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Understanding the general timeline of expectations for your child’s development will help you understand whether they are on track and ready to begin walking.  All children are different, but it’s good to have a rough guideline of when most children make strides toward walking.  Most toddlers begin walking between 12 and 15 months. Babies will have a step reflex between birth and 2 months. They will move their legs in a walking motion when held upright with their feet on a hard surface. This fades after 2 months. At 3-4 months, children will begin lifting their upper body when lying on their stomach. 5 months brings bouncing while held in a standing position as well as beginning to support themselves by leaning forward on their arms when seated. Children learn to sit unsupported between 6 and 9 months, and beginning crawling between 7 and 10 months. They will be able to stand if positioned where they can hold onto something like a table or chair, and begin “cruising,” or scooting their feet as they move along the edge of their support. Pulling up into a standing position occurs between 9 and 12 months. If your child is already sitting, crawling, pulling up and cruising, he or she may be ready to walk. If they haven't conquered these skills yet, they will need a little time to work their way up to walking. Several muscles are involved in walking, so you can try some exercises to strengthen their core and legs to help prepare your child for walking.  Give your child some “tummy time.”  Place your child on the floor on his stomach for about 10 minutes at a time. Encourage your child to push up and propel his or herself forward by placing toys or treats just out of the child's reach.  Try lying your child on his or her back on a balance ball and assisting the child in sit-ups.  Lie the child on their back, keeping a good grip so they don't fall. Tickle the baby's tummy and help bend the child back up into a sitting position on the ball.  Hold your child in a standing position on a bouncy surface, like a balance ball, trampoline or soft bed. Holding the baby around the rib cage, lift them slightly off the surface and lower them back down, encouraging them to bounce and strengthen their leg muscles. If your child is developing in a typical fashion, these milestones will come naturally. Some children may take longer to reach each milestone. Have patience and encourage your child as he or she follows their own timeline. There are several reasons why your child may be falling behind, or be a delayed walker. Some children simply take longer than others and you likely have no reason to panic. If you are concerned about your child’s development, it is best to check with your doctor to find the cause of the delay.  Hypotonia, sometimes referred to as “floppy infant,” is a decrease in muscle tone.  There can be several causes of hypotonia, and it is best to check with your doctor for testing.  Hypertonia is a stiffness in the muscles on either one or both sides of the body from increased muscle tone. This tends to appear around 2 to 3 months.  Other causes can be related to delayed development. Consult your doctor to determine what may be hindering your toddler. Your pediatrician is the doctor who knows your child the best, but no one know your child better than you do.  If you feel that your toddler is experiencing a delay, schedule an appointment of at least 30 minutes with your pediatrician to ask questions and request a referral to a specialist who can really explore your child’s development.  Bring notes listing your child’s timeline and marking their developmental milestones. Be prepared to talk about family medical history, anything you have noticed which has caused concern, and play patterns. Keep a daily record of your child’s activities, diet and behavior for 2 weeks prior to the visit to see if you can notice any patterns. Consider sending your daily notes and a letter explaining your concerns prior to the visit and asking your pediatrician to look over them before the appointment to prepare for the conversation. If you are a citizen of the United States of America, you could be eligible for Part C of the IDEA Act, which grants services to children up to 2 years old.  Early intervention is more effective and less costly than addressing delays which have persisted.  If your child has been diagnosed with a delay, begin intervention early for the most positive outcomes and quick results. Orthotics can give your toddler a support system as they are learning to walk. Orthotics can help align the feet as well as give your child the balance they need to begin walking.
Check your toddler’s timeline. Assess whether your child is ready to walk. Encourage your child’s gross motor development. Understand that most children do not need to be taught how to walk. Ask your doctor. Get a referral for a developmental specialist. Begin early intervention to help a child who has been diagnosed with a developmental delay. Consider using orthotics to treat hypotonia.