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How to help a child learn to walk Komarovsky. What time will the child start walking? The most common parent question

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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 toddlers do not 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. Famous children's doctor Evgeny 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 affected by huge amount 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 weighs more than normal) 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 until he is a year old. 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 are a great way to keep your child occupied and free up your 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.

How before mom and dad begins to use a walker, 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 outside feet. If this method of movement is practiced often, incorrect walking is formed. Crooked legs for a boy, maybe not so much 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 and get hurt, not climb somewhere, and will give the mother a precious free time for cooking, ironing and tidying up.

See more details in short video Doctor Komarovsky.

How to teach walking?

Komarovsky says that 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 railing 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 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, says Komarovsky, 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.

All parents look forward to their little one's first smile, first word, first tooth, and of course, first step. Within a year, the baby turns from a tiny, blind lump into little man. Many changes happen to him and the main assistants on his way to adult life, these are the parents. In order for a child to take his first step, his musculoskeletal system must become stronger, and the mother must ensure that this step does not occur too early. A delay in the start of walking also indicates some deviations from the norm. In this article we will talk about how to teach a child to walk? At the same time, do not harm the development and health of the toddler.

When can a child be taught to walk?

Before teaching your child to walk, you should make sure that your back is strong. The best workout spinal muscles and the entire musculoskeletal system, is active crawling, as well as independent sitting. There are exceptions when the toddler begins to walk without crawling, but this is not always good. By 9–10 months, most children are already crawling with all their might and trying to stand on their feet. But these are not strict standards, because everything depends on individual characteristics. The first attempts to stand independently occur near the support, then the hands let go of it, then the first step follows with holding, and in the finale the baby moves his legs without support. What time does this happen?

It is difficult for specialists to answer, since walking skills are influenced by many factors, but a framework of conventional norms exists and they show what is normal developing baby without deviations, must learn to walk from 9 months to 1 year and 3 months.

How to recognize that it is too early?

Sometimes “nimble” toddlers get up on their feet at 7 months, and after a short period of time, they walk on their own. Many people say that if you walk on your own, then everything is fine, but pediatricians say that walking earlier harms the spine. Of course, you won’t be able to force your toddler not to walk, but you shouldn’t encourage his actions either. Try to ensure that a child who begins to walk early (9 months is also early) spends as little time on his feet as possible and spends most of his time crawling. In cases of early walking, closely monitor the baby:

if he is actively developing, does not lag behind his peers, does not show signs of fatigue or possible pain in the back, legs, then rejoice at the child’s first steps;
If you notice any deviations or manifestations of pathologies, run to the doctor.

How do you know if your baby is late taking his first step?

It should be noted right away that premature babies always begin to walk much later than full-term ones. The timing for such babies is shifted to six months and the first step is closer to two years - this is the norm. More details about the development of premature babies in the article:. As for standard development, a year and a half is too late for the first step.

Why does this happen?

Quite often the cause lies in neurological or physiological disorders. As soon as your child gets on his feet, pay attention to:

feet, how they are formed;
how crooked the legs are;
how he places his feet (toes apart or inward);
Is he clumsy?

If there are such symptoms, be sure to show him to an orthopedist and neurologist. But don’t panic right away, as the delay in the skill can be affected by:

genetic predisposition, if mom or dad started walking late, then you shouldn’t expect the baby to go early;
overweight does not allow the toddler to keep his body on his feet;
temperament, phlegmatic children with slow manners always start walking later;
lack of vitamin D (rickets), this affects the child’s musculoskeletal system. How to recognize rickets in time, read the article: ;
A bad experience on your first trip quite often becomes the reason for fear of going again. In such cases, young parents are simply obliged to teach their child to walk.

How to teach a child to walk? Preparatory stage

In order to teach a child to walk, you need to develop muscles ahead of time. After all, the development of the musculoskeletal system begins in the first months of life. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare the newborn’s body for future stress long before starting to teach the child to walk. The preparatory stage of development consists of simple procedures that can accelerate physical development:

Starting at two months of age, encourage your baby to try to roll over to his side. Such movements contribute to the development of muscles in the back, arms, legs, and neck. You can teach how to do this with the help of a toy. Initially, hold the toy over the baby, then place it on the bed. The baby, interested, will turn behind her.
Place the newborn on his stomach. Actively use this method when the little one learns to roll over. This type of lying strengthens the neck and back muscles. In addition, do not forget about massage, learn how to do it from the article:.
Before your little one tries to sit down, teach him to pull himself up. To do this, let him grab your hands index fingers. Then pull the baby up as if sitting down. Such exercises can be carried out at 4-5 months before bathing.
In order to stimulate action and teach the child to walk, after he learns to sit on his own, invite him to reach for the toy by stretching. Also offer to crawl to it. Come up with tasks for your child so that he doesn’t stay in one place for a long time.
To teach a child to walk, his legs must be strong, so conduct classes on bending and straightening your knees. This should be done through gymnastics, as well as jumping with your help (holding him by the armpits).

How to teach a child to walk? What will help develop the skill?

Initially, you should make sure that the baby is ready to take his first step. The main indicators of readiness are the following actions on his part:

knows how to get up from his knees;
worth quite a bit
moves by holding onto a support.

Teaching to walk means creating optimal conditions to develop a skill.

What and how to walk?

If your apartment has parquet, linoleum or tile flooring, it is better to cover it with carpet. Since the baby, taking the first uncertain steps, will slip on such a floor. Feet do not slip on the carpet, and the child will stand more confidently. As an option, you can purchase socks with rubberized soles.
Any toddler feels more confident barefoot, so there’s no need to rush and put shoes on him. Learning to walk in shoes is much more difficult than learning to walk barefoot. Therefore, if it’s summer outside and there is an opportunity to go out into the yard barefoot, feel free to use it, because in addition to the first walking skills, barefoot walks strengthen the feet and serve as a prevention of flat feet, which you can read about in the article:.

Choosing the first shoes

The first shoes determine how quickly the baby develops the skill of walking. After all, you will agree that you hardly want to walk for a long time in uncomfortable shoes. Therefore, the first shoe must meet the following criteria:

True to size, the leg should not dangle;
hard heel and high heel;
the presence of an instep support, since it is this that mechanically forms the arch of the foot in childhood;
natural materials, so that the leg does not float and does not cause allergic reactions. About possible symptoms allergic reactions, you can read in the article:.

It is best to buy not by eye, but only by trying it on. The baby should walk around in new clothes, and young parents need to check if there are any red marks on the skin of the feet.

Clearing space for "maneuvers"

To teach walking, you need a space in which the little one can move freely without holding on. To do this, remove bulky and little-used items from the room where your little one spends time. Give space for the first "maneuvers". After the baby starts walking, try to clear an area for “maneuvers” throughout the apartment, since he will not limit himself to one room.

Let's take the first step. How to teach a child to walk without support?

After the toddler has stood on his feet and is trying to move with support from one end of the sofa to the other, you can try to teach him to walk on his own. The main condition for an independent hike is to feel the support of your parents. Practice walking around the house holding your hand more often. Offer to go and see what dad/mom is doing, who is hiding in the next room, etc.

You can teach walking by supporting the child under the armpits, moving forward with him. Over time, completely loosen your hands, and the baby will move on its own, and a little later, when he’s busy moving his legs, he won’t even notice how you completely remove your hands.

Use toys that the child can push. This could be a pushchair, a doll stroller, a wheelbarrow, etc. The main thing is that such a toy is comfortable to grab and roll.

Distract your toddler's attention when he is walking near a support. Offer him a toy or talk to him. Very often, when distracted, babies let go of the support and continue moving on their own.

Keep a close eye on your child, because his steps are still very imperfect, and he may fall, and the first failures with severe bruises, can discourage you from trying to walk on your own for a long time.

Call your baby to you from a distance, provoking him to let go of the support and take a step on his own.

What should you not do if you want to teach your child to walk independently?

Quite often, in an unbridled desire to teach, young parents make mistakes. What you should not do and what mistakes you should not make while teaching your child.

Take your time, because if you put your baby on his feet at 6–7 months, you risk damaging the baby’s musculoskeletal system and giving him scoliosis. Nature arranged it in such a way that when the toddler’s muscles are ready, he will stand up on his own.
Avoid walkers. If you want to teach your child to walk faster, then walkers are not your help. With their help, the baby only pushes off with his legs, jumping, but does not acquire the skill of moving and maintaining balance. Experts say that walking for a long time in a walker (more than 3 months) can lead to deformation of the feet.
It’s also not worth being too protective and helping to walk. He must try and find out for himself. After all, not a single child has yet learned to walk without falls and bumps. The task of parents is to make falls safer, but what's the point of being overprotective?
Inconvenient or incorrectly selected first shoes. Let the little one run barefoot indoors, but when going outside you need good shoes. Its criteria have already been written above. Don't skimp on your baby's first shoes, and you can teach him to walk without any problems.

When answering the question of how to teach a child to walk, remember: the more you encourage your little one to go hiking, the stronger his desire to learn to walk.

Author of the publication: Nikita Rybakov

The ability to walk is an important skill that a baby should master at the age of 10-14 months. You can help your child take his first independent step with the help of exercises and early physical development techniques.

It is very easy to understand that your baby is ready to walk. If a child tries to take a vertical position at every convenient opportunity, then the first steps are not far off. Does the baby know how to get up in the crib, move along it, and also return to its original position? This means that the time has come to gradually teach the child to walk without support.

Attracting attention

Curiosity is the main “driver” of all skills that a child masters, including walking. The mother should position herself at arm's length from the child. Show your baby something bright, new, funny (toy or object). The desire to take a closer look at the thing of interest will force the child to take a step towards you.

Learning by playing

Simple and effective way quickly teach a child to walk - play together with parents. One of them needs to take the baby under the arms. The second parent needs to stand facing the baby and stretch his arms forward. The child takes the hands of the parent, at this moment the first parent releases him. The baby takes a couple of steps towards the second one. Then the parents “switch roles.” Gradually the distance between adults increases.

Advice! At first, it is better to start doing the exercise near a support (sofa, wall), so that the child can stick to it without fear of falling.

Mandatory insurance

The place where a child learns to walk without support must be safe. Pillows, a blanket, bolsters - everything will come in handy in case of an accidental fall at first. Learning to walk should cause the child positive emotions. During the period of skill development, everything sharp corners It’s better to cover it with special covers.

Available means

Carts for children and rolling cars are very good at stimulating the ability to walk independently. Models equipped with a handle will allow the child to push the toy forward and take steps behind it. Typically, progress with such devices from the first awkward step to a confident gait takes 7-10 days.

Important! The gurney should be heavy enough so that it does not tip over while moving the child.

Don't rush things

Maintaining balance and taking steps is a lot of work for a baby. If the child still moves uncertainly along the support, then his legs are not yet ready to walk independently. The main thing is not how to teach a child to walk, but how to properly prepare his body for this skill. Teach your child to sit down from a standing position so that he can take breaks and relieve tension.

The child masters the ability to walk in stages, as he progresses. psychomotor development. First, the baby learns to crawl, then rise to his feet, holding onto a support. Gradually, he learns to stand upright longer, and then takes the first step, holding on. Many babies try to stand up and move along support from the age of 7-8 months.

It is difficult to say in advance at what age a particular child will go. The speed of mastering the skill depends on the individual characteristics of the baby. According to medical standards, a child should take the first step without support before 1 year 3 months. You can start teaching your child to walk from the moment he is able to stand without support - at 10-11 months.

Note! Even if you are sure that your child is ready to learn to walk, you should not encourage walking until 9 months of age. For a weak spine, this is fraught with problems with the formation of posture.

How to stimulate a child's motor development?

You can help your child take his first steps not only through training and movement. There are several secrets that will help your baby master the skill of walking.

Restorative massage

Massage has great benefits for the baby and its development. It can be carried out either in a clinic or independently. There is no need for special knowledge in performing a massage - light rubbing of the foot area is enough, gradually grasping with stroking top part legs Massage relieves muscle tension, activates blood circulation and effectively affects biologically active points.

Light gymnastics

Gymnastics helps strengthen muscles lower sections legs, as well as gluteal muscles. These are the types of muscles that are used when walking, and they should be worked on first. Do simple exercises - leg bending/extension, bending forward with support. While lying on his back, invite the child to reach with his leg to your raised palm.

Walking hand in hand

At 8-9 months, babies often have an irresistible desire to move. If the baby is already standing well, then you can practice walking with him around the room. First, lead the child by holding both hands at the same time. Does the baby walk smoothly and does not sway to the sides? Try to remove one of your hands and hold the child with only one. Gradually, the baby will learn to maintain balance and the mother will be able to proudly say, “And mine is already walking on its own!”

The desire of parents to teach their child to walk as quickly as possible is understandable. But during the learning process, many of them make mistakes that negatively affect the development of the baby. Let's consider what methods should be avoided when teaching a child to walk.

Early standing and walking near support

If for parents a 6-month-old baby standing in a crib is a source of pride, then for the child himself it is high risk sprains of fragile ligaments, foot deformities and even flat feet.

Excessive control

Restricting the child's movement is another extreme that should be avoided. By depriving the baby of freedom of action, constantly holding him in your arms and overly protecting him from the slightest falls, you risk that the baby will master the skill of walking later than his peers.

Using a walker

Walkers, despite their name, do not contribute at all to the development of walking skills. Moreover, this device dulls the desire to learn to walk, because movement with its help is already easy. Most pediatricians firmly insist that parents not use baby walkers.

The first year of a child’s life is one of the most important stages of his development. The child grows and develops so rapidly as never before in his life. From a tiny lump with poor vision, a year later a little man grows up who can walk and talk. One of the last skills a child acquires in the first year is the ability to walk. Many parents wait for the baby to walk on his own, but not everyone knows that they can help him learn this.

Learning to walk is a huge job. But why? Is this a natural process? Yes, sure. But in order to learn this, the child must be physiologically ready. When walking, a person’s musculoskeletal system receives a serious load, so without proper preparation, problems may arise in the future. For example, if improperly trained, a curvature of the spine may occur.

How to prepare a child for walking? First of all, your back should get stronger. This is usually facilitated by active crawling, as well as sitting. There are children who do not crawl, but immediately get up and walk, but such are the minority. In any case, before teaching a child to walk independently, you should wait until he can sit well for a long time and when he wants to get up.

Optimal age for learning to walk

Usually babies crawl quickly and try to get up by 9-10 months. Some may do it earlier, it depends on individual characteristics. When crawling is fast and good, the child begins to stand up. First, he stands up briefly, holding onto a support. Gradually he stands longer and longer, and eventually takes the first step, still holding on. As he grows up, the support also changes: if at first it is a sofa that you can easily grab onto, then the baby can stand against a completely smooth wall, slightly leaning on it with his palms. After a while, the baby begins to stand without support, and then takes his first steps. It is impossible to say in advance when the baby will start walking, but normally the child should master this skill before one year and three months. You can teach a child to walk independently at 10-11 months.

Little tricks

How to teach a child to walk independently? There are several secrets that will make learning to walk easy and relaxed, and will help the baby quickly please his parents with his first steps.

Massage and gymnastics. It is known that massage has a beneficial effect on the development of a child. Many mothers were able to see that after a massage the little one would definitely acquire new skills that they didn’t even have the prerequisites for before. There is no need to sign up for expensive massage sessions; you can do it yourself. Light stroking and rubbing in the direction from the feet to the upper part of the leg activates blood circulation, makes the child’s legs stronger, and makes it easier for parents to teach the child to walk independently. Gymnastics also helps. Which exercises are suitable for a child depends on his age. For example, with a nine-month-old baby, you can do an exercise such as bending forward with straightened legs.

When the child can already stand well, you can lead him around the room, holding both hands. Later you can remove one hand and hold it with only one. It is important that the child does not lean to the sides and that his back is straight. Otherwise, the baby may develop spinal curvature in the future.

Don't rely on walkers. Previously, it was believed that this device helps teach a child to walk independently. But that's not true. Walkers are not needed by the child, but by the mother - it is convenient to put him there and calmly do household chores. They do not teach walking, since it is impossible to learn how to maintain balance in them - the child’s body is constantly supported, and to walk in them, the child leans forward, while walking independently requires vertical position, with a straight back. You should not put your child in a walker for more than 15 minutes a day.

When a child already knows how to stand without support, or walks well near it, you can lure him towards you with an interesting toy so that he lets go of his arms and walks on his own. Most kids can't resist it and go. The main thing is that the child does not have a negative experience associated with this. The fact is that many, having taken their first steps, fall painfully, and then for a long time are afraid to move away from the support. However, a mother should not worry too much about her child falling. The baby will feel that his mother is afraid, and then no force can force him to take his first independent step. By the way, some parents, before teaching their child to walk independently, make a soft floor during repairs, and then the child does not hurt if he falls, and he is not afraid to walk even after falling.

It is necessary to give the child freedom of movement. When walking, it is better to take him on foot rather than push him in a stroller, and also encourage him to move around and place a lot of interesting toys around the room.

These are the simple steps a mother should perform, and then the child will learn to walk faster. Soon after the start of training, the mother will have difficulty catching up with the little fidget and rejoice at his new achievements.

Often, in an effort to help the child go as far as possible before parents make a lot of mistakes.

When children 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 features(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 negative experience: he hit himself hard, got 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 various groups muscles, 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 taking the first steps, the child’s leg and back muscles must become stronger and mature. nervous system and vestibular apparatus, and the skeletal bones and ligaments become strong enough to withstand vertical load.

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 differently personal 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 child is able to bear weight load own body, 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 he musculoskeletal system will be strong enough and he will be ready for this.

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, 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. Muscle hypertension is distinguished ( excessive stress muscles) and dystonia (individual tension of different muscle groups), which in the future may become one of the reasons for the baby’s lag in physical development, formation of incorrect posture and gait. Such children need the supervision of a neurologist and orthopedist.
Parents may notice that a child'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 with growth, enlargement motor activity and strengthening the child's 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 hallux valgus foot, 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 valgus curvature are rickets, excess weight, and mechanical damage(injuries). 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 separated in different sides, then it also needs to 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. IN in a planned manner 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 fulfill protective function, but also participates 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 in advance before going to the store so that you can use it to find a pair suitable 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.

Basic requirements:

A rigid closed back that reaches the baby’s ankle and securely holds the heel.
Moderately hard flexible sole with a textured non-slip surface and a small heel (up to 0.5 cm high).
Comfortable 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 be useful 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 that are not always justified. medical point vision. 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 early development the child begins to be led by the hands. Such a load may be unbearable for a fragile musculoskeletal system child 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 value has a surface on which bare feet stomp.

When walking on a flat surface of the home floor (linoleum, tiles, parquet, laminate), no reflexive contraction of the foot muscles occurs, 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 may 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, and the specialist takes into account individual characteristics feet of each individual 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:

Their use 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 that they can cause to a child when misuse. 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 walking mechanism 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 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 with a 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 injuries, adults should make the environment around the child as safe as possible. home environment. 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 great danger represent hot drinks standing on the edge of the table. 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 household appliances, which he can reach. Ovens and gas and electric stove burners are especially dangerous. 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. Means household chemicals, medicines, shaving accessories and others dangerous items must 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 a baby taking its 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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