Most babies gradually develop their gross motor skills as they age, and begin to stumble and learn to walk around the age of one. However, some babies may walk later or not walk for a long time, which can make parents particularly concerned about their baby's health issues. So, what should I do if my baby can't walk at 18 months old?
1. It is abnormal for a baby to not be able to walk at 18 months old. As parents, it is important to carefully observe whether the baby has various adverse symptoms, such as being unable to maintain a straight and upright posture, or exhibiting crossed scissor like lower limbs, stiff limbs, and pointed feet. If there are such symptoms, it is necessary to take the baby to the hospital for examination in a timely manner. After clarifying the reason why the baby cannot walk, targeted treatment should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor in a timely manner.
2. The common cause of a baby's inability to walk at 18 months old may be related to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, which can lead to abnormally low muscle tone in the limbs. Diagnosis requires medical examination, including cranial magnetic resonance imaging, related chromosome testing, and genetic metabolic disease testing to determine the cause of the baby's inability to walk, followed by early rehabilitation treatment. During the treatment period, parents should be patient and careful in taking care of their babies, not letting them become overly fatigued. They should follow the rehabilitation treatment plan provided by the doctor and have regular follow-up check ups.
3. In addition, babies need to strengthen their nutrition in their daily diet, focusing on consuming foods rich in protein, vitamins, and trace elements, such as lean meat, soy products, eggs, millet, rice, and fruits and vegetables. Do not eat foods that are too greasy and difficult to digest, and reduce the digestive burden on the gastrointestinal tract.
