Let’s Get Your Baby Moving

By 10 months, your baby is probably really moving or really trying to move! Every moment should feel like a new adventure for them and changing diapers should be like a wrestling match! During this time of increase exploration, it is important that your child’s development continues to progress symmetrically. So, let’s get your baby moving.

Children do not develop right or left handedness until 2-4 years old. Until then, your child should complete all movements equally with both sides and in both directions. Here are some ideas to help your baby learn to move!

10-11 months

Crawling over obstacles and up stairs
Now that your baby is able to crawl, it is time to increase the challenge. Place obstacles such as pillows or your legs in front of your child so that they learn to crawl over obstacles. You can also work on crawling up stairs or up short steps such as a couch cushion. This strengthens their trunk and hip muscles and prepares them for walking.

Pulling to stand
You can help your child pull to stand at a surface such as your coffee table or the couch. Choose a surface your baby is able to reach when they crawl up to it. When your baby is in a kneeling position with both hands on the couch or table, you can help them put one foot forward in a half kneeling position, so that they can then push through this leg and pull up to stand at the surface.

Cruising
After your child is able to pull to stand at a surface, you can encourage them to start taking side steps while holding on. Place toys or yourself slightly out of reach to encourage side stepping to retrieve the toy or grab a hug. These objectives will help get your baby moving. Make sure that they are not side stepping while leaning into the surface they are holding with their bellies. As your child gets better at this, you can encourage them to reach and “walk” between surfaces, such as moving from the coffee table to the couch or between two chairs. You can see if they can move between surfaces that are perpendicular to each other (easier) or parallel and just out of arms reach from each other (more difficult).

Standing independently
As your child’s balance increases in standing while holding onto a surface, you can encourage them to stand independently. Start by giving your child a toy so that your child is only holding the surface with one hand. You can also hold a toy for your child to also hold onto so that they continue to feel supported but need to balance slightly more than when holding the table.

12-13 months

Walking
Now that your child is able to cruise and transfer from surface to surface, they are ready to start taking steps on their own. You can encourage the transition from cruising to walking by increasing the distance between surfaces when they are moving between them. You can also assist by helping your child walk by using a stable rolling toy, pushing a chair or upside down box across the floor or simply by holding their hands.

Baby squats
At this stage, it is appropriate for children to play in a squatted position with buttocks off the floor then return to standing without losing balance. At first, this starts while they are standing and holding with one hand on a surface. Children should bend or squat to reach toys on the floor and then return to standing to play with them. Later, when children develop more balance in standing, they should attempt this without holding on for brief intervals. This repetitive squatting strengthens your child’s leg and hip muscles and prepares them for higher level gross motor activities, in addition to walking.

14-15 months

Climbing
At this stage, your baby should be “getting into everything!” You can help your baby climb onto surfaces such as chairs or couches by placing toys slightly out of reach for them to retrieve. Getting your baby moving by climbing is an important skill that builds strength and prepares them for higher level playground activities. Make sure that you are helping to model climbing down backwards from a chair, the couch, etc. Help your child to turn around to go feet first when climbing down so that they are learning to move in this direction safely.

Maturing walking pattern
As your child continues walking, their pattern should mature. First, babies walk with a very wide stance with knees slightly bent and arms up in the air. Later, children bring their feet in narrower so that they are no wider than their hips and their arms come down to their sides. You can challenge your child’s balance by walking across uneven surfaces such as sidewalks, playgrounds, grass, and pillows. Ask them to bend to retrieve toys from the floor before returning to stand and continue with walking. You can also begin to encourage them to step over or up small obstacles, such as curbs, thresholds, or your legs.

These are some starter ideas for helping your child progress and getting your baby moving through those first important milestones in their first year of life. Some are easier, some are harder, but its important to remember that all children develop differently with different levels of ease with milestones.

If your child seems “stuck” or that they are not progressing or improving with a milestone at this time, don’t wait! Learn more here and ask for help from a professional to get your baby moving! Our pediatric physical therapists can be reached at 773-687-9241! Happy chasing!