Is it normal for baby to walk before crawl?
Seeing baby growing up is a delight to eyes. We want to capture every special moment of our baby like when did our baby speak for the first time or when did he first take his first step or start crawling? But what if your baby doesn’t seem interested in crawling? Yes, many children just don’t like to crawl and try to walk straight away. Parents start worrying if their child doesn’t start crawling by tenth month of his age. But it is not a matter to worry about. Every child is different with individual behavior and personality. Their learning capabilities also differ. There are many children who start walking without making an effort to crawl. The crawling and walking age of babies differ from child to child. It depends on the structure, weight and genes of the baby. There is nothing abnormal about them if they don’t want to have the fun of crawling. Of course you will miss to capture the funny activities of your baby while crawling. But it is absolutely a natural thing.
So, don’t bother if your kid attempts to walk first rather than crawl. Many kids find it more interesting to hold things and stand instead of crawling. They want to copy their parents. It can happen to a sixth month old baby or even to a baby who just celebrated his first birthday. Here are a few tips how to deal with the situation.
1. Make it interesting rather than forcing
It may bother you that your baby doesn’t crawl but believe me it is a natural phenomenon. So, don’t try to force your baby to crawl. This will irritate him/her and he/she may develop a feeling of strong dislike for crawling. You can make it an interesting game by putting some of the favorite eatables in a bowl or favorite toys at some distance and tell her to catch them. Spread a rug or a carpet on the floor and leave your baby there. You can enjoy watching the game hiding yourself behind the curtain. Because many babies find it easier to ask for a help if they see their parents around and don’t want to travel even one foot distance.
2. Leave your baby on floor
Many parents are scared of leaving their babies on the floor. Get the floor cleaned with good disinfectant and keep a check on insects. You can leave your baby on the floor with a carpet or soft rug on it. It is safer than leaving your child on bed while you are cooking or engaged in some other work. You can place toys all around the carpet and keep an eye to the baby from where you are working. Keep talking to baby. It will give them a secured feeling that mom is around. You will have to leave your child on the floor as much as you can if you want them to learn crawling. You can also crawl with your kid. It will be fun for them and they will try to imitate you.
3. Get a baby walker for your baby
It is a conventional method used for infants who cannot walk on their own. The baby walker is a tool which is used for babies between six months to fifteen months for learning walking. It has been improved with many more functions in it. There are various kinds of walkers available in the market. Some walkers have seats in them so baby can sit if feels tired. Some walkers have just a frame with a handle, wheels and toys hanged on it. The baby can hold the handle and walk with the support. You can leave the baby in walker on a smooth surface in a big room. Don’t leave anything on the floor because it can clash with the walker and baby can fall down. There should be no stairs where you leave the baby. It can be dicey so be cautious when you are using it.
4. Get baby wings
This is another substitution for baby walker in which the baby wears a jacket like thing whose belts are held by a parent. It is like you are holding a puppet. The arms of the baby remain free to hold any toy. It needs complete assistance and you cannot leave your baby for a single minute. Baby enjoys it and it definitely help in learning walking. It is apt for the child who can stand on their own, have leg strength and want to walk. Check it in prior that the wings are properly tied up. Further, you don’t have to bend and you can also walk straight. So, it’s not a tiring job for you.
