Is it true that children who start walking and talking early will become geniuses? A child's first steps The sooner the child goes, the better.

The ability to walk does not come to the baby right away, and it can happen sooner or later. It is interesting that not in all countries parents believe that children need to be taught to walk. In Asia and Africa, many peoples believe that the child will go when the time comes, and there is no need to rush things. For us Europeans, this, of course, sounds a little unusual, and many parents still believe that it is necessary to help the child learn to walk. In some ways, of course, they are right, and many experts agree that babies need to be prepared to walk. For example, they advise at an early age to put the baby on his tummy several times a day, and when the child learns to sit down, help him with this - let him grab onto the fingers of an adult.

The exact age at which a child begins to walk depends on many factors. First, at 7-8 months, the most active children learn to stand on their feet and stand upright; other babies develop this skill later. It is also of great importance what kind of character the child has, how much the baby weighs - more well-fed and calm children often do not strive to start walking early.
It happens that a child seems to have already taken his first steps, but then suddenly gets sick and spends a week or two in a crib. Then the baby may stop trying to walk for several weeks. There are children who like to crawl so much that they don’t want to get up on their feet for quite a long time. Sometimes a baby, having fallen and gotten a bump, loses interest in walking for a week or two.

Many children take their first steps a year or two to three months later. Nimble and active babies can begin to walk earlier - at 9-10 months, and weak and sick children, on the contrary, later - at one and a half years. Although this may not depend on health. If a child can get up and stand without outside support for 20-30 seconds, then he is quite ready to start walking. Parents should not put the baby on his feet, lead him around the room holding his hand, or otherwise interfere with learning to walk. Those who believe that the sooner you put a child on his feet, the faster he will learn to walk, are wrong. This should happen naturally.
But there are also restless mothers who, on the contrary, are afraid that if the child walks early on his own, this could damage his still fragile legs. Of course, there is a danger of curvature, but studies have shown that defects, when a child’s legs take a shape like the letter O or X, appear regardless of the age at which the baby took his first steps.

Some mothers and fathers believe that a child is behind in development if he is not a year old. This is a wrong opinion. Even if the little one takes his first steps later, this is unlikely to affect further development. On the contrary, many experts believe that if children start walking early, this is not very good. When walking, a large load is placed on the spine, and in young children this can lead to its curvature. You should also not put hard shoes on your child, as some parents do, thinking that this way the baby will learn to walk faster. In fact, it's even harmful. If a child walks barefoot more often, his muscles and joints will become stronger.
This also helps to avoid flat feet. Although all young children's feet appear flat in appearance because the arch of the foot has not yet fully developed.

When a child begins to walk, it is useful to take him to a pediatric orthopedic doctor more often. After all, sometimes babies develop clubfoot or bowed legs. At first, many children walk with their feet pointed apart. Then, when the child learns to maintain balance better, he will put his feet straighter. But children who immediately began to keep their feet parallel may eventually begin to clubfoot. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe special orthopedic shoes or, conversely, advise wearing soft booties.

The first smile to mom, the first sounds, the first skills of turning over are already behind us, we are already sitting on our butts, we already have our first tooth - it’s our turn to wait for the first independent, albeit hesitant, step. Many mothers are looking forward to this step! Remember(!) - there are no clear time indicators for when your child (at how many months) will begin to walk independently without support. As in everything related to the life of babies under one year old, the time for independent movement is extremely individual...

At what months do babies take their first steps?

The age at which a child should begin to walk on his own is, on average, about a year. However, this does not mean that all children begin to take their first steps at 12 months. The norm is considered to be a period of 9 months to approximately 1.5 years. First, the baby tries to stand up, then takes tentative steps, holding onto furniture or an adult’s hand. And only then does he make independent attempts to walk.

At what months do children begin to walk depends on many factors:

  • The genetic factor greatly influences the time when the baby will go. If one of the parents went very late, then you should not expect early steps from the baby;
  • The constitution and gender of the child also influence the time when the baby takes his first steps. Plump children will walk somewhat later than their slender peers, and girls begin to walk earlier than boys;
  • The baby's temperament affects when the baby will go. Calm, balanced observers take their time walking. It is convenient for them to explore the world slowly and they feel great while sitting or crawling. Independent fidgets, on the contrary, quickly strive to learn more new things and take their first steps very early.

When a child begins to walk independently, you will notice that the process of his walking is noticeably different from the walking of an adult in several ways:

  • The child places his feet parallel to each other;
  • Children walk as if “taking a step”, not being able to roll their feet from heel to toe;
  • Children do not yet know how to maintain their center of gravity and therefore often fall.

Given these features, parents need to closely monitor their child and be on alert. It is especially dangerous when a child falls flat forward or backward - he does not know how to soften the fall with his hands and can break his face or the back of his head. However, you should not panic to the point of being afraid of falling. The bones of children at this age are very elastic and the risk of fractures is minimal.

The reaction of parents is very important when the baby falls frequently. You shouldn’t rush to the child every time with horror on your face and pick him up. It is worthwhile to encourage the beginning “walker” in a gentle and calm voice and wait until he gets up and continues his steps.

What if the child started walking early? Is it better earlier or later?

  • If your child starts walking early, you shouldn’t be too happy. The muscles of the spine and legs are not yet fully strengthened and the load exerted when walking is still too much for them. Large, well-fed babies may have problems with the formation of the musculoskeletal system of the legs. Especially if the baby did not stand up on his own, and his parents forced this event. The baby's shins cannot support his weight, which leads to their curvature and incorrect placement of the feet. Subconsciously, babies know when is the best time to take the first step;
  • A child begins to walk late for several reasons. Perhaps his leg and spine muscles are not yet ready for upright walking. Or there is a weakening of the immune system due to a previous illness or birth injury.

Helping your child walk - exercises and massage

Is it possible to encourage a baby to take the first step faster if the emergence of this skill is delayed? — The most important thing is to adhere to a sense of proportion in the desire to quickly teach your baby to walk. There are several ways to help your child learn a new skill.

  1. It is necessary to provide the child with the necessary sufficient space to move. Babies who are constantly in the playpen will go very late. It is worth placing various stable pieces of furniture around the room for support. The baby’s favorite toys must be placed so that the child can reach them; the child must tear himself away from the support. Over time, the distance from support to support must be increased.
  2. Do massage. Massage consists of strengthening and relaxing the muscles that work when walking. Stroking, rubbing and tapping on the child’s feet and legs will bring a good positive effect (read about massage).
  3. Daily gymnastics and stimulating exercises. The set of exercises should include bending and straightening the legs, squats and stretching with the help of an adult, bouncing on mom’s lap, and exercising on a fitball ( link to useful articles massage and exercise above).
  4. Stable rolling toys will help your baby feel more confident. The child pushes the toy in front of him and moves almost independently.

Updated

Note to moms!


Hello girls) I didn’t think that the problem of stretch marks would affect me too, and I’ll also write about it))) But there’s nowhere to go, so I’m writing here: How did I get rid of stretch marks after childbirth? I will be very glad if my method helps you too...

  1. Don't rush your child. All average indicators are a relative guide. Therefore, even at 14-15 months it is still quite normal for some to not walk independently. The main task of parents is initial stage- wait until the child is ready to learn a new skill. Haste can negatively affect the formation of feet, muscles, and joints.
  2. Create a favorable, safe environment: remove everything that could cause harm, eliminate sharp corners, hide cords, and watch the baby especially closely.
  3. Conduct physical training. No special exercises are required. You just need to train all muscle groups step by step from birth in a timely manner. Place on stomach to encourage rolling over. Next, the child must sit up on his own from a lying position. And, of course, crawling plays a big role. The parent’s task is to encourage the child’s physical activity in every possible way. For example, attracting him with toys, forcing him to crawl around the room. And jumping on parents’ laps, which children love so much, is an excellent exercise for strengthening their legs. ()
  4. Massage develops muscles well and relieves tension in them at the same time. You can contact a specialist, as well.
  5. Encourage walking. You can show an interesting toy, and then put it on the table, for example, so that you can get it only by standing on your feet. When the baby is trying to take his first steps, the toy can miraculously move from the table to the sofa as soon as the baby approaches it. It's good to be outside more often. where you can watch other children who can already walk. In this case, it is better to leave the stroller at home. It is convenient to use special “reins”. But only when the child begins to walk. It is important to ensure that the child’s body does not bend forward or to the side.
  6. Encourage. Praise for success, the smile of mom and dad is the best reward. Do not forget about affectionate and enthusiastic words. The child deserves this for his first steps.

Things to remember when teaching your child to walk:

  • It's better to start walking barefoot. This leads to the correct formation of the foot. And at the same time it strengthens the baby. Or wear socks with rubberized soles.
  • For outdoor walks, you should purchase high-quality and comfortable shoes with a tight back and make sure that it does not rub your legs.
  • No need to be tempted. Children often use walkers for a long time. And they completely refuse to master walking skills in a timely manner.
  • During training, you do not need to hold the child by the armpits. More correctly, by the hand, by the forearm, or even by the hood.
  • And, most importantly, be patient. You should not fit your child into a standard framework. But you need to be an assistant to him in everything, as soon as he himself is ready for new discoveries.

Do not use walkers or jumpers. Not only do they not stimulate independent movement, but on the contrary they contribute to delayed walking. We read: and we read:

First shoes for a baby starting to walk

From an orthopedic point of view, a child’s shoes must meet the following requirements:

  • Shoes should be chosen from genuine leather and suede so that the baby’s feet can breathe;
  • the sole of the first shoe is thin and flexible, otherwise the baby will stumble;
  • The heel of a child’s shoes should be chosen to be firm, so that the shoes or sandals do not fall off when walking;
  • a small and stable heel will prevent the child from falling backwards;
  • the top and sides of the shoes should be soft and easily form folds;
  • To shape the arch of your foot, you should choose a flexible arch support in your shoes.

Watch a video about which shoes are best to choose:

Walking on tiptoes or toes

It happens that instead of walking normally, a child begins to walk on his toes. If the baby just wants to attract the attention of loved ones or tries out a new way of moving, then everything is fine.

When the baby constantly moves on tiptoes with a beautiful ballet gait, without even trying to lower himself onto his entire foot, then it is necessary to take action. There is no need to try to fix the situation yourself. In such an important matter, it is better to trust a doctor who will advise what to do. Most often, special massage, special gymnastics and physiotherapy are prescribed.

You can sound the alarm if the baby has not started walking after one and a half years. And even then, only in the case of low activity of the child and unsatisfactory general condition baby. When a child is cheerful, active, crawls around cheerfully in a good mood, but does not walk, there is no need to worry, he will walk, everything has its time.

Often, in an effort to help their child go as early as possible, parents make many mistakes.

When do babies start walking

Children usually 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 characteristics (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 a negative experience: he hit himself hard, was 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. This seemingly easy way of moving for adults is actually a complex and fairly coordinated work of various muscle groups, motor (motor) zones of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and vestibular apparatus. Walking is impossible without the ability to maintain good balance and precise coordination of movements. Therefore, before 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 according to his own 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. The child's bony skeleton is able to withstand the load of his own body weight, 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 his musculoskeletal system is strong enough and he is ready for it.

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 is it necessary to consult a pediatric orthopedist?

Mastering the skill of independent walking is a very important stage in a child’s 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, the 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. There are muscular hypertension (excessive muscle tension) and dystonia (individual tension of various muscle groups), which in the future can become one of the reasons for the baby’s lag in development. physical development, formation of incorrect posture and gait. Such children need the supervision of a neurologist and orthopedist.
  • Parents may notice that a baby'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 as the child grows, increases motor activity and strengthens the muscles. If your 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 a valgus deformation of the feet, 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 hallux valgus are rickets, excess weight, and mechanical damage (trauma). 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. As planned, 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 perform a protective function, but also participate 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 before going to the store in order to use it to find a pair of the right 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.

Primary requirements:

  • A rigid closed back that reaches the baby’s ankle and securely fixes the heel.
  • Moderately hard flexible sole with a textured non-slip surface and a small heel (up to 0.5 cm high).
  • Convenient 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, which are not always justified from a medical point of view. 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 too much for the child’s fragile musculoskeletal system 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 importance has a surface on which bare feet stomp.

When walking on a flat surface of a home floor (linoleum, tiles, parquet, laminate), there is no reflexive contraction of the foot muscles, 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 can 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:

Using them 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 they can cause to a child if used incorrectly. 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 mechanism of walking 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 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 if you meet 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 your 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 injury, adults should make the home environment surrounding the baby as safe as possible. 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, hot drinks standing on the edge of the table pose a great danger. 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 that he can reach are turned on. 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. Household chemicals, medicines, shaving accessories and other dangerous items should 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 the child taking his 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.

You may be interested in articles

Previously, there was an opinion in medicine: a child should not be allowed to walk until 9–10 months. This was believed to have a negative impact on hip joints, legs - they have not yet had time to get stronger. Today scientists are against this. In the first year, many events happen in a baby’s life - he gets teeth, he tries new food, he crawls, he tries to take his first steps. Modern researchers are confident that if a child walks early, he will have strong bones.

Many parents prohibit early walking. You can't do this. English scientists ask, on the contrary, to encourage the child and engage with him as much as possible. The universities of Bristol and Manchester have been studying this problem. 17 years ago, about 3,000 babies aged 1.9 months were examined, now they tried to test the same participants, only these were already boys and girls.

Scientists were most interested in:

  • The size of the tibia and femur.
  • Fabric shape and density.

During the experiment, modern diagnostic methods were used - computed tomography and x-ray absorptiometry. The scientists concluded: children who began walking before 12 months had high tissue density and greater bone mass. What does it mean? If a child has large bones, he is protected from cracks. Therefore, it is important that your baby starts walking as early as possible.

The authors of the experiment also note that if a child walks, he already runs and jumps - this is a kind of load on the bones of the legs, promoting their growth. Scientists are sure that in this way, muscles also develop well. Teach your baby to an active lifestyle, then there will be no health problems.

Kazakhstan, Karaganda

Our son learned everything himself! He rolled over at 4 months, sat up on his own at 6 months, then crawled on his own at almost 7 months, and at 7.5 months he began to stand on his legs leaning on something. Everyone said it was too early, but at 8.5 he went. Again, everyone around said, let him crawl. Well, I can’t force a very active child to get on all fours! Well, over time, our legs began to crook. At first I thought it was hard to walk, because I still couldn’t walk confidently. I went to an orthopedist and was diagnosed with varus deformity of the legs! Massage, electrophoresis, orthopedic shoes. I think it's different for everyone. It depends on the body, our fontanelle completely closed at 3 months, teeth erupted at 4 months. You don’t even know what’s best.

16/02/2013 11:47

inna Ukraine, Krasny Luch

My daughter did not walk in a walker, I did not lead her by the arms around the apartment, she sat up on her own, crawled on her own, and at 9.5 months. she went, and at the same time I didn’t force her, and I didn’t insist on anything))) The children themselves know when it’s time for them to do something themselves!))

25/12/2012 14:49

Ukraine, Kuznetsovsk

My daughter is 4 months old, today at the doctor’s regular check-up we were told that she is not developing very well. She still can’t stand on her legs, sometimes she tries when I hold her, but she hasn’t shown this to the doctor, and she doesn’t turn over completely yet, only on her side. Is this really bad?

07/11/2009 11:07

Both of my children began to stand on their feet at 5.5 months (on their own), I was also worried that there would be crooked legs, etc., but our pediatrician answered the same way Dr. Komarovsky. And, as time has shown, there is nothing wrong with that.

07/10/2009 08:17

My 7 month old son stands holding onto the bars of the crib, and everything that comes his way))) and “walks” along the bars, but does not sit)) We didn’t teach him - I just woke up one day and he was standing in the crib)) I decided With dad, there’s no need to worry, since he started to get up himself))

14/05/2009 09:25

I wanted to give a link from the magazine "My Child. The First River of Life." www.moyadytyna.com.ua, but you can’t figure it out on your own. This is one of the sources. In all the other books and magazines that I read, it is written approximately the same way: “...Stinks appear from 3-4 years of life...”, “A newborn baby usually cries without tears, and for about a month there are no tears.” are the first little tears"...
We would not have paid attention to this if it were not for the neonatologist. Who in the delivery room said that “with a large weight of 4200, entanglement, and tears are flowing, you urgently need to see a neurologist.”

13/05/2009 15:26

I read the question and couldn’t help but write. The baby was not swaddled for a day. We also try to live according to the recommendations of E.O. in the book. My daughter loves watching programs with E.O.
Because My daughter is almost 4 years old and we haven’t seen books on sale before, so we’ve been experimenting with her for almost a year  . Not successful yet...
The youngest was observed by a neurologist for a month - at birth the umbilical cord was tightly entwined. The baby is sick for the 2nd time - viral rhinitis (the nose is not breathing at all) and a dry cough. We drip saline and Nazivin (although I read that it is not advisable, but he began to breathe). I don’t know how to treat a cough. The pediatrician is “good” - he always says that we are doing everything right. Her latest recommendations are Nazoferon (less than 2 weeks have passed since she already recommended it), Aflubin, 20% Nasal Sulfacyl ( eye drops), warm drink ( breast-feeding), Eucalyptus balm (my daughter has allergies)…
The baby is now almost 4 months old. Started rolling over onto his tummy at 2.5 months. He has been crawling on his stomach at a “don’t leave him alone” pace since 3 months. He has been trying to sit since he was 3 months old. She has been rolling over onto her back from her tummy for 3 days now. If you don't hold him so that he sits, he screams (and screams a lot). I still can't get distracted. And if you hold him a little while sitting, he either starts squats or stands - we’ve never seen greater happiness on his face! And he also tries to stand there as long as possible. Of course, we put her down, try to hold her as little as possible, but as soon as her sister appears on the horizon... there is a scream and we have to run. We encourage him to talk to him when he is lying down. By the way, he has been chatting since he was 2 weeks old, and the tears appeared in the maternity hospital.
Should I be worried?
Valerian is always with you.