From standing to first steps with Edita Knotková

In the last episode of the series, we talked about how demanding the things our baby - now a toddler - has to manage during the third trimester are. At this age, the pace of each child’s development is already quite individual. Movement through space and in an upright position also depends a lot on the nature of the child itself.

Our model baby is therefore ideally ten months old. It can crawl on all fours, sit in a side-sitting position as well as an unsupported seated position, and crawl over to a little table or obstacle, brace its hands on it, and pull itself up to standing. Gradually it learns not only to stand, but also to shift weight from one leg to the other and cruise along furniture. The stage of cruising along furniture is very important for our baby; it must be able to cruise both ways. It is the basis for future balance and equilibrium functions. If your child cruises along the furniture and still won’t let go into open space, don’t despair. The average length of this stage is around four months and can vary individually. We do not walk toddlers by the hands, not even if they ask for it themselves. If they need to get somewhere, it is better for them to return from standing to all fours, crawl to where they need to go, and stand up again there. Walking them by both hands or even one hand changes the child’s center of gravity. It encourages them to walk more on tiptoe, with the belly sticking out forward and the back more arched. In the future, this posture could lead to quite a few problems, for example with the knees or back. Walking by one hand also encourages asymmetry in the child.

Try not to overprotect the child or keep catching them. A child must learn to fall safely, and the safe fall height is generally considered to be the child’s own height. You can practice falls onto the hands with the child so they learn to save themselves. If your child falls backward onto their head, then seek out a physiotherapist - they will surely figure out why it is happening. A child who is overprotected by their parents has no motivation to learn a safe falling strategy on their own. Likewise, various soft helmets and backpack pads are unnecessary and potentially dangerous. The child will not be afraid to fall on their head, and the risk of injury is relatively increased by this aid.

The first shoes are also a big topic. A child’s foot is still developing and, besides serving for walking, it is also a very important sensory organ for the child. Through the foot, the child learns what kind of surface is under the sole and learns to strengthen not only the ankles but the whole body. A person’s posture is different when walking on a beach than when walking on rocks. And the nervous system has to learn all of that too. In general, a good first shoe for a healthy foot is one that protects the foot but does not restrict it. It must be as soft as possible and sufficiently roomy. If you are lucky and your child starts walking in summer, try to keep them barefoot as much as possible. If the foot needs protection, leather or softshell booties are enough. A child should not need shoes until they are an experienced walker - meaning six months of confident walking. An unsuitable shoe can not only affect the walking pattern, but also lead to tripping and more frequent falls. It is very beneficial to stimulate an immature foot with different surfaces and set up various simple obstacle courses for children. Indoors, sensory-motor floors and mats, climbing frames, and boards like the Pikler triangle are useful. Outside, the whole world is a playground for us. A curb gives the foot one sensation, gravel another, and mud yet another. And the foot has to get to know all of this and learn to react accordingly.

My child has crooked ankles, heels, or knees - what should I do?

A certain mild valgus of the heels is normal in small children and does not need to be treated - it will correct itself over time. In general, with immature walking we encounter many imperfections that may catch our attention. Most often we see ankles collapsing inward, tiptoe walking, and knock-knees or bowlegs. If this is part of immature walking and the child has no other movement problem, we can give them time to refine their walking. If the problem still persists six months after walking began, or if we are not sure that our child’s walking is still within the norm, a preventive visit to a physiotherapist can do no harm.