Steps to mobility
As your baby grows, he becomes more and more independently mobile. Occupational therapist Samantha Toweel-moore explains how he’ll go from crawling to walking
CRAWLING It’s considered one of the most important motor milestones.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT Your baby’s first movements are reflexes. When he learns to lift his head and neck, while on his tummy, the symmetrical tonic neck reflex causes his arms to straighten and his knees to bend, so he assumes the allfours position.
Through the feedback from his senses, his brain learns what being in the crawling position feels like. It can then build the muscle strength needed to assume this position.
The receptors in the joints, muscles and ligaments (known as the proprioceptors) are alerted by the contraction and stretching of the muscles.
His muscles are contracted and stretched when he presses up through his arms and legs as he crawls. The movement or balance-sense receptors (termed the vestibular senses and found in the inner ear) need stimulation. If the vestibular senses and the proprioceptors are not stimulated, it may lead to: • Insufficient knowledge about the position of the body parts and the force and range of the stretch of the muscles • Difficulty in determining whether the body is in motion or not • Difficulty maintaining the upright position to balance • Insufficient muscle tone, which may in turn lead to clumsy movements • Difficulty keeping the shoulders, elbows and wrists still, so the hands are free to perform precision movements (which helps baby to write neatly, button up his shirt or play the correct keys on the piano later in life) HOW IT DEVELOPS Strong neck and back muscles enable your seven- month- old to sit unsupported and keep his body from slumping when he is on all fours.
Around nine months he has balance reactions that enable him to lift one of his hands off the ground and move forward without toppling over.
Not all babies crawl in the conventional manner. Some shuffle around on their bottoms or move backwards instead of forwards.
Others move straight on from rolling to cruising.
Cross crawling, where the opposite arm and leg move forward at the same time, requires the brain to understand and apply the information it receives from both sides of the body.
The two halves of the brain need to connect like a network to allow the brain to incorporate this information. This is called bilateral integration.
The development of balance and muscle strength that come with practice help your baby perfect crawling.
Most babies are able to crawl with comfort and in this mature way by year one.
WHAT YOU CAN DO Provide plenty of chances for him to move, and don’t rush your child into crawling.
ACTIVITY IDEAS Place your baby on his tummy, and get him to move. Place an eye- catching musical toy with wheels just out of his reach.
This will encourage him to raise one hand and stretch to reach the toy. Ensure that he’s able to grasp it. As his confidence grows, allow him to reach further for it. He will be encouraged to move to obtain it.
Fill a low cupboard with plastic tubs in a multitude of colours and shapes. Open the cupboard door to encourage him to come and explore. WALKING Your baby’s first steps mark the transition from baby to toddler.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT It can be compared to passing your driver’s licence and the freedom that comes with having wheels. Your baby is now learning to stand on his own feet, make his own decisions and set his own goals.
HOW IT DEVELOPS A newborn baby needs to exercise his legs to prevent them being drawn into the foetal position. The stepping reflex overcomes this. For the first two months, when he’s held upright and his feet touch a surface, they’ll make alternating stepping movements.
Around three months your baby will do all he can to strengthen his legs. Kicking and pressing through his legs for a few seconds in the standing position gives him the muscle strength to bounce at around six months. By 10 months, his legs will be strong enough to stand for half a minute while his hands are held. He will pull himself up to standing, flop down and try again. This repetition increases his strength. As his confidence grows, he will move one foot to the side and start cruising along using the furniture. His legs gain coordinated movement through this, and his postural muscles strengthen to help him stay upright. The time comes at around 10 to 12 months for you to hold his hands, and he’ll attempt to walk a few steps. He will stand alone and rock back
YOUR BABY WILL become more mobile as he grows, crawling and eventually walking. This is how these steps to independence happen:
and forth over his feet to train his balance. Most children learn to walk between 12 and 17 months old.
WHAT YOU CAN DO Put your baby in different rooms and situations, so that he can explore.
ACTIVITY IDEAS To increase the sensations your baby feels with his feet, which guide the development of balance, take off his shoes, and let him walk barefoot on different textures such as grass, sand, a carpet and tiles. This develops his sense of touch, which refines the guidance provided by the brain for coordinated movement and foot- arch development. Describe which body part he’s using to move and the different things he feels. Hold his hands to guide him along, or place furniture that he can hold so he can cruise without crawling. Place the furniture far apart enough to challenge his balance skills.