Baby’s first steps are an important goal, so important that they even arouse very strong emotions in parents when their child takes their first steps.
Around 12 and 14 months, most children start walking. When the child begins to walk, he does it first by taking his mother’s hand and, soon after, he leans on the walls or furniture. Thus, the child begins to cope with his first movements without help, more and more confident and determined. In this article, we tell you how you should act and how you can help your child when he starts walking.
Baby’s first steps: do not force the child
Encourage him to walk alone, but don’t force him too much. Avoid always taking it by the hand: it is better for its future autonomy that the conquest of the first steps comes entirely to him.
Baby’s first steps: what to do if the child falls?
When he falls, which is very common when the baby begins to take his first steps, you should not seem frightened (in this case, you would scare him too), you should rather smile and encourage him to get up. Help him if he can’t stand up on his own after a few tries.
My baby is learning to walk: not even afraid!
Let your baby become familiar with his new skill without putting pressure on him or showing any apprehension: walking is a natural act and it is good for the child to be able to start doing it without feeling suffocated by expectations or excessive fears.
My baby wants to walk on all fours
Let baby crawl, even if he has already learned to walk, if that is what he wants. It is not good to force a child to walk when he prefers to do it on the ground (maybe he wants to go faster).
Learn to walk: be careful, baby catches everything
Organize the house safely, keeping valuables and/or dangerous items out of your child’s reach. The interval between when he starts walking and when he starts to get to a place and catch everything is usually very short.
The baby park
You have to minimize the use of the park because from the moment the child begins to walk, it becomes a real prison!
Is it good to use a baby walker?
Completely eliminate the use of the baby walker which, from the first steps, can delay the moment when the child gains the confidence necessary to walk without help.
Helping your child to walk: between mom and dad
Train the child by making him walk on one side and on the other, from the arms of the mother to those of the father, located face to face, at a distance of a few meters. To encourage him, it is better to crouch down, open your arms and call your baby by his first name using an affectionate tone.
Baby’s first steps: at his height
During his first attempts to walk alone, offer your child the possibility of leaning on a sofa, a table (without sharp or glass parts), or a chair. Wheeled toys like trucks or carts are also suitable.
Is it better for baby to walk barefoot?
Put soft shoes with soft soles on your baby. You can leave it barefoot on the carpet or the floor. Footwear should not be used to support the foot, but to protect it from injury and abrasions. In addition, they are used to prevent the child from slipping. Her little feet do not need the support of tall, rigid shoes. On the contrary, to strengthen themselves, they must be left free as long as possible.
My baby is not walking yet!
You should not be in a hurry as your child walks or let yourself go to worry about a possible delay compared to other children of his age. Humans are genetically programmed to walk: in the absence of diseases or serious locomotor problems, all children learn to do it sooner or later …
