Dear Dorie,

My 13-month-old just started walking, but she seems to fall down after just a few steps. Should I encourage more crawling or just pick her up again?

Wobbly One



Dear Wobbly,

Congratulations on entering the “bonk” phase of parenting. Every time you turn around, your new walker will be bonking into something as she navigates obstacles with the walk/crawl combo. This is a great time to give your arm muscles a break, but watch out for the posture — bending down for extended periods of time can take a toll on your back.

The fall after a few steps is perfectly normal. It takes practice to become bipedal and that involves quite a few sit-downs. I would check the shoes just to be safe. When at all possible, allow her to be barefoot. That should be most of the time, unless you’re outside the home. Then stick with the suede booty-style shoes for comfort. These allow her to stretch her foot muscles and grip with her toes as she gets more comfortable being upright. Avoid expensive tennis shoes — they are too heavy, too stiff and she’ll grow out of them in a month or two.

When she does fall down, allow her to crawl or attempt to get back up again by herself. This gives her the opportunity to use the muscles in her legs and establish upright balance. Try offering your hand to her, but let her decide whether to take it or not. In a blink, she’ll be running and waving back at you. Good luck.

Dorie

Dorie Meek is director of the Infant & Family Support Program, provided by Saint John’s Health Center. Submit your questions to meek@smmusd.org.