Some tricks and games, if used at the right time, can be helpful in helping baby take their first steps. How to help your child in learning to walk? Explanations and advice from Solène Chavane, osteopath specializing in osteopathy for babies.
When the child is well advanced in the stages oflearning to walkthat is, to crawl and stand up, parents can accompany their child to take their first steps. Some then look for tricks or games to stimulate baby and teach him to walk. Should baby be helped to walk and what should be put in place to support him? Advice from Solène Chavane, osteopath in Paris and specialist in osteopathy for babies.
For stimulate baby in learning to walk, the help of a parent is not necessarily the first thing to do. It would be better “let the child do it”explains Solène Chavane. Because “Often when we see parents who are worried about their child’s motor skills, some will want to do things for the child, they will systematically bring him objects or change his position when he gets impatient with example”, she details.
“Of course, it’s not easy for a parent to hear their child cry because he’s on his stomach or his back, but you have to let him find the solution on his own. It’s something important“, adds the osteopath.
“You have to let the child do it, let him find the solution on his own. It’s something important.”
Is it okay to use a walker to help baby walk?
The specialist also returns to a baby accessory that is causing debate: the trotter or the youpala. “It is not recommended and it has even been prohibitedbecause there have been cases of head trauma”, warns the specialist.
For what ? “In a walker, the child does not control what he is doing at all and it is dangerous. With this type of accessory, the child will skip steps. It’s even very bad to make a child stand up before he is able to do it by himself, because he will strain his muscle tone, he will tense, tense and contract more and more” , she informs.