How to Help Our Child Walk? 20 Tips for Strengthening Your Child's Legs for Walking

Ways to help your child walk sooner:

· Let your child bounce on your lap. This helps strengthen their leg muscles, especially if they are still crawling.

· You should also show them how to bend their knees and help them bend their knees to improve their motor skills for standing and sitting.

Place your child on a spring chair.

· Around 5 to 6 months, provide a spring chair for your child to help build their muscles.

· Avoid using a walker for your child. Studies show that walkers slow down the child's motor development and can cause back problems. Walkers are also dangerous because there is a risk of them falling down stairs.

· Using walkers is banned in Canada, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also opposes their use.

Using toys to encourage your child to stand:

· Place a toy just out of your child's reach so that they need to stand to grab it.

When your child is learning to stand, help them sit down:

· Often, children can stand on their own but don't know how to sit down. So, when your child cries and asks for help while standing, don't worry.

· Instead of picking them up when they whine or cry, teach them how to sit by bending their knees and help them sit down.

Arrange furniture so your child can use it to walk.

· When your child learns to walk by using furniture, it's a good idea to design the decor for their safety so that they can reach heights without risk.

· Help your child get down from the furniture. Let them hold one of your hands or use both of your hands to safely get down.

Give your child a push toy.

· Push toys, like a small shopping cart or a toy lawnmower, help your child walk. They also increase the child’s balance and confidence.

· If your child is just learning to stand, don't give them a wheeled toy yet. Once your child's confidence is high enough, introduce a wheeled toy.

· Make sure the toy is sturdy and has large wheels to reduce the risk of falling.

Support your child in standing:

· Let your child hold your fingers and pull themselves up to stand. You can support their weight while they stand. Let them walk while you support them under their armpits.

· The more your child exercises their legs, the faster they will learn to walk.

· When your child is standing, hold them to prevent them from slumping. Bowed and curved legs at 18 months may remain like that but will usually straighten by three years old.

Encourage your child for their efforts to walk:

· Most children love to make their parents happy and to be encouraged. So, encourage your child for their attempts to stand or walk.

· Do not buy indoor walking shoes for your child. There's no need to buy a full set of shoes for your child. The best shoes for your child are bare feet.

· As long as the surfaces at home are clean and safe, allow your child to walk barefoot. This helps strengthen their feet and ankles, improving balance.

· If your child wants to walk outside, make sure their shoes are light and flexible. Avoid tall shoes or sports shoes with high cuffs as too much ankle support can slow your child’s movements.

If your child doesn't want your help walking, don't force them:

· This can scare your child and delay their walking.

· Most children walk when they’re ready, so if your child hasn’t started walking by 18 months or even later, don’t worry.

Turn your child's balance while walking into a game.

· To encourage balance, use fun balance games and motivate your child through play.

· Sit on the floor with your child and help them stand. Then, as long as they are standing, count out loud. Clap and cheer for them.

Encourage your child to walk instead of sit:

· Place your child in a standing position.

Stand on the other side of the room and encourage your child to walk toward you:

· This helps build your child's confidence and motivation to walk.

· Celebrate their first step: The first step is a big moment for your child, so be excited and encourage them when they take their first step.

Encouraging your child to walk:

· It helps them feel like they are doing something right and builds their confidence.

· Expect standing and starting over: If your child goes back to crawling after falling or being sick, don’t worry. They are working on other skills like talking or eating finger foods, so it may take a few weeks to resume walking.

· Some children may find crawling easier and take longer to walk.

Let your child fall while walking (as long as there’s no danger):

· When your child starts walking, they may stumble and fall. Some babies don't have a proper understanding of walking and heights, which is why they fall.

· As long as your home is safe and there’s no risk to your child, let them fall. They may cry, but they will learn faster.

· Remember, a diaper acts as a cushion and your child will forget the pain before you know it. When your child falls, don't make a big deal out of it.

Don't compare your child's walking skills with other children:

· All children are different, so if your child walks later than others, don’t worry. A child’s walking time depends on their growth, weight, and personality. Remember, walking milestones vary among children.

· Some babies born prematurely may take longer to start walking.

· Sometimes, babies are afraid of walking. Encourage and support them to reduce their stress and pressure.

If your child has flat feet, don’t worry:

· By the age of two or three, flat feet will disappear.

Your child's feet may also be slightly turned in, but this will resolve over time.

· Make sure their toes naturally straighten. Some children may have turned-in toes, but this should fix itself by the time they take their first steps.

· If your child still has turned-in toes after six months, speak to a doctor to get appropriate exercises for this issue.

Look at your child’s feet to make sure they can keep their feet flat:

· Some children like to walk on their toes, which helps improve their balance. This indicates strong joints in their heels.

· If your child can’t straighten their feet on their own or if they continue walking on their toes after age three, notify a doctor.

If your child falls hard or injures their foot or walks unevenly, visit a doctor.

· They might have nerve, joint, or spine issues.

Let your child discover new things while walking:

· As your child’s confidence grows and they walk more easily on flat surfaces, let them walk on sloped surfaces. These new environments will help them maintain balance.

Let your child pull themselves up:

· This happens for children around 8 months old or those just starting to walk. They may pull themselves up from something, like a couch, to stand on their feet. At this time, work on their balance and help them pull themselves up or bend their knees. You can hold their hands to help them take a few steps to build their confidence. Practicing this helps them walk sooner. Also, praise their efforts.

What not to do when your child is learning to walk:

1. Don’t push or rush your child to walk faster. Instead, encourage them. Keep in mind that walking takes time.

2. Be cautious when using walkers that the baby sits in, and instead use devices that encourage them to push. Walkers speed up children’s walking, but be sure to take safety precautions, such as blocking stairs and the kitchen.

When should you worry about your child's walking? (If your child isn’t walking, should you consult a doctor?)

· If your child isn’t walking by 18 months, you should consult a doctor, but there’s no need to panic—some children simply need more help. If motor skills development or physical therapy is recommended, take it seriously.