Locomotion: starting around the 9th/10th month, as explained in the previous article (see Motor Development from 9 to 12/18 Months, Part One), crawling on all fours tends to appear. At first, the arms are extended and only serve to support the weight of the trunk, while the legs are flexed and not coordinated with the arms: they drag when the arms are brought forward. Gradually, the limbs become coordinated, eventually giving rise to the well-known «cross-lateral pattern».
It's around 12 months that the child begins to move around holding on with both hands (cruising), but already around the 13th month they may start moving while holding on with just one hand (a more psychological kind of support).
In most cases, independent walking appears between 13 and 14 months: the typical range spans from 9 to 18 months and tends to depend on the child's level of maturation and on environmental stimulation.
In walking, the motor pattern is at first characterized by the whole sole of the foot landing flat with no flexion or extension, then by heel-first landing, and only afterward by landing on the toes (digitigrade): the foot first lands flat, then flexes, and when taking a step only the toes touch down. During early walking, the child usually takes several single steps, stopping after each one, and often takes «false steps» (the feet move without actually shifting position) out of fear of losing balance. Gradually, the center of gravity straightens and the stance narrows. Here too the cross-lateral pattern appears gradually: at first the arms are held out to the sides and extended to keep balance, then the arms bend but remain held out to the sides (20-24 months). Only later does walking become more fluid, and the child is truly ready to walk out into the world.
Advice for mothers: what to do
- Create a safe environment: check the new places the child can reach or fall from (furniture, ornaments, cords), also making use of possible precautions (e.g. corner guards).
- Adapt the home to the child: the home space should be «suited to a child who's on the move».
- Set up furniture for the child: it's important to make armchairs, low and stable little tables, and, above all if possible, the sofa with raised cushions, available to the child. These are essential «materials» for creating a suitable support surface, which encourages cruising and can serve as a base for placing toys, letting the child play while standing.
- Use good shoes: a child's first shoes should only be bought once the child stands for long periods. First shoes are actually needed once the child walks on their own (especially outside the home); they should be lightweight, offer good ankle support, have a wide fit, and ideally a non-slip sole. It's important to buy them for quality, not for brand.
What not to do
- Rushing things is harmful: the child is ready to stand upright when this happens spontaneously and independently. Standing a child up before they're ready and making them walk doesn't help them along; it can actually slow down these developments, putting excessive strain on the legs.
- Don't use a baby walker: it doesn't help the child gain real independence and encourages inadequate leg movements and positions (e.g. possibly leading to toe-walking). It also stops the child from learning how to handle the normal, physiological loss of balance.
- Avoid walking with the child while holding their hands, or «just one finger», positioned behind them. This is counterproductive for balance development and doesn't let the child «learn how to fall». Too much support from an adult also limits the child's gradual gain of independence, which allows them to naturally separate from the adult and develop healthy self-esteem and confidence.