Home >  Information A-Z >  All Kids Information Articles > Walking

Walking:

When your baby is about a year old (it can actually be anywhere from 8 months to 16 months), they will begin walking. This can be a very fun time, but it is also a lot of work for both the parents and the child. Here are a few tips for when your child starts walking:

• Prepare your house—when your baby started crawling, you had to baby-proof your house, but if you only protected your child from what was within their reach, you will need to go back through your house and baby-proof it again, because your baby's reach has changed. This time, much like it's a good idea to crawl around to notice things your baby will see when they are crawling, it works best if you get on your knees to decide what needs to be baby-proofed. Along with the normal things, such as clearing off low tables and shelves, there are a few others that you will want to watch for, such as the television. There have been many children that have been injured by pulling the television off its shelf down onto themselves. To avoid this, you will want to make sure the cord to the TV is inaccessible, and test your television by pulling and pushing on it. If it seems wobbly at all, you will want to use a different stand or entertainment center.

• Clear the area—when your child has just begun walking, they will stumble and fall quite a bit. Of course, you want them to get used to walking around everything, but at the same time you want to eliminate anything that will cause them more injuries than necessary. If it's possible, you may want to move the coffee table or any other similar obstacles so that your child won't fall into them.

• Make sure your child's shoes fit properly—many kids of this age hate wearing shoes, simply because they tend to hinder a child's walking ability. Some shoes don't fit the child right, or are too heavy, and they make it difficult for them to walk. This can be very frustrating for your child, and it can discourage them from trying (it can also cause them to get hurt more often since they fall more often). If your child hates wearing shoes, or the shoes seem to be causing your child problems with walking, you can let them walk with bare feet. This is also a good idea if your child walks on their toes or with the toes turned inward (more on this below).

• What if your child walks funny?—Many children walk strangely or they place their feet in a weird way on the floor when they first begin learning how to walk. Many parents get nervous about this and want to make their child wear shoes or seek medical attention for the problem. By all means, if it makes you nervous, take your child to the pediatrician to have them checked out. But, unless their feet are so misplaced that they have a hard time walking, doctors will often have parents wait to see if their child grows out of it before doing any kind of treatment. While all pediatricians say something different, most tend to tell parents to let their child walk barefoot if they place their feet wrong. This way, instead of the foot conforming to the shoe and making it even more difficult for them to walk, their feet will naturally straighten out. If your child's feet do not straighten out, and it concerns you, take them to the doctor. If your doctor feels treatment is necessary, they will most often give you braces to place on your child's feet during their sleep to help them straighten out.


Copyright 2010. All educational materials are the sole property of Kid First Internet and are available for the benefit of our parents. Duplication or use of any material requires the express consent of Kids First Internet.

Click Here to Browse Walkers

Browse information articles by category:

Babies
Toddlers
Kids
Health and Safety
Nutrition and Feeding
Bathing
Behavior and Discipline
Diapers and Potty Training
Playtime activities and toys
Clothing
Napping and Nighttime

View All Articles

Kids Bedding Information Center:

Nursery and Crib Safety
Allergy Information
Kids Bedding Gift Giving
Bedding Themes
Crib and Nursery Sizes
Typical Prices
Bedding Production
Cleaning
Materials and Fabrics
Boys Bedding and Girls Bedding

Kids and Baby Bedding Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best kids bedding brands? A look at some of the best kids bedding sets.

What comes in the different crib and nursery sets? Know exactly what you are ordering - before you order.

How do I choose the perfect kids bedding gift? Here are three simple rules for picking out a wonderful kids bedding or baby bedding set!

How can I create a safe nursery? A short article on safety and kids bedding and baby bedding.

How do I clean my kids bedding? Tips and directions to make your kids bedding set last forever.

How long does it take for my kids bedding purchase to arrive? Read about why it is important to order kids bedding several weeks in advance.

Why buy kids bedding or baby bedding online? Learn why we can offer the best prices on kids bedding.