| It is at this stage when much is expected from | | | | health and vitality, without unduly tiring themselves |
| parents and guardians who are looking after children | | | | out and putting uneven pressure on their bones. As |
| take their first uneasy steps. Guiding children to walk | | | | they progress in health and physical growth, babies |
| requires not only patience but correct information as | | | | tend to be more active. They like to rise by |
| well. Some of the traditional and rather common | | | | themselves, snatching a chair or leg of a table. They |
| methods have now been assailed to be defective. | | | | may fail after several tries, but they will do it over |
| Leading-strings and go-cart, for example, have been | | | | and over, until they get themselves successfully up |
| suspected to cause among infants various physical | | | | on their feet. They will find clutching to objects |
| defects, like undeveloped chests, distorted spine, | | | | necessary to keep their balance. But in due time they |
| confined lungs, and deformed legs. These defects are | | | | will gain confidence in themselves and begin standing |
| results of how the pliant bones of infants resist to | | | | alone for a few seconds. Soon they will be taking |
| pressure from imbalanced distribution of body weight | | | | their first few steps, unaided. |
| due to improper practices and use of ill-advised | | | | When your baby begins to walk it is best to let him |
| contraptions. | | | | learn it at his own pace. At first he will walk with |
| When you as parent or guardian begin to notice | | | | shaky and uneasy steps, but it is part of the process |
| distorted limbs or unnatural curves in the bones of | | | | not only for his learning but for the hardening of his |
| infants, it is necessary for you to promptly address | | | | bones and muscles. |
| the problem. At least chances are high that these | | | | But there is need for caution when the baby gets |
| defects might yet be corrected when treated early | | | | more active and staying outdoors. He should not be |
| enough. Corrective measures include, first, discarding | | | | overly exposed to the elements. On the other hand, |
| the inappropriate practices of teaching babies to walk. | | | | his natural inclination for amusement and exercise |
| Try molding both legs with a fairly large stocking. This | | | | should not be dampened. It helps him promote his |
| will prevent the usual movements of leg muscles that | | | | physical development and maintain his overall healthy |
| gave rise to the deformity. When the distorted | | | | condition. If your child is not very active and lacks |
| bones begin to take their normal forms, and the leg | | | | exercise, you may encourage him to try other ways |
| muscles begin to show some amount of toughness, | | | | of keeping himself fit. A donkey or horse ride tone |
| you may resume to guide your baby to walk without | | | | up body muscles just as well without much physical |
| the help of devices. Meantime, other means of | | | | strain. |
| promoting your baby's overall health should be applied. | | | | Aside from the exhilarating effect of horseback |
| Provide the child daily with a cold bath, or apply cold | | | | riding, this exercise is also of great benefit to the |
| salt water on his body using sponge. | | | | child's lungs. Big amounts of fresh air get into the |
| Be sure of what you can do best to help when your | | | | lungs and invigorate lung muscles. It helps bring more |
| baby begins to walk. You can let your baby get the | | | | oxygen to the blood and aids blood circulation. |
| hang of it all by himself. Note that before they begin | | | | Thus there are many opportunities for jump starting |
| to walk, babies normally love crawling about. It helps | | | | your child to a healthy and active life as early as |
| them harden body muscles and promote overall | | | | when your baby begins to walk. |