The baby gradually goes through the process from feeling weak all over to being able to turn over freely, and then to sitting alone. During this process, parents accompanied their children to experience various surprises after learning new skills. As their legs become stronger, many babies start practicing walking with the help of armrests around them. So, is it normal not to walk at 18 months?
Is it normal to not walk for 18 months
1. Every child's developmental performance is unique, and walking alone is no exception. When this day arrives, it has nothing to do with the baby's intelligence, body position size, or parental competence. Children do not intentionally learn to walk late, and parents cannot change it to accelerate the speed at which their babies learn to walk. Therefore, our first reminder is not to be overly anxious, but to keep a close eye on whether the baby has appropriate reactions to walking alone. Some children learn to walk before the age of one, but some children are still crawling around when they are one and a half years old. The time for babies to learn to walk varies, and it is generally normal for them to learn to walk within 17 months. Parents need not worry.
2. If a child is normal in all other aspects, a slight delay in walking may not be a big problem, but it should be noted that some children stand with adults supporting them, and their legs become straight like sticks or cross like scissors. Some children show trembling hands or constantly trembling hands, and their hand and foot movements are not flexible, their coordination is poor, or they feel uncomfortable walking posture. Or if his walking time has fallen far behind other children of the same age, then it is necessary to take him to see a specialist doctor.
3. Parents' attitudes should be corrected and they cannot adopt the method of forcing the seedlings to grow. Never force children to walk on their own or break their hands, as this will make them feel insecure and more difficult to walk on their own.
Training measures that parents can take
1. You can kneel in front of your baby, stretch out your hands to hold his hands, encourage him to take a step, and walk towards you.
2. You can also stand behind the child, hold their armpits with both hands, and walk with them. At the beginning, he may need you to hold him firmly, but then with just a little bit of force, he can move forward on his own.
3. You can use some toys to guide the child over and get them, and the distance set at the beginning should not be too far. After the child successfully takes the first step, slowly widen the distance. Let the child rebuild their confidence in walking alone.
4. Learning to walk also means an increased chance of falling and getting injured. Please prepare a relatively safe environment for your child, reduce the chances of them bumping, and try to keep them within your line of sight, while also being prepared for "rescue" at all times.
Walking is one of the major motor abilities, which is closely related to the development of the big and small brains, as well as the external environment at that time. For example, wearing multiple layers of clothing in winter can hinder the development of a baby's perceptual ability. Therefore, parents should create appropriate conditions to help the baby. If long-term improvement is found, please seek medical attention promptly and do not delay diagnosis and treatment.
