Baby’s first steps: when and how to help?

Baby’s first steps: when and how to help?

Baby’s first steps are an important step in your child’s development. It is also a moment eagerly awaited by parents. These can help baby take his first steps while respecting his rhythm.

Baby’s first steps explained

Baby’s first steps are often a huge event in the life of parents. It is also a step that is done very gradually. Around 8 months, the child begins to pull himself up and try to stand on his legs. He stands for a few seconds. Over the weeks, he learns to move, always holding on. He then finds the balance that will allow him to let go in the coming months. Then the child walks by giving you both hands, then one… He stands up and the big day arrives: he walks!

Each child is different when it comes to walking. Some will take their first steps very early because they will never have been on all fours. Others will be late because they will have found another way to move around the house.

Walking: to each his own pace

A child takes his first steps between 10 months and 20 months. Each parent must therefore adapt to their child. Taking your first steps very early seems like an achievement. However, it is not always good for the body. Before 10 months, the joints are fragile. The hips and knees can be affected by early walking. Children should therefore not be encouraged to walk as early as possible. Some children are in no rush to get started. In this case too, the child should not be rushed. He will walk in due course when his body and his head are ready.

You have to be concerned when a child over 20 months old doesn’t walk. As children are most often very well looked after by health professionals, you should take advantage of an appointment to talk about it with the attending physician or pediatrician. Make sure that the child does not fall continuously or that he uses his legs. Examinations may be prescribed.

Help baby take his first steps

Helping baby take his first steps is possible. For this, you have to adapt your living space. To encourage children to walk, they must then pull themselves up and stand on small pieces of furniture or suitable toys. Of course the spaces must be secure. It is therefore necessary to think about protecting the angles, to put a carpet on the ground and to remove from the path the small toys on which baby could trip.

Supporting the child in his first steps also means helping him build his legs. To do this, you can use toys. Baby walkers are excellent! They allow the baby to move by the strength of the legs while strengthening them. It is also possible to choose games that work with baby kicks. Often these games combine music and lights of all colors.

Finally, when he is getting up and trying to walk, he should be barefoot if possible so that he finds his balance. This is a very important habit that many parents do not adopt!

Baby’s first steps: choosing the right shoes

Who says first baby steps also says first shoes! Learning to walk must be done barefoot but very quickly, the child will have to wear shoes. We must of course opt for quality. Baby’s first shoes must fit perfectly on the feet while leaving them great freedom of movement.

Baby shoes are most often high to provide ankle support, and lace up to customize the outfit on the foot. You have to choose the right size. It is not recommended to buy shoes that are a little big to keep them longer!

Ideally, you should go to a shoemaker who will advise you on the choice of the first shoes and give valuable information to choose the next ones.

The first steps are as expected as they are feared. By supporting their child in this key stage of their development, parents help them grow and gain autonomy.

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