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Feature Articles for June 2003
 Human babies follow a certain developmental pattern whereby head control leads to sitting balance; learning to sit alone prepares the child for creeping; and learning to creep prepares him for walking. A number of factors contribute to walking readiness. For example, Baby’s back muscles must be strong enough to keep him upright and balanced over his legs and feet. He must have developed certain balancing and protective responses which will protect him from serious injury during the many falls he will experience as he learns to walk. Through creeping, Baby must learn to use his arms and legs rhythmically and alternately while holding his head up to see where he is going. The many small bones of Baby’s feet are not hard like an adult’s but are like cartilage–firm but flexible like hard rubber. The muscles which support the bones and which eventually hold the arches in place must be strong enough to hold the bones in good position when Baby stands on his feet. Left to himself, Baby will creep and pull to a standing position. During this period he just stands with his feet fairly far apart and turned out for better balance. Later he will begin to sidestep while holding onto a support. Baby needs lots of practice in all of the activities – creeping, balancing, standing – which strengthen his muscles, improve his balance, and lead to strong standing and walking positions. Walkers steal time from these essential readiness activities. In a walker, Baby does not get stable standing practice. Any random leg movements push the walker from place to place. Rhythmic patterns of leg movement are not established, and coordinated arm and leg movements fail to develop as they should. A child who can move in a walker before he has balance–and judgment– can have a real adventure. Once in motion, he may not be able to stop, back up, or control the direction of the walker. Pediatricians’ reports about injuries resulting from a tumble downstairs in a walker are common. Baby will walk when his body is ready. A fat, placid baby usually walks later than an active, wiry baby. Some children walk at nine or 10 months. Others do not walk until 12 to 14 months. Give Baby plenty of opportunities to crawl, creep, to pull to a standing position, and to cruise along supporting furniture. Then you can be sure that Baby will walk when his body and nervous system are developmentally ready for walking. Babies enjoy walkers–but they take important time away from those developmental activities which produce real walking readiness. Check out the Growing Child Web site at www.GrowingChild.com. Courtesy of GrowingChild.com |
