Sleeps poorly

Daytime sleep

Tantrums

Parents, without exception, tend to be proud of the achievements of their children. The first tooth came out, the child sat down himself, crawled, reached out to the toy on his own, took the first step - all these are reasons for incredible pride.

For some reason, moms and dads believe that the sooner their child gets on two legs and starts walking on their own, the better. And those whose little ones do not want to sit down, crawl and walk, tend not only to panic, fearing for the health of their beloved child, but also blame themselves for the fact that their child develops more slowly than others. The famous children's doctor Yevgeny Komarovsky tells whether it is possible to teach a child to walk independently and whether it is necessary to do it.

About norms and deviations from them

In pediatrics, there are certain norms for the physical development of a child. Usually, the average baby starts standing with support at 7-9 months. Without support, he begins to do (or even takes the 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 18. In the notorious statistics, of course, the timing of the onset of upright walking is also discussed - from 10 to 15 months. In practice, however, they can be very different from these values, since all children are very individual. Komarovsky advises not to compare your child with other children and with the average norms. 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?

A huge number of factors affect the ability to develop walking:

• baby's weight and build;
• readiness of muscles and spine;
• the state of his health (whether there are chronic and acute diseases);
• the temperament of the child, character traits;
• heredity;
• the child's desire to walk.

Komarovsky considers the kid's desire to move vertically to be the key factor. Nature has arranged everything in such a way that the desire to walk appears exactly when there are optimal physical capabilities for its realization.

If the child has successfully passed all the previous stages (coups, sitting, crawling), he is quite ready to stand and walk. However, there is no need to rush him. Children who are forcibly forced into an upright position by their parents are at great risk. The stress on the spine (especially if the baby is plump and overweight) can cause further problems with this very spine.

If the baby is somatically healthy, and the pediatrician who observes him declares that the child has no diseases, then Komarovsky advises not to specifically teach the child to walk until a year. Nothing terrible, according to Evgeny Olegovich, will not happen if the little one spends a couple of extra months in a horizontal position.

About walkers

Many parents believe that a walker will help solve the problem of not walking. They buy this (not the cheapest) device and calm down - everything that depended on them is done. Dr. Evgeny Komarovsky says that the main benefit of a walker is for the parents. Walkers are a great way to keep your baby busy and free your own hands. While the child is in the walker, the mother can be calm - the child will not fall anywhere, will not hit a sharp corner, or get crippled. If we are talking about the short time it takes for mom to cook dinner or take a shower, then there is nothing wrong with the walker.

The terrible begins when parents, with the help of these very walkers, are trying hard to teach the child to walk and keep the baby in this device all the time until he sleeps.

The sooner mom and dad start using a walker, the stronger and more dangerous the vertical load on the child's spine.

Before standing, the baby must go through the stage of crawling, since in the process of moving on their bellies, on all fours, on fists, even backwards, the child trains and strengthens the muscles of the back, legs and arms, which then allows him to start walking with minimal stress on the spine.

Walkers can cause acquired leg curvature.The fact is that a child in a walker pushes off the surface with the outer side of the foot. If this method of movement is practiced frequently, incorrect walking is formed. Crooked legs for a boy may not be such a big problem, but it doesn’t make a girl.

It's no secret that walkers are a common gift for a family with a small child. Considering all of the above, dr. Komarovsky recommends donors to replace the walker with an arena.This device will help the child to have a good time, not to fall off and not get crippled, not to climb somewhere, and it will give the mother precious free time for cooking, ironing and putting herself in order.

For more details, see the small video of Dr. Komarovsky.

How to teach to walk?

Komarovsky says that the best way to teach a child to walk is to first teach him to crawl and in every possible way to encourage such a horizontal (and therefore relatively safe) way of moving in space.

Sometimes it happens that the child is afraid to start walking. Physically, he is ready (and even tried) to walk on his own, but fell down, hurt himself badly, something frightened 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.

It is correct to teach a child to walk - to teach him when he himself is ready for this, but for some reason cannot overcome fear. Parents, especially with little parenting experience, find it difficult to understand when the baby is ready to move on two limbs. There are several sure signs that physiological readiness is present:

• The child can stand on its legs for a long time, holding onto the side of the arena, the rail of the crib.
• The child has learned to step over, holding onto the sides or railings.
• The child learned not only to stand, but also to take a sitting position from a standing position (this indicates a developed back musculature).
• The child is already walking, but he does it in his own way - he walks on his knees, tries to move on his fingers.

Defeating fear is not as easy as it seems, it will take long and hard work from mom and dad. It is best to engage with the child in a playful way, encouraging him to let go of the support and take a step on his own. If you have decided on such activities, the first thing that is required is orthopedic shoes, which will allow the baby to stand on foot more confidently.

Then the correct walking surface should be created (slippery tiles and equally slippery linoleum are not suitable). If the baby begins to walk, but does it uncertainly, often falls, sometimes stops and starts crying, you can use the support in the form of reins (made from a sheet, attached to the shoulder girdle and under the armpits).

If the baby has already been 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, a stretched rope. Such exercises will help him feel his body and explore its capabilities.

Walking barefoot

Often parents ask if a child can walk barefoot. Many do this under pressure from the older generation - grandparents are horrified when they see the little one making the first steps with bare heels on the bare floor. There is nothing wrong with such a "walk" without shoes, Komarovsky believes, and besides, it is very useful for a child.

Nature does not provide for any shoes, and therefore biologically and physiologically the child certainly does not need it. 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.

When the foot comes into contact with the cold floor, the vessels of the skin on the baby's legs narrow, and this is what prevents heat loss. This compensatory property is present only in the legs of a person, but not in other parts of the body.

*** Anna ***

Hello, our problem has been dragging on since 3 years. Now my son is 4-11 months. I have already written and went to neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists and even a neuropsychologist. Unfortunately, we have not had any special changes so far. Our situation is like this: the child went to the garden (nursery). A year passed, then problems began. Crying constantly, refusal of the garden, to such an extent that it was not possible to dress him at home. Then we had to change our place of residence and we moved to another garden. The same situation happened there and my husband and I made a decision to leave the garden. We went to the doctors all this time. We tried to go to group classes in psychological centers. But the child also resisted and cried. We did not touch him anywhere for a year. It seems that I became calmer, that something has outgrown, for example, he began to let me (mom) go quietly on business and stay with my grandfather (grandmother), before that I was hysterical and did not let go. I stopped being afraid of doctors. Finally I wanted to go to classes. We decided to try to go to the pool. But after going down once, the child burst into tears during the lesson and asked to leave, explaining that he almost drowned. skates and not badly learned to skate, fired up to go to hockey. My husband is engaged in this sport, we were very happy. We bought him a uniform, went together, waited for the first lesson. And here you are, today we arrived, changed in the locker room, the son went out ice, suddenly burst into tears, turned around and went back to the locker room. Saying that the ice is big and he was afraid. We were there more than once, we watched dad play, he went to the rink all winter and there was such a thing! I was in complete despair. There was many children, someone came the same way as we did for the first time. But it was my child who was scared of something again. There is a suspicion that he is afraid of a large number of children. Although, on the playground he is a leader, he quickly gets to know and finds a common language with all the children. I'm not exaggerating a bit. I'll tell you how he was born. Emergency cesarean, fetal hypoxia due to dark waters. 7-8 according to Apgar. Further VD. Neurologists Diacarb were treated and periodically prescribed to us. Tanakan, Picamilon, Pantogam, various sedatives, cannot be counted. The last diagnosis of a neurologist: Angioedema of neurotic reactions. The last treatment is Pantogam, glycine, Pasambra. There are no improvements. EEG - writes a version of the norm. Complaints are still like this with us. She sucks her finger in a dream since 3 months. She winds her own and my hair. Sometimes she dies crying in her sleep. Develop by age, all on time. Says great. Tomorrow we have another training session, my husband will be lucky. Let's try to persuade him, although he does not want to go to hockey at all. I am afraid such situations will begin in our school. What do you think it can be? Why is there such a fear of childcare facilities. Maybe the child is outgrowing it? In general, sometimes it seems to me that this is a feature of his character, such obstinacy. I hope for your answer.

Hello Anna. I was delighted with your concern and the attention that you pay to the difficulties of your son. It is great that you are in contact with your doctor. As for the neuropsychologist, it is better to examine the boy again with this specialist somewhere after 5 or 5.5 years. Judging by your description, your son has certain features of the functioning of the nervous system, which are a consequence of the child's hypoxia during childbirth. These features are manifested in the fact that he is extremely sensitive, vulnerable, anxious, and therefore it is more difficult for him to adapt to everything new (to new adults, to a new environment, to a new place) in comparison with other children. It is possible that there is some stubbornness in his character - I cannot judge here, because I do not know the child. But I would not recommend that you actively fight against his unwillingness to visit new places and new circles, “break” his “stubbornness”. It is better to gradually accustom him to new things. A child gets used to new things more slowly than his peers, and he needs help in this, for example, go on the ice with his dad. You ask, "Can the child outgrow this?" Yes, of course, certain fears he will outgrow. This will happen with fewer consequences if you visit regularly and the child regularly takes the prescribed treatment. The boy will grow up by school, and some improvements will surely come. Of course, one should not expect drastic changes, but gradually, little by little, the boy's ability to adapt to everything new will be more and more. It is great that he easily finds a common language with children, which means that he will face fewer difficulties at school.

The first steps of a little man are certainly the most touching and memorable moment in the life of young parents. It seems that quite recently the baby was just learning to get up and stand uncertainly on its legs, then hesitantly and carefully took several steps, holding on to her mother's hand or the side of the crib. Now it's time to go yourself.

But unexpectedly, after the first successful attempts, the child again began to seek support, or even returned to crawling altogether. Why suddenly the child is afraid to walk on your own, refuses to move without an arm mom or dad?

When do babies start walking

Before sounding the alarm, one important factor must be taken into account - each baby is unique and always develops at its own pace. Some children try to take their first independent steps quite early (about 9-10 months), others start walking at 11 months, and still others do not attempt to walk until 13-15 months.

Important! Experts say that if a child begins to walk before 18 months, there is no serious cause for concern, since this indicator is considered an absolute norm.

In the event that the baby diligently avoids trying to stand on his feet, does not break away from the support and prefers to move on all fours, it is recommended to contact the pediatrician to find out the root cause of the problem.

Why is a child afraid to walk

The reasons why the baby refuses to move on their own can have a very different origin. This can be associated with both the state of health and physical development, and with problems caused by the psychological state of the child.

Let's consider the most common reasons.

• • Constant presence in jumpers or walkers... With prolonged and too frequent use, the baby gets used to easily and quickly move around the apartment with this convenient children's device. In this case, walking on your own may seem like a little too complicated and requiring extra effort.
  • Fear of falling... It is possible that the baby has already had a negative experience. Having made the first attempts, the child fell and even, perhaps, was badly hurt. The resulting fear of falling became the reason for the categorical reluctance to walk, in order to avoid the repetition of unpleasant sensations.

• There is and a milder form of fear of falling... The baby walks willingly and rather confidently, holding the hand of an adult, but as soon as the palm is released, the baby immediately sits on the floor.
• Baby is too small... Very often, parents, based on observations of other babies or their own experience (the first child in the family went to 9-10 months), begin to worry and too early try to force their son or daughter to walk on their own, forgetting about the individuality of each baby.
• Kid's trick or laziness... A fairly common reason for refusing to walk can be the child's banal laziness. Surrounded by all kinds of modern gadgets and accessories that facilitate movement, the baby finds it tiring and too difficult to try to walk on his own.
• Problems with the musculoskeletal system... A toddler who refuses to walk may have serious health problems. Of the most common diseases, experts call hip dysplasia, muscle hypertonicity or muscular dystonia.
• Weak muscle corset... The muscles of the baby's legs and his spine are still too weak and not ready for serious physical exertion.
• Stress, fear, unfavorable and tense family environment. Any stressful situation can slow down the overall development of the baby.
• Hyper-care... The other side of the problem, which has a psychological background. Excessive attention, caring and guardianship of a child does not contribute to independence. After all, the frightened mother's shouts: "Caution, you will fall!" confidence does not add. Why try, do something yourself, if loving parents are always there and ready to fulfill any whim?

If your baby has already turned year and 6 months, and there are no independent attempts to walk yet, first of all, you should consult a doctor. It is he who will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and identify the true reason for the reluctance to walk.

Most likely, you will have to visit several specialists: a pediatrician, a surgeon, a neurologist, and if you suspect problems with the child's musculoskeletal system, an orthopedist.

Important! If during a walk the child constantly stumbles, bumps into objects and tries not to let go of the parent's hand, it is possible that the baby has vision problems. In this case, it is recommended to consult an ophthalmologist.

What to do if you refuse to walk on your own

Having identified the reason for the reluctance to walk upright, you can begin to eliminate the problem:

1. Constant use of a walker.

If the child does not want to walk without a walker, it is recommended to completely abandon this device. Moreover, in order to avoid tears, it is better to remove the walker from the baby's field of vision completely.

1. Fear of falling.

In this case, it is necessary to support the baby in every possible way, both physically and mentally. Do not rush or force to stand up if the child flatly refuses to do so. You can try to take the first steps to funny children's songs and repeat games, in which he will try to copy his mother's simple movements.

1. The child is too young.

Don't be overly concerned. Even child a year, give your baby the opportunity to grow up and show the desire to take the first steps himself.

1. Cunning or laziness.

The child's cunning can be answered with the same cunning. Move your favorite toy higher while playing. This will force the toddler to take a couple of steps and stand on his feet to reach the doll.

1. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

After clarifying the diagnosis, you must follow the recommendations of your doctor. As a rule, complex treatment includes massage, remedial gymnastics and physiotherapy.

1. Stress and unfavorable family environment.

Try to protect your baby from external irritants and unnecessary worries. Monitor the degree of stress, especially if there is a child nearby. Try to speak in a low voice at home, without raising your voice, create a trusting and calm atmosphere.

1. Excessive custody.

How to help a child to go

There are some simple tips that can help mums and dads to develop the baby's walking skills faster.

1. Do not show excitement and fear for a crumb. Young children are very sensitive to the emotions of their parents and they themselves begin to show undue anxiety.
2. In no case don't scold and do not reproach the child!
3. Be attentive to the physical education of the child. Children accustomed to daily massage, gymnastics and physical activity, get up on their legs faster and begin to walk.
4. Do not skimp on praise for your baby. Parent support stimulates the development and desire of the child.
5. Daily and for a long time walk with the baby... Interest in the world around him will force the baby to take the first independent steps for a closer acquaintance.

Important! Do not forget that learning to walk is a rather long process that requires patience, support and understanding from parents.

If your child is afraid to walk: useful video

What to do if the baby has just started to walk, but falling and hitting, gets scared and refuses further attempts? We suggest watching the video answer to this question.

Baby's first independent steps are a very exciting moment in the life of a family.

It would seem that quite recently he learned to rise and stand near the support, then began to carefully walk along the wall or sides of his favorite bed. And now he went. Himself!

However, after the first independent "sorties" the baby for some reason again starts looking for support, or even resumes crawling on all fours. Many parents wonder why the child is afraid to walk on their own?

• The kid "grew up" in a walker. It often happens that they are used too often, because from the outside it is so much fun to watch the child rush around the house in these convenient devices. However, this has a downside: accustomed to "running", the child cannot control his speed without them, he simply cannot imagine what it is like to run without a walker. Relevant: When can a child be put on a walker
• Fear of falling. Perhaps the baby had a sad experience in the first independent attempts to go: he fell, and maybe he hit hard. There were probably several such unsuccessful experiments, and he chose a safer way of transportation.
• Sly child. Such children are also common: walking in a confined space can quickly get bored, and it’s tiring, you get tired quickly. Therefore, these children choose a less energy-intensive option - for example, crawling.
• Unreasonable refusal to walk. Such cases also take place. Sometimes a son or daughter simply refuses to go on their own, for no apparent reason. In this case, you can advise to observe him in order to understand what caused this protest, why the child is afraid to walk on his own and what to do about it. .

What parents should do when the baby refuses to go on his own

Often parents start to sound the alarm: the child is one year old, and he is afraid to walk on his own, how can you help him?

1. Rule number one is not to force him to walk independently against his will. Children who are afraid to walk on their own due to the fact that they may fall, badly need parental support. To inspire the baby to new attempts to walk, to insure him imperceptibly - and now he is no longer so afraid to walk on his own, without your support.
2. If the laziness and cunning of the little tomboy are to blame, then they must be dealt with, for example, with the help of joint games. It is necessary to remove your favorite toys higher and away from the owner so that he has an incentive to walk and get it as quickly as possible. Do you want the kid to go on their own? Move the walker away, your baby is able to do without them completely. As soon as they disappear, he wants to resume his daily "adventures", only this time without help.
3. If the reason for the protest is unclear, then the parents just need to wait a while. The kid feels better when his body is ready for a new stage of development. It is possible that during this period he is not yet physically ready to walk.

If you adhere to these simple rules, it will become clear how to teach a child to walk independently, without fear of letting go of mother's hand.

How can parents help their child to go on their own?

Parents are the most important people in a baby's life, so their help and support is an invaluable contribution to learning new skills. Now that we know the main reasons why a child is afraid to walk on their own, there are several solutions to this problem:

• The emotional background of the crumbs half depends on how his parents feel. If the mother is afraid that he will walk, fall and bump, it is likely that the fear of failure will be passed on to the baby. If mom does not worry, but encourages with each new step, then he feels calm and confident, walks calmly.
• If a child is afraid to walk on his own without the hand of dad or mom, do not scold or shame him. This creates new stress and a new refusal to walk independently. Praise, regret, caress - and now he himself wants to take reciprocal steps towards his parents.
• Physical development is an important point in solving the indicated problem. If they constantly train with the baby, do massage, morning exercises, welcome water procedures, then the body develops and strengthens faster. If the baby is constantly physically active, then the fear of the first steps does not threaten him.
• Exploration at home is the best activity. This does not mean that the child can break the dishes in the kitchen or dig into the washing powder in the bathroom. This means that the baby should not be “shoved” into a walker or put into a playpen. Of course, these devices are sometimes very helpful to a young mother, but they should not be abused. A child accustomed to the "limited" space of the arena or the saddle of a walker cannot get used to long distances and outside of his usual "frames" he becomes very scared.
• If your 1 year old child is afraid to walk on his own, "infect" him with your example - show at home and while walking how fun it is to walk and run.

Each child has its own period when he can easily and confidently take the first steps. Wait for this time, do not rush and do not compare the baby with others.

Read also:

• How to teach a child to walk?
• The child walks on tiptoes, why?
• When does the child start to walk?

The first steps of a little man are certainly the most touching and memorable moment in the life of young parents. It seems that quite recently the baby was just learning to get up and stand uncertainly on its legs, then hesitantly and carefully took several steps, holding on to her mother's hand or the side of the crib. Now it's time to go yourself.

But unexpectedly, after the first successful attempts, the child again began to seek support, or even returned to crawling altogether. Why suddenly the child is afraid to walk on your own, refuses to move without an arm mom or dad?

When do babies start walking

Before sounding the alarm, one important factor must be taken into account - each baby is unique and always develops at its own pace. Some children try to take their first independent steps quite early (about 9-10 months), others start walking at 11 months, and still others do not attempt to walk until 13-15 months.

Important! Experts say that if a child begins to walk before 18 months, there is no serious cause for concern, since this indicator is considered an absolute norm.

In the event that the baby diligently avoids trying to stand on his feet, does not break away from the support and prefers to move on all fours, it is recommended to contact the pediatrician to find out the root cause of the problem.

Why is a child afraid to walk

The reasons why the baby refuses to move on their own can have a very different origin. This can be associated with both the state of health and physical development, and with problems caused by the psychological state of the child.

Let's consider the most common reasons.

• • Constant presence in jumpers or walkers... With prolonged and too frequent use of the walker, the baby gets used to easily and quickly move around the apartment with the help of this convenient children's device. In this case, walking on your own may seem like a little too complicated and requiring extra effort.
  • Fear of falling... It is possible that the baby has already had a negative experience. Having made the first attempts, the child fell and even, perhaps, was badly hurt. The resulting fear of falling became the reason for the categorical reluctance to walk, in order to avoid the repetition of unpleasant sensations.

• There is and a milder form of fear of falling... The baby walks willingly and rather confidently, holding the hand of an adult, but as soon as the palm is released, the baby immediately sits on the floor.
• Baby is too small... Very often, parents, based on observations of other babies or their own experience (the first child in the family went to 9-10 months), begin to worry and too early try to force their son or daughter to walk on their own, forgetting about the individuality of each baby.
• Kid's trick or laziness... A fairly common reason for refusing to walk can be the child's banal laziness. Surrounded by all kinds of modern gadgets and accessories that facilitate movement, the baby finds it tiring and too difficult to try to walk on his own.
• Problems with the musculoskeletal system... A toddler who refuses to walk may have serious health problems. Of the most common diseases, experts call hip dysplasia, muscle hypertonicity or muscular dystonia.
• Weak muscle corset... The muscles of the baby's legs and his spine are still too weak and not ready for serious physical exertion.
• Stress, fear, unfavorable and tense family environment. Any stressful situation can slow down the overall development of the baby.
• Hyper-care... The other side of the problem, which has a psychological background. Excessive attention, caring and guardianship of a child does not contribute to independence. After all, the frightened mother's shouts: "Caution, you will fall!" confidence does not add. Why try, do something yourself, if loving parents are always there and ready to fulfill any whim?

If your baby has already turned year and 6 months, and there are no independent attempts to walk yet, first of all, you should consult a doctor. It is he who will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and identify the true reason for the reluctance to walk.

Most likely, you will have to visit several specialists: a pediatrician, a surgeon, a neurologist, and if you suspect problems with the child's musculoskeletal system, an orthopedist.

Important! If during a walk the child constantly stumbles, bumps into objects and tries not to let go of the parent's hand, it is possible that the baby has vision problems. In this case, it is recommended to consult an ophthalmologist.

What to do if you refuse to walk on your own

Having identified the reason for the reluctance to walk upright, you can begin to eliminate the problem:

1. Constant use of a walker.

If the child does not want to walk without a walker, it is recommended to completely abandon this device. Moreover, in order to avoid tears, it is better to remove the walker from the baby's field of vision completely.

1. Fear of falling.

In this case, it is necessary to support the baby in every possible way, both physically and mentally. Do not rush or force to stand up if the child flatly refuses to do so. You can try to take the first steps to funny children's songs and repeat games, in which he will try to copy his mother's simple movements.

1. The child is too young.

Don't be overly concerned. Even child a year, give your baby the opportunity to grow up and show the desire to take the first steps himself.

1. Cunning or laziness.

The child's cunning can be answered with the same cunning. Move your favorite toy higher while playing. This will force the toddler to take a couple of steps and stand on his feet to reach the doll.

1. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

After clarifying the diagnosis, you must follow the recommendations of your doctor. As a rule, complex treatment includes massage, remedial gymnastics and physiotherapy.

1. Stress and unfavorable family environment.

Try to protect your baby from external irritants and unnecessary worries. Monitor the degree of stress, especially if there is a child nearby. Try to speak in a low voice at home, without raising your voice, create a trusting and calm atmosphere.

1. Excessive custody.

How to help a child to go

There are some simple tips that can help mums and dads to develop the baby's walking skills faster.

1. Do not show excitement and fear for a crumb. Young children are very sensitive to the emotions of their parents and they themselves begin to show undue anxiety.
2. In no case don't scold and do not reproach the child!
3. Be attentive to the physical education of the child. Children accustomed to daily massage, gymnastics and physical activity, get up on their legs faster and begin to walk.
4. Do not skimp on praise for your baby. Parent support stimulates the development and desire of the child.
5. Daily and for a long time walk with the baby... Interest in the world around him will force the baby to take the first independent steps for a closer acquaintance.

Important! Do not forget that learning to walk is a rather long process that requires patience, support and understanding from parents.

If your child is afraid to walk: useful video

What to do if the baby has just started to walk, but falling and hitting, gets scared and refuses further attempts? We suggest watching the video answer to this question.

You will be interested

At what age can a baby walker?

Which jumpers are better? When do children start to sit? Baby jumpers: at what age and how to use?

Each parent is looking forward to the new successes of the baby. When he starts to roll over, when he sits down, crawls, and finally goes. But now the baby is one year old, but there are still no first steps. Then the mothers start to get nervous: “other children are already walking, but ours does not want to”. Today we'll talk about why children from one to one and a half years old are afraid to walk.

What time does the baby start to walk?

If the baby develops well, there are no diseases and developmental delays, then by 18 months babies usually begin to walk. Doctors set a rather long period of time from 9 months to 1.5 years.

There are several factors that determine how early your child will go:

1. Hereditary predisposition - if one or both parents went late, then their child is likely to go about the same.
2. Floor - girls usually start walking earlier than boys.
3. Body type - Well-fed babies, later than their thin peers, begin physical activity, not only walk, but also roll over, sit down and stand on their feet.
4. General warehouse of character - fidgets used to strive to conquer this world, and contemplators wait for the right moment, more carefully approach the process of independent movement.

Why is a child 1-1.5 years old afraid to walk on his own without using his hands?

There are many physical and psychological reasons why a child refuses to walk on their own.

Doctors and psychologists name the following:

Cause	Description
The most dangerous - health problem	Delayed motor development, muscular dystonia and other diseases. But in this case, other motor skills will appear much later.
The most common is weak muscle corset	The muscles of the baby's legs and spine are not yet ready for such loads... As one wise grandmother said: "Everything has its time." As soon as the baby feels confident in his body, he will begin to walk.
Fear of falling	According to child psychologists, if a child does not have any health problems, then he does not start walking for this very reason. Perhaps, when he first tried to take an independent step, he fell and hit hard. To avoid negative experiences in the future, the child refuses dangerous experiments..
Laziness	Another fairly common reason. Nowadays there are quite a lot of all kinds of devices for babies. Walkers are very popular with many parents. There are different opinions on this matter, but there are still more negative aspects of using a walker.... In addition to putting a lot of pressure on the musculoskeletal system, they also develop laziness in the child. It is easier to move in a walker, and when parents abandon the walker and put the child in front of the need to walk with their feet without anyone's help, the baby returns to the safest and easiest way to get around - crawling.

These are the reasons for the unwillingness to walk are identified by experts.

But they also claim, and any mom can attest, that every child is unique and develops according to their own personal schedule. Even in the same family, children start walking at different times.

One mother shared her recollections: "The eldest daughter was already running briskly around the room at the age of 8 months, and the youngest son, at 1.2, had just begun to take the first careful steps."

Often, psychologists ask parents whose children begin to walk, bypassing the stage of crawling, to teach children to crawl in a playful way.

According to research by neuropsychologists, "crawling" babies in the future are more successful in their studies, they are more easily given exact sciences. In general, crawling contributes to a more harmonious development of the cerebral hemispheres.

Therefore, you should not rush the child to start walking as soon as possible, let the young explorer learn about the world through the touch of his palms to various surfaces.

What if a child 1-1.5 years old is afraid to walk?

But now your little one is one and a half years old, and there are still no first steps? What to do in this case?

First you need to be patient. That's when it comes to parenting advice. After all, they have to find out the reason for the baby's refusal to move vertically.

Then you should go to an appointment with the following specialists:

1. Pediatrician - examine the baby, check his general health and give referrals to narrower specialists.
2. To the surgeon - the doctor will examine the muscle corset and the condition of the joints in more detail.
3. Neurologist - the doctor will make sure of the psychomotor health of the baby, study reflexes and reactions to stimuli, check the muscle tone. The specialist will notice the warning signs in time and draw up a rehabilitation program. Therefore, it is worth showing the child to a neurologist at 3-4 months to make sure that the baby is developing according to the age norm.
4. Orthopedist - the narrowest specialist. Usually either a surgeon or a neurologist refers to him if there is a suspicion that there are problems with the muscles, joints and bones of the baby. Orthopedists name several of the most common problems: hip dysplasia, hypertonicity (muscles are constantly tense) and muscular dystonia (muscle tone in one half of the body differs from that of the other half).

All parents rejoice at the success of their baby. This is especially true of the first, such still uncertain and touching steps. This greatly pleases all household members, the first steps are filmed in order to capture this significant event. However, it happens that after rather confident independent "walks" the child again goes down on all fours.

Reasons why a child is afraid to walk on their own

1. Most often, the refusal to walk is associated with the fear of falling. Perhaps during the first attempts, the child fell and hit hard. At the same time, further attempts were also accompanied by a fall and pain. The kid intuitively comes to a safe and familiar method of movement - crawling.
2. The second common reason for not walking on legs, which can be mistaken for fear, is childish cunning. The child begins to walk with pleasure and learn about the world in this position, study the surrounding objects. Soon he gets tired of it, especially if the space for study does not change over time or is limited (with the baby they go for a walk only along the same route or are limited to the playground). The child begins to understand that crawling is less tiring, and much faster, and returns to moving on all fours.
3. Parents often used the now popular walker, and the baby is afraid to walk on his own.
4. There are no obvious reasons for refusing to walk. The child is healthy, did not fall or hurt himself, but does not walk.

Video: the child refuses to walk:

Actions of parents in case of child's refusal to walk

1. Fear of falling

Having found out that if the child is afraid to walk because of the fear of falling, then you should definitely support him in new attempts. Pay close attention to the movement of the little man and, if necessary, gently insure him against falls.

It is not worth forcing a child to walk with his categorical refusal.

It is necessary for the kid to forget his negative experience and then return to repeated attempts. In this case, it is advisable to start walking with funny children's poems or songs when walking on the street. Let the child first hold on to his mother's hand, then to his finger, and finally the moment will come when he will again walk on his own.

2. Laziness

Lazy and cunning kids, for whom movement on all fours is faster and easier, should respond in kind - with cunning. Favorite toys will come to the rescue.

When playing with a child, it is necessary to remove the toy higher, in order to reach it, the child had to stand up and walk up to it. The main thing is not to give up the attempts to "put" the child on his feet and repeat the games again and again.

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3. Refusal of walkers

It is worth completely abandoning the use of walkers or using them to a minimum. Being in this device slows down the baby's motor development. He simply will not know how to walk without a walker and, as a result, are afraid to move without them. (Useful article on walkers: PROS and CONS of walkers - check it out!)

4. For no reason

With an incomprehensible refusal to walk, you should be patient and wait. When standing upright, a large load begins to appear on the child's spine. Perhaps your little one is simply not yet physically ready to move on their feet. Some time will pass and the child will not just walk, but will run with his little legs.

All children are individual, the most important thing is not to insist and be patient.

Compliance with a few simple rules will help parents quickly develop the skill of upright walking:

1. Don't show your excitement and fear. Babies are very sensitive and begin to worry themselves.
2. Do not scold the child. Children are stressed at the same time, and the fear of walking increases.
3. Praise your baby as often as possible. An affectionate word gives an incentive for further success.
4. Develop your child physically. Children with whom they did exercises, massage without fear begin to walk.
5. Give your baby room to move around. Children confined by a playpen or walker become afraid to travel long distances.
6. Show your baby positive examples of physical activity - walk with him. The child will see children walking and running, and he will want to repeat their movements.

We read a detailed article where we give 10 useful tips on how to teach a child to walk -

There are such problems when a child walks on tiptoes, here we wrote about the reasons.

The main thing when developing and raising a baby is not to indulge his whims. You should absolutely refuse to carry the child in your arms. Otherwise, up to three years old, the baby will not get off mother's warm hands and will start walking very late. (related article - how to wean a child)

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