Baby Walking like an Expert!
When your child first learnt to walk, he probably strutted around all day with a wide, sway-backed gait, his stomach jutting out in front. As he gets better at balancing, the distance between his feet will narrow, and his toes will point straight ahead instead of turning out. If he hasn't already, he'll soon start trying to do other things while he walks.
By the time he's had two or three months' experience, he'll be able to:
Carry a toy in one arm while getting around
Reach above his head
Look up when he walks
Turn and squat
Climbing the stairs
Keep all stairs gated, but be sure to give your child some practise time, too (with you there, of course!). Climbing up is the first stage. Climbing down the stairs backwards is the safest descent route; teach him how by getting him in the right position, as he might not work it out on his own. At some point in the middle of his second year, he'll learn to negotiate the stairs on his feet while holding a hand and the railing. He'll take the steps one at a time, with both feet moving up to the same level before he tackles the next one. He'll need several months – maybe even a year or two – before he can climb while alternating feet, and going downstairs with alternating feet will take even longer.
FYI: Learning to walk barefoot is ideal. As your toddler learns to walk, his bare toes will grip the ground and build up his arches. He needs shoes only to protect his feet from cold or rough surfaces.
