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Author Topic: Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?  (Read 1208 times)

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Offline kcamelia

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Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?
« on: October 11, 2006, 17:09:02 pm »
Just looking for some advice/reassurance.  My lo wants me to hold his hands and walk him around all the time.  I don't mind doing it for 3-5 mins at a time, but any more than that makes my back spasm.  I usually walk him, distract him with a toy or an opportunity to cruise, and then walk him some more.

Am I helping him by walking him around or am I hindering his progression?  I sometimes can get him to walk with his little walker or he is sometimes happy cruising all over the house.  It's not that I don't want to walk him at all; I just want to make sure I am still encouraging him to do it on his own.  Sometimes I try to walk him with just one hand, but he gets really mad and thinks he can't do it.

Thank you.
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Offline maggie2

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Re: Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2006, 17:25:57 pm »
It sounds like you're on the right track - it looks like he's about 10 months, right?  that's great that he is cruising and walking with you.  If you want to encourage him to do it on his own, try holding a toy that he likes up at his eye level (you're sitting on the floor) and have him walk to you to get it.  he should be close enough to you that you can reach out and grab him.  You can scoot back a bit as he gets closer and then give him the toy.  The key is to keep it high enough that he will stand to get it and not crawl.  (learned this trick from ds's physical therapist :))

Other than that, I think that he sounds like he'll be walking on his own in no time - so don't worry about having to "help" him.  He'll figure it out before you're really ready to be chasing him around, believe me!!!
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Offline Mom2katiebug

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Re: Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2006, 17:31:26 pm »
I learned this from DDs daycare teacher.  Let your LO hold onto your legs and then you walk backwards (small steps) and your LO will walk fowards while still holding on to you.  My back starts to ache as well and we switch to this with DD and can walk all over the house.  Warning though...all this backwards walking uses different muscles than you're probably used to.  You might get a sore muscle or two the first couple of times!
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Offline Maeve

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Re: Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2006, 17:36:17 pm »
I'd say you could be lazy and let it happen by itself--better than damaging your back anyway. If by any chance you have a doorway bouncer you can detach part of it and walk them in it without having to bend over. We just used the toys that they can hold onto and walk, but I think they do it when they're good and ready anyway.
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Offline maggie2

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Re: Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2006, 17:40:28 pm »
You could also try a "push toy" - the kind where they walk behind it and push it along ( I think someone already mentioned this).  Get one with a big compartment/storage area and you can put a sack of flour or something inside to slow it down for the beginning walker (they usually roll fairly fast).

Like everybody else said, it's going to happen on it's own no matter what you do, so don't stress about it. 

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Offline kcamelia

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Re: Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2006, 21:34:40 pm »
Those are great tips; thanks everyone!  I know he will walk on his own, I just don't want to think I'm helping if I'm not.
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Offline maggieruth

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Re: Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2006, 08:22:03 am »
i agree with the others!  he wants you with him to build up his confidnece but you aren't slowing his progress by encouraging him that way... that being said, cut yourself some slack and find different ways of encouraging him to build up his confidence (sounds like he "can" already walk)
btw, my son took 5 months to decide he could walk after taking his first steps!  ::)
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Offline maggie2

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Re: Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2006, 12:20:33 pm »
I saw this little contraption in the store yesterday - I really think it's totally unnecessary, but just thought I would share since we're on the topic.  It was this little sling thing that you put the baby in and hold up the two ends yourself and let the babe walk in front of you.  How annoying would that be?  Instead of just holding his hand, you put him in a contraption and have to walk him around in it???  I'm not sure what it was called, but just thought I would share,...
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Offline yaya

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Re: Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2006, 12:32:18 pm »
hee hee I saw that too, even thought of getting T one as my back was in bits too! he pushed anythign around when he was taking first step, chairs, toys , pram! i dont think U can push it at all tho, he neeeds to do it when he feels confident! :)
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Offline mari

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Re: Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2006, 12:46:26 pm »
Have plenty of push along toys available and he will soon gain confidence.
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Offline maggieruth

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Re: Learning to Walk--How Do I Help?
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2006, 20:00:12 pm »
i dunno what i think of those crazy sling things  ???
my sorry with them is that they teach kids that you can simply hang about and just stop taking weight through your legs and be caught by a sling! 
a walking toy to push, holding onto your legs with you walking backwards, or even you holding a hoola hoop or something with your lo holding the other end seems like a better idea to me and gets your lo much more involved and interested in balance
JMHO!
good luck with the walking, tell us how you are doing! x
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