to let go of the support and take a step on his own. If you decide to do such activities, the first thing you will need is orthopedic shoes, which will allow your child to stand on his own two feet more confidently.

    Then you should create the right surface for walking (slippery tiles and equally slippery linoleum are not suitable). If the baby has begun to walk, but does so unsteadily, often falls, sometimes stops and starts crying, you can use support in the form of reins (made from a sheet, attached to the shoulder girdle and under the arms).

    If the baby is already able to stomp on his own, you need to help him learn to overcome obstacles. With the help of adults, in a playful way, he can step over small objects and a stretched rope. Such exercises will help him feel his body and explore its capabilities.

    Walking barefoot

    Parents often ask if their child can walk barefoot. Many do this under pressure from the older generation - grandparents are horrified when they see a toddler take his first steps with bare heels on the bare floor. There is nothing wrong with such a “walk” without shoes, Komarovsky believes, and besides, it is very useful for the child.

    Nature does not provide any shoes, and therefore biologically and physiologically the child definitely does not need them. If the floor is cold and the baby is barefoot, there is no need to be afraid that increased heat transfer will occur. The child is unlikely to get sick.

    When the foot comes into contact with a cold floor, the skin vessels on the baby’s legs narrow, and this is what prevents heat loss. This compensatory property is present only in human legs, but not in other parts of the body.

    Children grow very quickly, you recently brought your baby home from the hospital and now he is already crawling, sitting and trying to walk on his own. This is a very important stage in the baby’s life, as parents must support the child in his first attempts to walk independently.

    The parents’ task is to ensure that the child, who is already one year old, begins emotional, psychological and physical preparation for the fact that he will walk. Most often, it is difficult for a child to take his first step simply because he usually always sits in a crib or playpen, or he has already made his first attempts to walk and they ended in a painful fall or fright.

    Show your child other places in the apartment, lie on the floor with him, let him at 9 months crawl on the floor and explore open space. This way the child will not develop a feeling of fear or insecurity and will feel comfortable on the floor.

    When the child has the first desire to walk independently, parents should provide him with support. The baby should walk without bending the body forward, the weight should be evenly distributed on the child’s feet.

    To do this, you need to hold the child's hands correctly, your palm should be placed between the hand and the baby's elbow. If it is difficult for you to walk with your baby in such a bent position, you can use a towel folded and held under the baby’s arms, or you can buy special reins.

    It is imperative to make a safe space where the baby will learn to walk. If there is a slippery floor, cords or sharp corners, the baby may fall, get injured or simply get scared, and then teaching a child to walk at 10-11 months will be much more difficult.

    In order for a child to be interested in quickly learning to walk independently at 11-12 months, he needs to be properly interested. Place a bright toy a few steps away from the baby so that the baby wants to reach it. The main thing is that the distance is such that the baby can easily and simply overcome it. If a child who is one year old fails to do this, the toddler may become upset and the negative experience will last for a long time.

    Parents need to remember that if you rush things, you can simply harm your child. When the baby is 10-11 months old, he may not yet be physically ready to walk with his legs. Let your child develop at his own speed, and then he will be able to quickly and independently begin to walk without support within a year.

    Safety

    When trying to teach a child to walk, mom and dad must definitely think about the safety of their baby. The place where he crawls and begins to take his first steps without support should be free. There should be no steps, carpets or wires. Sharp corners also need to be protected.

    Choose for your baby good shoes, in which he will be comfortable. Best fit leather shoes with a hard sole. If it has a slippery bottom, don't be afraid to sand the surface with sandpaper.

    Try to ensure that your baby learns on a non-slippery surface. Even if he falls, he can get up on his own and continue walking. This way the little one will not lose faith in his abilities and will not lose interest in learning.

    Why does a child walk on his toes?

    There is an opinion among experts that every baby goes through the stage of walking on his toes. In children under three years of age, this is a normal and common occurrence when the baby learns to jump and run. But parents will need to be vigilant, since walking on toes, along with other symptoms, can cause some neurological diseases. If your baby continues to walk on his toes at 4-5 years old, then you are in a good position to see a doctor.

    Reasons why a baby can walk on tiptoes at the age of two:

    1. The desire to attract attention.
    2. Experiments with walking.
    3. The baby is trying to reach for something.
    4. Imitating someone.
    5. Not wanting to step on something or get dirty.
    6. Cold floor.
    7. The habit of walking on tiptoes while wearing a walker.

    Watch your baby and try to notice the moments when he steps on his full foot and when he walks on his toes. This way you can easily understand the reasons for such walking.

    My child walks on tiptoes. What to do?

    Use a walker?

    Walkers are often used to quickly teach a one-year-old child to walk. Often, walkers can get things moving and the baby will quickly learn to move independently and without support at 10-12 months.

    Exist different opinions about walkers, both positive and negative. Let's look at the negative ones first:

    1. The child does not have the opportunity to learn to maintain balance due to the constant presence of support.
    2. Mobility development skills are slowed down.
    3. The gait becomes springy.
    4. There is a huge risk of injury.
    5. Constant compression of the perineum and muscle tone is present.
    6. Movement is too limited.
    7. Disorientation in space.

    The usefulness of walkers is expressed in the following:

    1. The baby is learning to walk.
    2. A child's coordination develops within a year.
    3. It is easier for a baby to explore the space around him.
    4. From 12 months, the muscles of the back and legs are strengthened.
    5. The child has his hands free to play.
    6. Mom has free time.

    Every parent is free to decide whether to use a walker or not. But before you take such a step, get advice from a specialist, it will be the right thing to do.

    What kind of shoes should you have?

    To teach your child to walk correctly, you need to choose the right training shoes. To do this, you need to start picking up your baby at 9 months. the right shoes. If your baby does not have any orthopedic abnormalities, then comfortable boots with a rigid, fixed heel and a soft, flexible sole will be sufficient. When choosing shoes, you definitely need to try them on. Otherwise, the new thing will not fit either in terms of completeness or length.

    Requirements for children's shoes in which the baby will learn to walk:

    1. It should be made of leather or suede, so the leg can breathe.
    2. The sole should be thin and flexible.
    3. The back should be fixed and firm.
    4. A stable heel will allow the baby not to fall back at one year of age.
    5. The surface of the shoe should be soft and wrinkle easily.
    6. In order for the arch of the foot to form correctly, shoes must have soft arch support.

    How to choose shoes for a child. Doctor Komarovsky. Choose shoes

    If parents properly prepare the baby for walking, then teaching the baby to walk without support will be easier.

    1. Be sure to place the baby on the tummy.
    2. Encourage rolling over from back to tummy.
    3. If the baby is crawling at 9 months, then give him the opportunity to do this. This way the baby will strengthen all the necessary muscles.
    4. At one year, hold the baby under the armpits so that the baby learns to bend and straighten its legs. If the baby begins to stand up on his own, then let him use different types supports so that the muscles are strengthened more actively.

    During the first year of life, the child goes through important stages development to get back on your feet with confidence. He learns to roll over from his back to his stomach and back, tries to crawl, exploring the world(more details in the article:). Then he sits down, stands at the support, and then takes his first hesitant steps. For each child, this process is individual and takes up to 11 months, so parents should not follow the example of other children, giving their beloved child the opportunity to go through the journey on their own.

    A child's first steps are an event that all parents look forward to

    Optimal training period

    The norm for mastering walking is considered to be 9-16 months, and the first attempts become happy and important event for the whole family. Minor deviations should be taken into account:

    1. Very early period. It is not uncommon for a baby to stand on his feet at 7 months, and after a short period of time he is already walking (see also:). Relatives and friends are delighted, and the doctor warns of a possible danger to the fragile spine. In this case, you need to look only at the development of your child. If he is ahead of his peers in other parameters, there is no reason to worry.
    2. Early period. If a child takes his first steps at 9 months of age, he has mastered the skills ahead of schedule. There is nothing wrong with this, in the absence of stimulation from adults.
    3. Late period. The first steps, even at 1.5 years old, are considered normal for a child. It is important to take into account the weight of the baby with which he was born, general development and pathology. Premature babies often lag behind their peers.

    For a healthy child, a late start to walking can also be considered normal. You should not worry, because the child’s body knows exactly when it is ready for such loads on the spine.



    The time when a child begins to walk depends on individual characteristics baby and his desire to learn to walk

    Factors influencing skill inhibition

    None of the parents will sound the alarm if the child does not go at the age of 6 months, but by the age of one year they begin to be overcome by doubts. In the absence of developmental pathologies, there is no point in worrying. Walking skills may be delayed for various reasons:

    1. Weight . The child can dial overweight as a result of poor nutrition, metabolic disorders or overeating. Reasonable physical exercise and standard portions will solve the problem. Weight puts additional stress on the spine. Swimming lessons are also useful to teach such a strong guy to take his first steps.
    2. Temperament. It is easier for cheerful sanguines and lively cholerics to change than for anxious melancholics and slow phlegmatics. They begin to sit at 6 months of age. The desire to learn to walk is inherent in emotional and mentally more developed children.
    3. Genetics. If parents went late, they should not demand Olympic performance from their child.
    4. . A problem may arise if the child is afraid to walk without outside support. It is likely that the baby fell and was seriously hurt. It is important to be patient and not rush your learning. It is enough to gently stimulate the child, showing participation and holding his hands. The training will not be completed quickly, but it will give a chance to overcome the fear of walking.
    5. Health . If the immune system is weakened and during a cold, it is impossible to teach a baby to walk. You should not continue classes, even if the process has already begun. The child will probably forget everything he knew before the illness, but the acquired skills will definitely return.
    6. Neurology and musculoskeletal system. An integrated approach will help to cope with the problem. It is necessary to correctly and timely diagnose the disease, undergo a course of treatment and include restorative procedures.


    If the baby is afraid to walk on his own, then parents need to support him with his hands

    It is impossible to identify the problem on your own, so it is advisable to contact a specialist at the first sign of a lag. The advice of friends and relatives in this case is unlikely to help.

    Gradual skill development

    Before you start learning, you need to make sure your child is ready for difficult process. You can’t rush your baby, but you also don’t want to miss the ideal month for classes. Positive aspects include lifting the baby from your knees and the ability to stand on your feet. for a long time, attempts to walk while holding onto furniture or a wall. The more favorable conditions for learning, the easier the learning will be.

    How to set up the process?

    Modern techniques make it possible to quickly awaken a child’s interest in activities. Parents should choose the most comfortable option based on the developmental characteristics of the baby:


    Dr. Komarovsky voiced only one reason why the use of reins is undesirable. Their design protects the child from falls, and being able to fall and get up is an important skill.



    The more space there is for the baby, the more interesting it will be for him to explore this world.

    Stimulating exercises

    Classes can begin when the baby tries to get up from his knees and stands on his feet. The decision to study always remains with the child, and not with parents who want to outdo friends and prove something to relatives. Each baby is individual in its own way, and the mother needs to accept him as he is. Useful exercises will help push your little one forward a little.

    For early ages

    1. Fitball exercises are suitable for children 6-9 months old (see also:). It is necessary to sit the baby on the ball, turning his face away from you and holding him by the hips. You need to rock the baby in different directions to develop balance and coordination.
    2. From 9 months it is important to teach your child to stand. The surface from which the baby will push off with his feet must be hard. The baby should be turned with its back towards you, holding it in the chest area. Then lift him up a little so that he gets up from his squat on his own and straightens his legs. To make learning fun, you can turn on music. If the baby does not understand what is required of him, it is better to return to the exercise later.
    3. From 9 months, rising from the knees is encouraged, if the baby is able to stand up independently and hold it for support. The child’s attention is attracted by the toy, after which she “runs away” and “sits” in a chair or on the sofa. The baby should follow her, stand up and take the toy.


    Any exercises and activities should be fun and interesting for the child

    For late age

    1. From 10 months of age, a toy stroller will be a useful acquisition, regardless of the child’s gender. Stroller pushing is a useful skill for helping your baby walk with support. The stroller will slowly roll forward, and the little one will follow it. It is necessary to secure him from behind.
    2. When the baby can stand confidently, you can add an exercise with sticks. The length of the sticks is about a meter, the baby holds on to them, and the adult’s hands lie on the child’s arms. By moving the sticks forward, the baby learns to walk slowly.
    3. If you visually limit the space, you can teach a child who is afraid to walk. The exercise is included in the complex when the baby is 10 months old and stands confidently. The baby is put inside the hoop and encouraged to walk in different directions by moving the edges.
    4. If the child walks well while holding an adult’s hand, it’s time to organize movement with obstacles. A rope is stretched between objects or furniture at a level comfortable for the baby. With the help of an adult, he must cross it.

    When performing exercises, you need to monitor the child’s mood. If discomfort is noticed or the child refuses to complete the task, it is advisable to postpone the lesson.



    A wheelchair will help your baby take his first steps independently. And parents need to support the child from behind

    Dangerous symptoms

    There are also problems in the learning process. Parents should contact a specialist in situations where:

    • the child is not able to take even a step without support;
    • the baby walks on his toes (we recommend reading:), without leaning on the entire foot.

    To exclude possible deviations, consulting a doctor will not be superfluous. The famous pediatrician Komarovsky claims that in most cases there are no pathologies. A video with his participation will help dispel parental doubts.

    When does a child start walking?

    New parents often compare their child's development to other children. It is especially difficult in the first year of your child’s life, as you will be constantly bombarded with questions from friends, acquaintances, relatives, neighbors and strangers about your baby’s age and what he is doing.
    Don’t be surprised if they tell you that their child sat down at 4 months and walked at 6 months. Most likely, if a child sits up at 4 months, this means that the parents themselves put him in the pillows and are not overjoyed that their child is sitting (which is physiologically very harmful for the child’s spine!).
    If their child walked at 6 months, then most likely this means that the child took a couple of steps with a walker. Clarify the nuances before making a conclusion about your child’s underdevelopment.
    Much has been written about the first steps. But still, many parents are looking forward to this event. Baby's first steps are truly a significant milestone in your baby's development. Parents look forward to this event along with the first word, the first tooth. However, the age at which your baby takes his first step varies from child to child.
    So, what time do children start walking?
    The baby's first shoes are already ready, but your child doesn't want to walk? The age at which children begin to walk, as well as what a mother needs to know about the baby’s first steps :) – on average about 12 months. However, it is normal for children to start walking from 9 months to the end of 15 months. Therefore, if a child does not go for a year, there is no need to panic. Be patient and watch how your child learns to walk - this happens only once in a lifetime.
    If the child stops walking
    There are situations when a child begins to take his first steps and suddenly stops walking. If the child has stopped walking, then analyze the reasons why the child does not walk. Most often, a child does not want to walk after a stressful situation. This could be illness, fear, a negative and stressful environment at home. Children are very susceptible to stress. Any stress can slow down a child's development. Only time and a caring attitude towards the baby will help here.
    How to teach a child to walk?
    In general, nature created man as a self-learning creature. A child, living in society, learns everything on his own - our brain is responsible for this. If a child grows up with dogs or wolves (like the well-known Mowgli), the socialization process can drag on for years. But if a child grows up with people, the question “how to teach a child to walk” is not relevant. You cannot teach a child to walk: a child at the age of 12 months simply will not understand what you want from him. But you can scare them with your attempts to teach a child to walk. Therefore, if your child is less than 16 months old, then do not teach your child to walk, but just wait patiently.
    The only thing you can do is play outdoor games with your child, stimulating him to action. And then the question of how to help your child walk will not confront you.
    Why doesn't the child walk?

    If, nevertheless, the child does not walk at 17 months, you need to consult a doctor and look for the reasons that prevent the child from walking. Most often, the reasons are either weak muscle tone or problems in the spinal cord, which requires mandatory consultation with specialists.

    The skill of independent walking is perhaps the most important skill that parents expect from their baby, along with the first words. As the baby approaches one year of age, he is getting ready to take his first independent steps. If parents feel that their child needs help, they can, of course, do so. The main thing is to help correctly. How can they teach their child to walk independently, without outside help and support?

    Everything has its time

    Before worrying that your baby still isn't walking on his own, parents should consider a few things.

    • All children develop differently. It is considered normal if the child is one year and 2 months old. But this is just an approximate framework. Someone is able to walk without mother's hands at 11 months and even earlier, and some are not ready for this even at 14 months. It depends on the baby’s health, genetics, temperament, weight and other factors. Therefore, there is no need to compare your little one with anyone.
    • If the baby is born prematurely, his physical skills will develop in accordance with biological age and compensate gradually. In this case, the timing for each skill will be individual, and this is assessed by the pediatrician.
    • In order for a child to walk independently, his muscles and bones must become strong and strong enough, and his vestibular apparatus must be trained. In other words, requiring a child to walk when he cannot balance or bounce on his mother’s lap is unwise.

    It is not by chance that nature arranges progressive development: from stage to stage. As the baby’s organs, systems, muscles and bones develop and strengthen, its motor baggage is also replenished. Therefore, before starting to walk, the child goes through several steps in succession. physical development:

    1. rollovers from the back and stomach;
    2. sitting;
    3. standing at a support;
    4. crawl;
    5. getting up.

    Only after this the small organism will be ready to master an independent vertical method of movement.

    Children's kneecaps form by about six months. Therefore, do not force things by forcing your child to stomp a lot from this age. Give your knees 2 to 3 months to strengthen. The fact that the baby “ran” at 9 or 10 months is not always good from this point of view.

    Proper preparation

    So, in order for a child to start walking on time, he needs to be prepared in advance. It is important to strengthen the muscles of the legs, hips, back, neck, and train the ability to maintain balance with the help of simple exercises. You can do all this from the moment the baby makes its first attempts to roll over.

    1. At the initial stage, the muscles of the neck and back are well strengthened by massage and lying on the stomach.
    2. Next, the back, neck, legs and arms are strengthened using inversions. Stimulate your child's interest in rolling over with brightly colored toys.
    3. The next stage is sitting. Babies can sit down from about 6–7 months. At the same time, the baby is provoked to turn to the sides, reach for toys, and lean on. This will help not only strengthen your muscles, but also improve coordination and balance.
    4. Crawl. When a child learns to crawl (read about how to help him with this), you need to encourage him to actively travel around the house, captivating him with bright toys, blocking the path with small obstacles in the form of pillows or other safe objects.
    5. Standing up and stepping over. After about 8 months, babies begin to stand up, leaning on various objects or the hands of an adult. This skill will help strengthen the baby’s arm and leg muscles and improve coordination. It’s important not just to provoke your little one to get up more often. When he starts to step, holding onto a support, you need to invite him to step over small obstacles, training his walking skill. The more often the child steps, raising his legs high, springing, jumping on his parents’ laps, the stronger his muscles and ligaments will become.
    6. Walking on support. This is the last stage before the child decides to let go of the safety net and take his first step on his own. It is important to encourage walking with support, inviting the baby to reach a bright toy or reach his mother, who calls him for a hug. During this period, it is necessary to improve the vestibular apparatus. It is useful to rock the child on the parents' lap, circle around the room, tilt to the sides, lift and lower, swing on a fitball. Among other things, such games will bring a lot of pleasure to the baby. It’s good if the baby walks a lot, holding first both hands of an adult, and then one. It is also useful for him to walk now, stepping over small obstacles. Gradually, the baby is taught to let go of the support and stand for a while.

    Don't be tempted by teaching your baby to use a walker. They will not teach him to hold his weight vertically, to maintain balance, but just the opposite. In addition, having become accustomed to moving in this way, the child may be afraid of being left without this support for a long time.

    We provide safety and comfort

    If while learning to walk the child will fall, gets hurt or injured, this can cause severe fear and will permanently cement a sense of danger in his mind for a long time. To prevent this from happening, training must take place in a safe environment. How to create it?

    • Remove from the floor everything that can hurt you or that you can get caught on and fall (cords, sharp objects, toys), put soft plugs on all corners, limiters on the doors. The floor should not be slippery, and the carpet should not move around on it.
    • There should be no steps or thresholds on the baby’s path, so learning to walk better at home in the room, not outside.
    • Shoes can become an additional source of inconvenience and anxiety, so it is better to teach your baby to walk barefoot or wearing socks that do not slip on the floor.
    • The child should see that his parents are always nearby and can back him up and catch him if he stumbles or loses his balance.
    • There shouldn’t be too many incentives for the baby, otherwise he will get confused and won’t understand which item he needs to go after.
    • Tights or panties should not interfere, slide down or get tangled between the legs.
    • During such activities, the baby should feel good and be in comfortable conditions(warm, fresh).
    • There is no need to rush things, demanding that the baby immediately walk half the room on his own. It’s correct if the first steps are few: a couple or three. Otherwise the child may get scared.

    To encourage your child to walk independently, take him for walks more often in places where small children run. Let him be inspired by their skills, the ability to handle toys with free hands, and strive for this himself.

    We are moving towards independent steps

    To teach a child to walk without support and safety nets, he must first be taught to walk with them. That is, to give the skill of moving “almost by yourself,” not on static support in the form of sofas or cabinets. You can create such a feeling, giving the joy of movement and gradually awakening the desire to move without outside help, using the following techniques and devices.

    • The hoop will help you quickly teach walking to a baby who can stand but is afraid to move. The little one should be placed inside the circle so that its arms hold the hoop, gradually moving the hoop forward. Mom's praise and support will be the best incentive for the child. He will soon realize how much joy he can get from moving this way. Gradually, the fear of leaving your support will pass.
    • The same insurance against unexpected falls is provided by special children's leash straps, by which parents support the baby while he stomps. Such “reins” will help the baby not be afraid of falls, but at the same time walk actively.
    • Stroller or rolling toy. By pushing these objects in front of him, the child can move, and the mother will not be afraid that he will fall. But you still need to insure the baby while being nearby, because surprises cannot be ruled out.
    • Free your hand. By leading the baby around the room by both hands, he is gradually taught to hold only one hand. To do this, you can put a favorite toy in his second hand and offer, for example, to take it to dad or to his place. This will improve your balance.

    If a baby constantly stumbles and falls, even while holding the hands of an adult, this may indicate vision problems. Consult an ophthalmologist so as not to miss a possible problem. If everything is in order, pay attention to training the vestibular apparatus.

    When the baby learns to confidently stomp while holding one hand, the most the last stage learning the skill of independent walking will be the provocation of the baby to let go of the adult’s hand. To do this, it is important to create a good atmosphere, smile at the baby, encourage him, tell him how smart he is.

    Let the father lead the child by the hand, and the mother waits ahead, calling him into a hug or beckoning him with a toy. You need to make sure that dad’s hand comes off the little one’s hand about a couple of steps away from mom, so that the baby takes them without having time to get scared, but feeling free for a second. If everything worked out, the child needs to be hugged and praised. IN next time dad lets go of the child's hand one step earlier, then another one. But at the same time he remains ready to catch the crumbs if he does start to fall.

    If parents act consistently and patiently, without forcing events, accepting their child as he is, then in the end they will wait for the happy moment when the child learns to walk without their help and feels independent and free.