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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
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Holding DD's hand to walk

honeydew01honeydew01 member
edited April 2014 in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
My DD is 13 months old. She started pulling up and walking next to the furniture about a month and half ago...but she is not walking independently yet, nor standing on her own I should say. I am not worried as when she'll start walking on her own, because I know she will in the near future. 

She loves holding our hands and walking, usually she likes to hold both hands but sometimes she is fine holding one hand and walking. I thought I was doing DD a favor by doing this, helping her walk, she enjoys it and is all smiles and I loved it too. But then I came across this article that says holding baby's hand to walk is bad. 

It's one of those moments that I am questioning my parenting. Here I thought I was helping her learn to walk but maybe not so true? Of course now I am wondering if I am in the minority that holds their kids hands to help them walk...have I damaged DD's ability to learn to walk on her own? I immediately forwarded the article to my husband and he says only number 1 may sound true to him but I am a bit paranoid if you can't already tell..


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Re: Holding DD's hand to walk

  • minervacullenminervacullen member
    I don't listen to those things. I held both of my kids and they both walked indepentantly around 9 months.


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  • baloneydiscbaloneydisc member
    I wouldn't worry about what that article says. DD was pulling up at 7mo and started walking with our assistance around 10mo. She was walking independently at 11mo.
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  • honeydew01honeydew01 member
    Nicb13 said:

    Um, I only skimmed that over because I was more interested in who that chick was. Is she really just an actress? Not an expert in children or in development or anything right?

    Stop reading stuff like this and do what you feel is right for your child. Plain and simple. My son didn't walk until 14 months and we held his hands all the time. Your child will be fine. Crap like that link above will just drive you crazy. Learn to trust yourself and your choices.

    ETA: ok, so she took some classes and is an RIE Associate and a certified Parent/Infant Guidance Class instructor...whatever.

    :) I know I swear I try to not read all these things and freak myself out and I do what I think is right and accept that I will make mistakes and learn as I go..I don't even know how I came across this link to be honest but I was like ha? what? don't hold her hands to walk? so then I had to read the whole thing and of course freak out.. 
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  • brachysirabrachysira member
    edited April 2014
    I've seen that, and the ideas aren't bad.  But doing what you do is more common and not bad either.  Your baby will learn to walk.  So it doesn't really matter when or how.  If there is a real problem, that you let her hold your hands won't be why.

    Plus, my DD thinks she can walk down stairs, and I haven't walked with her for a long time.  That story isn't based on data--it's an anecdote.
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  • RN2011RN2011 member
    Definitely do not worry so much about this. My father-in-law who's a pediatrician never seemed too concerned. The only things he did tell us was we needed to be careful on pulling her up if she trips or something by the hand we were holding incase we pull her arm out of the socket. Our dd walks just fine and she started walking 2 weeks before she turned 1.
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  • djm31012djm31012 member
    didnt open the link but i wouldnt be worried. we hold DS's hands all the time....
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  • =Lee=B=Lee=B member

    Our 13month old was the fastest, most steady finger walker.  She would roam malls endlessly holding one finger.  It was all mental...she had the strength and coordination to walk but as soon as we pulled the finger away she'd drop, scared.

    Last Friday she started doing the 3-5 steps between furniture walking.  2 days ago she up and randomly crossed the room.  Since she has been tearing up the house.  She can walk a long time, make turns, half fall and correct.  She gained all the skills and muscle memory needed to fully walk through finger walking.  Sure, she may have started 'walking' earlier on her own had we never finger walked but she would have just done the few steps and fall thing over and over and over instead of just going for it.

    It really doesn't matter when they start walking so if you enjoy finger walking then finger walk. 

     

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  • honeydew01honeydew01 member
    Thank you everyone for your comments and reassurance. I feel much better:)


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  • aibreanaibrean member
    I think it gives them confidence. Remember, they aren't really getting much "support" from your hands. It's more of mental support :) Baby walkers on the other hand are a big no-no, unless it's the kind where they push (cause realistically they push anything they can around at that stage).

    Mine pulls herself up and also can stand on her own and get into a standing position from sitting without pulling up on anything (she puts her hands on the floor).
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