During the first year of life, a baby goes through a series of stages of physical coordination that won’t be repeated. It is fascinating to watch this human development, this urge to be upright, to stand, to walk. It is a strong and exciting human urge that defies almost any attempt to stop it.
• Physical development in infants in general works from top to toe. First there’s control of the head, then the trunk (sitting up), the body (standing), and finally, the legs (walking).
• It’s common for a child to pull up to a standing position and then cry because he or she is unable to return to the sitting position. It’s a frustration that lasts about three weeks until a child learns to drop. So don’t get angry over having to help out repeatedly during this period, it will pass.
• You can help your baby walk by holding the baby’s torso, rather than the arms or legs for support. Encourage walking in an area where the floors are not slippery or too hard for falls.
• Do take the time to mark these milestones on a calendar, a journal, or in a baby book. These wonderful, unforgettable events can all too soon be forgotten.
Vicki Lansky’s practical, common sense approach to parenting is familiar to millions throughout the world. Vicki’s first book, Feed Me, I’m Yours, published in 1974, and still one of the most popular baby/toddler food cookbooks in the country, was followed by The Taming of the C.A.N.D.Y. Monster, a #1 New York Times bestseller. Her other titles include: Toilet Training, Birthday Parties Best Party Tips & Ideas For Ages 1-8, Dear Babysitter Handbook, Welcoming Your Second Baby, Getting Your Child to Sleep … and Back to Sleep, Trouble-free Travel with Children, Baby Proofing Basics and Games Babies Play From Birth to Twelve Months, Koko Bear’s New Potty, A New Baby at Koko Bear’s House, Koko Bear and the New Babysitter, and Koko Bear’s Big Earache. Vicki Lansky’s Divorce Book for Parents: Helping Children Cope with Divorce and Its Aftermath