6 tips to help your child learn to walk

Most children learn how to walk in the first year of life. But learning to walk also needs to be learned. Before your child dares to take the first free steps, a lot of practice is needed.

When learning to walk, you can only support, not accelerate

Your child’s motor development cannot be accelerated. Before your child can learn to walk, the connections between the brain and the nerve endings in the legs and feet must mature. The muscles must be strong enough.
Therefore, the process cannot be sped up by repeatedly putting your child on your feet. This would only overwhelm it.

How you can support your child in learning to walk

1. Freedom of movement

Space should be created so that your child has optimal conditions to develop their walking skills. Clear the way of all tripping hazards, such as cords, and place it on a playmat instead of in the bouncer.
On the blanket, it can let off steam, twist and stretch to its heart’s content.

2. Motivating

Motivation is particularly important when learning to walk. Show your baby appreciation for every progress he makes. Reassure them if things don’t work out.
Your praise will encourage your child to keep trying. To allow them to develop their new skills at their own pace, only reach out when they fall or are about to bump into one another.

3. Learn to walk barefoot

Your child can learn to walk barefoot particularly well. This gives it a much better feel for its own feet and the ground. Different textures of the floor can be perceived more sensitively. In winter, it can quickly get too cold for little feet in the apartment, which is why anti-slip socks are well suited.

Your child should only wear shoes when they can walk and when you want to go outside.

4. Don’t overwhelm your child

At the beginning it is still difficult for the children to estimate the length of a route. Usually running works well after a while, but you should always make sure that your child only walks distances that they can already manage.

5. Do without baby walkers

It sounds so tempting and easy to use walking aids. However, the posture these systems impose inhibits muscle development. In addition, the walk-free systems have a high risk of accidents.

6. Falls are part of learning to walk

Don’t discourage your child by repeatedly saying that something is too dangerous. Constantly discouraging your child can develop fears of actually harmless situations. Better give him your hand and encourage him to try again.

Even if your child may need longer to learn to walk, it’s not a drama. Every child is different. Your baby develops the urge to walk all by itself. So you don’t have to do much at all.