Parenting Blog

Your baby’s first steps are an exciting and important milestone, and though every child develops at a different rate, there are signs that can tell you when your baby is ready to walk. Anywhere from the ages of six to ten months, your baby may start to crawl. Not all babies will crawl in the conventional way, however, or never crawl at all. Some babies will scoot along or even roll on their bottom from side to side, and many will skip crawling altogether. Some babies are so easygoing that they simply aren’t in a hurry to get anywhere. Unless your baby can’t get around by the time she turns one, this is not a problem. You should childproof your home before your baby becomes mobile.

When a baby first learns to stand, the tricky part will probably be learning how to sit down again. She’ll fall many times, but you can help by practicing knee bending with her. Once your baby begins to stand and move along furniture, she’s almost ready to walk. With practice, she’ll learn to shift weight between her feet. She will let go of the furniture when she feels ready. This usually occurs between the ages of nine and fourteen months, but don’t be alarmed if your baby doesn’t take her first steps until she’s a bit older, and don’t try to force her to stand on her own, as this can be harmful to her developing bones and muscles. Babies aren’t built in a way that makes walking easy; their heads are disproportionately large for their bodies and balancing is tough. Some children don’t attempt to walk until the age of fifteen months. If you have concerns about your baby’s development, your doctor will help you determine if her progress is normal.

When your baby starts walking, letting her go barefoot makes balancing easier. To help her practice, hold a toy while sitting two or three feet away from her and have her walk to get the toy. Many babies will walk in funny ways when they start out; they might walk on their toes or with their feet turned out, but unless the pattern persists there is no cause for concern.

Walkers were once recommended to help your child build leg muscles before she begins to walk on her own, but experts now say that walkers might delay your baby’s development, since walkers don’t help build all the muscles necessary to begin walking. Cruising along furniture will help her build the correct muscle for taking her first independent steps.

You’ve probably heard of autism, but chances are you don’t actually know what it is. If you are a parent, it’s important that you find out, because early diagnoses and treatment is essential for a child with autism to live a healthy and productive life. After all, it’s estimated that one in every 100 children born will be diagnosed with autism, so it’s important that you educate yourself. Every child develops their social and communication skills at a different rate, but if you are concerned about your child’s development, read on. An autistic child does not necessarily have a below-average IQ. In fact, many autistic children go unrecognized because they have exceptionally high intelligence. The cause is unknown, and the disorder is more prevalent in boys; in fact, some forms of autism appear almost exclusively in boys, and there’s a higher chance your child will develop the disorder if you have a family history of autism.

Autism may be recognized when a child has exceptional difficulties socializing with his peers, forming relationships, developing a wide variety of interests, adjusting to new environments and situations, or communicating with others. These difficulties depart from the norm; all young children will experience challenges in social situations, but a child with autism will refuse to adjust by developing the necessary social skills. This is because children with autism may be particularly sensitive to stimulation such as light and sound, and will therefore avoid bright or noisy environments. Also, children with autism perceive their surroundings and the actions of others in a very different way; they are not able to understand and imitate normal social interaction.

An autistic child may avoid eye contact with others, and may ignore you when you call his name. He might seem oblivious to his surroundings, which is why many autistic children are thought to be deaf. He will probably show little interest in “normal” activities that other children his age enjoy. If your child has difficulty in social situations that persist for a significant amount of time, you should speak with a doctor and get more information on the spectrum of autism disorders. It’s very difficult for a parent to recognize autism, so if you are concerned about your child’s abnormal behavior it is best speak with a professional. Even if you doctor concludes you’re your child’s behavior is normal, it’s always safe to monitor his development over the years to avoid problems that result from an undiagnosed disorder later on. Though there is no cure, children with high-functioning autism can grow up to lead independent lives if they get the help they need when they are young.