Walking

Since the day your baby was born it has been training to take their first steps. They have been developing muscle strength and coordination, and has mastered one amazing feat after another, from just sitting up right un aided to turning over to crawling.

Once they have mastered these feats they start to attempt to stand and then with a little encouragement take that giant step first with the help of furniture and anything that they can hold and then finally alone.

It takes a lot of practice to learn to walk and there will be many falls. But once they have mastered it fully it is a great step towards independence. All children develop at different rates some are quick some are slower most get there in the end it may be worth mentioning to a health professional if they have missed a developmental milestone. There may be perfectly logical reasons for your child's taking their time. Maybe they are busy working on another developmental task, like talking, or maybe they just likes to take his time whenever they learn a new skill.

Keep in mind that toddlers who are heavier or who were born prematurely often learn to walk a little later than others. If you notice that your child walks on his toes all the time, he may have a physical problem that's preventing him from putting his feet flat on the floor. It could also be a sign of a more serious motor disorder, such as mild cerebral palsy it is best to have them checked by a doctor.

Helping your child to walk

As your baby learns to pull themselves up to a standing position, they may need some help figuring out how to get back down again. If they gets stuck show them how to bend their knees so he can sit down without toppling over.

You can encourage them to walk by standing or kneeling in front of them and holding out your hands. Or you might hold both their hands and walk them toward you.

Toddle trucks or push toy that your child can hold on to as they walk are great at this stage . There is some research that suggests that baby walkers can slow the development of upper leg muscles but this is in no way prove so if you wish to use a walker the choose is yours. it is best to wait to introduce shoes until your child ventures outside as going bare footed helps to improve coordination and balance. There will be a lot of falling over during this period so try to ensue they have a soft safe space to practice in and that they are not left unattended as once they master the art they can move extremely fast.

Milestones

Around the age of 12 to 18 months
Most children take their first steps between 11 and 14 months, but the normal range for reaching this milestone is very broad. Some kids walk as early as 8 months, others as late as 17 months. Don't worry if your child is one of the later ones — what's important is the progression of skills. If your child was a little late learning to roll over and crawl, chances are he'll need a few extra weeks or months for walking as well. As long as he keeps learning new things, you don't have to be too concerned.

19 to 24 months
As your child becomes more sure on his feet, he'll start to feel more comfortable walking while holding something in his hands. They will also try to challenge themselves by carrying heavier loads, so don't be surprised if you catch them trying to lift something that is far too heavy for them. They also learn the joy of run and how much better it is to get some where quickly this is the time when you need to keep your eyes on them they can be off in a flash.

25 to 30 months
By the time they are around 2, they can play games that involve steps. At around 26 months, There steps will become more even they begin to walk more like an adult. At this age your toddler will probably enjoy jumping and climbing, it time to set rule about the furniture.

31 to 36 months
By the time your child is three walking is just normal, there are still some actions, like balancing on a wall or standing on one leg, that require concentration and effort. They can stop and start a sprint at the drop of a hat, and zip left and right with little hesitation.

Thing to look out for indication physical difficulties

The style of walking that your child uses will vary from tot to tot, most begin walking with their feet turned out, a position that helps to improve balance. Just when you are starting to worry about that they may change their style and they start to walk with their feet turned inwards and become pigeon-toed.

Most toddlers' legs and feet straighten on their own by three years, so it is best not to worry , however there are signs that are worth looking out for that it is worth having checked out by a medical profession if you see them and are concerned, they include

walking on their toes, most toddlers go through a brief period of toe walking. If it persists, contact your doctor
walking with toes facing inwards or pigeon toed, usually corrects it self, if your toddler runs without tripping, don't worry about turned-in feet. If, however, your child is tripping over his feet more and more it is best to seek medical advice
Limping must always be taken seriously, and warrants a thorough medical exam.
refusal to walk, this is worth taking seriously if it lasts a couple of days toddlers can cause fractures very easily, most heal without medical intervention but is important to have them checked.

If you are in any way concerned about your child contact a medical profesional.