During the first year of life, all infants go through several developmental stages, including crawling and sitting before they learn how to walk. Most babies will take their first steps between 10 and 18 months of age, but it's not unusual for them to take longer to get there. If your baby is late, be patient and keep practising every day. This will make it easier for him or her to gain the confidence to walk on their own.
Babies need to have sufficient muscle strength in their legs, hips and trunk before they can begin walking. They also need to be able to distribute their weight evenly throughout their feet. If your baby can't do this, he or she might have a developmental issue. You can help your baby strengthen his or her legs by introducing toys. Toys can be placed on a tabletop, coffee table, or couch. When they are near your child's eye level, they encourage him or her to explore and play with them.
To give your baby the best chance of learning how to walk, you should meet them where they are. You can do this by making sure your home is safe and baby-proofed. You can add bumpers around furniture and purchase area rugs. You can also use a baby walker to help your baby develop the necessary skills. A walker toy is easy to use, and will teach your baby how to stand and balance. You can even attach a wrist weight to the walker toy to help your baby build balance.
Your baby can also practice walking while sitting on a stool. This will help him or her to focus on their feet under their body and on their trunk. It also helps your baby develop the necessary muscle strength to hold their body weight and maintain their balance.
You can also teach your child how to walk by using a diamond technique. In this exercise, you sit on the floor with your baby. You then place your hands on both sides of your infant's body. You then gently pull one arm forward and the other behind your baby. This forces your baby to tilt his or her head and shoulders back. It also teaches your baby to coordinate all of the major muscle groups to move from a sitting position to a standing position.
A few ways to help your child learn how to walk are to hold a favorite stuffed animal or toy in front of your child. You can then slowly and steadily move the toy away. Your child will be motivated to try and reach for the object, which will strengthen his or her hips and trunk.
You can also place your child's favorite toy at a height that is comfortable for him or her. For example, you can put the toy near a mirror or sliding glass door. You can also place the toy next to your child's feet. This will make it fun for your child to walk around, which will help to build his or her confidence.
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