The Baby's Coming! How to Make Sure Your Older Kids are Sleeping Through the Night

If you are expecting a baby and already have one or more children, it’s wise to solve their sleep problems before the new baby arrives. Remember, a newborn typically awakens every three to four hours and adapting to a new baby’s schedule is very tiring for everyone in the house.
If you also have a toddler or a child who is having a difficult time falling asleep, or who regularly gets out of bed during the night, the stress of this is likely to hinder your ability to get much-needed rest. By solving your child’s sleep problems in the months before the new baby arrives, the entire family will be in a better position to enjoy the newest member of the family with the least amount of sleep interruptions as possible.
The two most frequent children’s sleep problems are not being able to fall asleep and awakening during the night unable to fall back asleep. Brief night wakening is normal. However, once kids learn to fall asleep independently at bedtime, they are likely to be able to fall back asleep when they briefly awaken during the night. In contrast, children who have difficulty falling asleep by themselves at bedtime usually have the same problem when they awaken during the night.
If you have been rubbing your child’s back or lying down with him until he falls asleep, recognize that he has probably grown accustomed to the attention and will have a difficult time falling asleep without it. If you abruptly withdraw your attention and expect your child to fall asleep on his own, he will be understandably upset—and even more so if it coincides with the arrival of a new sibling. It’s true that after weeks of feeling forsaken, if you continually ignore your child’s anguished pleas for attention, he will eventually begin to fall asleep on his own. However, it’s not necessary for a child to be traumatized in this way. You can teach your child to relax himself to sleep while you gradually and systematically decrease your attention. And best of all, this step toward independence does not have to be a painful process for you or your child.

Getting ready

Create a consistent bedtime routine—in a predictable calming environment that serves as a bridge between the excitement of daytime and the restful quiet of nighttime. The predictability of the routine and the special time of closeness will bring a wonderful sense of closure to your child’s day and help him feel secure in your love. If you have a two-parent household, be sure to continue to spend one- on-one time with your child during the bedtime routine—while the other parent cares for the new baby.

TEACH YOUR CHILD SELF-SOOTHING TECHINIQUES TO FALL ASLEEP:

Step One ~ Progressive relaxation (tensing and relaxing muscle groups)

Have your child lie down in his bed. Lift each arm and leg individually, holding each limb tightly before loosely flopping it down on his bed. Then have him tense and relax other muscle groups in his body. For example, have him wrinkle his face and hold his eyes tightly closed, before relaxing his face. (Tense each muscle group for at least 5 seconds before releasing them and relaxing.)

Step Two ~ Focus on the breath

Once a child is thoroughly relaxed he will be ready to focus on the breath. Have him get very quiet and watch his own breath. Children don’t need to try to change their breath in any way. This is a time to gather the senses that are usually focused on the outside world and turn them inward. It calms the mind and induces a state of relaxation.

Step Three ~ Creative visualization

Once a child is relaxed, read (or tell) a story that takes him on a soothing, imaginary journey. Visualization improves with practice and eventually children will be able to use their own imaginations to make up stories as they drift off to sleep.
Gradually, turn the process of falling asleep over to your child.
After the bedtime routine, continue to systematically give your child less and less direction as he uses self-soothing techniques to relax and fall asleep. At first, you may want to sit on the edge of your child’s bed while he or she follows the relaxation directions on The Floppy Sleep Game Book CD. Or, you can teach your child to relax through a relaxation routine that you create yourself. Over a period of time, as your child becomes more familiar with the relaxation routine, sit further and further away until he or she no longer needs you in the room to relax and fall asleep.

Cervical Cancer Awareness

Last year, 11,270 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed and another 1.2 million women will develop dysplasia, a condition which left untreated will turn into cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a malignancy that develops in tissues of the cervix: the organ which connects the uterus to the vagina. It is preventable, slow-growing (so that it can be detected and cured early in its course), and is nearly always caused by infection from the human papilloma virus (HPV). 

Cause: Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV – a highly contagious virus which can be transmitted easily by skin to skin and sexual contact.  

•  At least half of all sexually active Americans contract HPV during their lifetimes
• About 20 million Americans between the ages of 15 and 50 carry the virus.  
• There are more than 100 types of HPV – of which more than a dozen (termed “high risk types”) can cause cervical cancer.
• Most often, a person’s immune system kills off the virus without intervention
• Exposure to high risk types of HPV is more likely to lead to cancerous changes of the cervix in women who smoke or whose immune system is impaired.

Prevention: Cervical cancer can be prevented by

• Having no intimate contact with either men or other women
• Obtaining the HPV vaccine – which can immunize against two high risk types of HPV (types 16 and 18), which cause about 70% of cervical cancers. It is given as a series of three injections over a period of six months. The vaccine is now FDA-approved for females and males between the ages of 9 and 26, although many physicians recommend the vaccine up to age 50 for sexually active women and men who have sex with men.
• Screening and treatment for early evidence of pre-malignant changes to the cervix.

Screening: The “pap smear” (Papanicolaou test) is used to screen for cervical cancer as part of the gynecological examination. It can reveal early, pre-malignant changes to the cervix. It is done by gently scraping the cervix with a wooden or plastic spatula and then by inserting a very small brush into the opening of the cervix. The cells thus obtained are then evaluated by a commercial laboratory. For maximum accuracy, your provider should be submitting a liquid-based preparation (not the old-fashioned smear submitted on glass slides). The same cells can be evaluated for the presence of HPV.

 

Lately, when and how often to screen has become controversial. Consensus among the various guideline commissions is still pending, but it is likely that recommendations will be as follows:

• The first Pap test should be done at Age 21, then repeated every two years.
• At Age 30, the Pap test and HPV screen (done using the same cells collected for the Pap) should be done; if both are negative and you’ve had at least three consecutive normal Pap smears, screening can be reduced to every three years. 

If the Pap is normal but high risk HPV is present, Paps should be repeated at least yearly. 

If the Pap is abnormal, further testing is necessary – starting with ‘colposcopy’. This procedure starts like a regular gynecologic examination, with the speculum inserted into the vagina. The doctor then brushes a material on the cervix to highlight any abnormal areas. The ‘colposcope’ – a large microscope positioned about a foot away – shines light into the vagina so the abnormal areas can be seen through the microscope. These areas are then biopsied and evaluated by a special laboratory.

Note: You should continue to see your doctor at least yearly for general gynecologic check-ups, even though the Pap test might be done less frequently.

Of all cancers, cervical cancer is almost unique in that it is preventable. Ask your healthcare provider whether you should consider the HPV vaccine. Cervical cancer can be detected early, treated, and cured. Ask your provider how frequently you should be screened.

The night visitor: Trips to the parent’s bed

If your house echoes with the sound of pat-pat-pat down the hallway when your child leaves his room to climb into your bed in the middle of the night, rest assured that you are not alone. It’s perfectly natural for a toddler or preschooler to search out his parents for comfort and security – it’s a sign of his trust and his deep love for you. And it’s perfectly normal for parents to provide that comfort and security by bringing their child into their bed, or by lying with him in his own bed.

There are many gentle ways to encourage your child to stay in his bed all night, but before I introduce those ideas, its best if you evaluate your situation. I’d like to ask you to think about your answers to these questions: Are you, your partner and your child all getting a good night’s sleep? If no one else in the world knew or cared about what you’re doing would you happy with the routine that you have now? Are your child’s visits to your bed interfering with the level of intimacy between the two of you? Are you thinking of making a change because you want a change and because it’s right for your family – or to appease a friend, relative or someone else? If – tonight - your child suddenly began to sleep all night in his own bed, how would you feel: overjoyed, happy, a bit sad, very sad, depressed? What – specifically - about your child’s night visits bothers you? Why does your child visit you in the night? Is it simply a habit? Or are fears, nightmares, separation anxiety, teething, or other problems causing her to wake up and search you out?

The first step is to ponder these questions and to examine your real feelings about the situation. Often ambivalence and frustration is borne out of not taking the time to identify what you really feel, and not having a clear goal and purpose to your actions. Once you have a better understanding of your thoughts, and your partners thoughts, choose one of these goals:

We’re going to continue as we are, without guilt or concern for ____ months. At that time we will reevaluate the situation and make a new decision.

We’re in no rush, but would like to begin making a change. We’re going to make gradual changes and anticipate that within ___ months our child will be sleeping all night in his own bed.

We want to make a change right now, as soon as possible, so we will commit to a specific plan and follow it every night.

Don’t send mixed messages

If you’ve shared your bed with your cuddly and sweet-smelling toddler or preschooler, whether from birth, or just recently, I can almost guarantee that that even though you’ve decided to move her out, there is a little part of you that doesn’t want to let her go. This is natural, given the preciousness of the experience of sharing your bed with your child. However, if you really do want your child to sleep in her own bed, you’ll need to keep these emotions in check. Don’t make the mistakes that these test families did during the moving process. (The names have been changed to protect the guilty from embarrassment.)

Sharon reported that by using the ideas in their sleep plan they were having great success getting their toddler, Kayla to sleep in her own bed. “She did so for a whole week and I was getting very excited! Tonight, as she was getting ready to get into her bed, my husband. . . as a reward for her doing this. . . invited her back into our room! So, needless to say we are back at square one with more resistance.”

“I can’t believe what I did!” Marisa’s new message came just a week after she emailed to tell me that Gracie was making far fewer visits to her mommy’s bed during the night. “I woke up last night and realized that Gracie was spending yet another night in her own bed. I missed her next to me so much that I went into her room and climbed in bed with her! Now tonight we’re heading up to get ready for bed and sure enough, she’s asking me to sleep in her bed with her again! I think I’ve just created a whole new problem! Please help!”

It is OK to make a change you know!

For those of you who are still with me – those of you who have decided that it’s time to move your little cuddler out of your bed and say goodbye to those nighttime pokes from little elbows and toes – let me reassure you that it’s perfectly fine to make this change. There is no one right age or time or situation to adhere to, it’s just a matter of choice: and if you’re ready, you’re ready. Your child is obviously well loved and secure, and those feelings won’t change when you use a sensitive, loving method to keep her sleeping in her own bed all night long.

What to do next

There are a number of ways to keep your little one in his own bed all night. Since every child is different, and every situation is different, each family will approach this is a unique way. What follows is a menu list of ideas for you to choose from. Pick one, two or more that sound right for you and give them an honest try. Be patient and keep to your plan. Over the next few weeks or months you will see success. How quickly this happens depends on your child’s personality and how motivated you are to move things along.

The solutions

What follows is a list of ideas that have worked for other families like yours. You can choose from these, or combine bits and pieces to create a totally unique solution.

1. From bed to floor to out the door

If you don’t mind your child coming into your room during the night, but would like to keep him out of your bed, then set up a sleeping place for him in your bedroom. This place can be as simple as a futon and blanket on the floor to a den made out of a folding card table draped with a sheet which houses a sleeping bag and pillow.

During the night, if he forgets the new plan and climbs in bed with you, just help him down to his little place and remind him that’s where he needs to be. It’s perfectly fine to lay with him until he falls asleep at first. It will help him get used to this new routine.

2. The morning snuggle

This idea shifts your child’s visit from the midnight hours to a more acceptable early-morning time. Many parents enjoy this plan as well, since they don’t have to give up snuggling their little one entirely, but can do so after they’ve had a good night’s sleep.

Tell your child that she can come in “When it’s light outside.” This works if daylight appears at the right time for you. Another is to set a music or white noise alarm to go off quietly at an acceptable time. Explain, “If the music is playing you can come to our bed. If it’s quiet, then please go back to sleep until the music plays.”

3. The weekend promise

Tell your child that when she stays in her bed all week then she can sleep with you on the weekend, or on Saturday. Post a calendar and let her adhere a star to each day that she sleeps all night without waking you. Put a special design on the weekend days.

This idea works perfectly for some children who relish their weekend sleep-overs in the big bed. Others, though, find it too difficult to separate yes nights from no nights. If you think it may work with your little one, give it a try.

4. The Rubber Band Bounce

This is a good idea for a family who wants to make a quick change to their middle-of-the-night routine, and for a parent who’s willing to get out of bed repeatedly for a week or so.

Just before your bedtime routine begins, explain briefly why you want her to stay in her bed, for example, “When you come in my room during the night you wake me up and then I’m grumpy.” And tell her that you want her to stay in her bed all night long. Begin the night with a pleasant, peaceful go-to-bed routine. Finish it with your child in her bed. Anytime she gets up – EVERYTIME she gets out of bed – calmly, peacefully and lovingly put her back to bed. Kiss her, hug, her rub her back. Even sit or lie next to her until she falls back to sleep if necessary. Choose a key phrase to repeat to her a few times, such as, “It’s night night time now. Mommy loves you. Please stay in your bed and have sweet dreams.”

You may have to repeat this ten times the first few nights, but with real consistency you should see this reduce night-time visits quickly.

5. Gift-wrapped motivation

My sleep surveys uncovered that fact that most preschoolers can be highly motivated to make changes when offered a prize (which, I’m sure, if you have a preschooler, is no great surprise to you!)

The sticker approach has been a popular choice. Purchase a calendar and put it in a visible place on the wall. Allow your child to put a sticker on the calendar each morning after he stays in his own bed.

Your child’s goal is to attain a certain number of stickers – which can be whatever number you want it to be, but shouldn’t be so many that your child loses interest during the wait. You may want to start off with a small number – say 3 stickers, and work your way up to ten or so. When the magic number of stickers is on the chart your child gets a prize. This can be a trip out for an ice-cream cone, a coveted toy, or a special privilege.

How long the process of change will take depends on how strong your child’s need is to be with you during the night – she may feel that you are a much better prize than any toy you could offer – and isn’t it glorious to be loved so much?

Whining: When The Apple Of Your Eye Drives You Bananas

You thought you had been through the worst of it once your baby’s colic passed. Nothing could be possibly worse than that, right? Think again. If there is one thing that drives usually sane parents batty it’s the incessant whining of their toddler.
Usually between the ages of two and four, anytime things don’t go their way, or their feeling depressed or overwhelmed, whining seems to be their most common form of communication. It’s their way of saying, “I’m not happy and YOU have to fix it.”
Whining is also most commonly about attention. When toddlers are cranky or tired they want to be coddled and soothed and if your attention is directed elsewhere, they know whining is the perfect way to get your focus back on them. If you try and ignore it, the whining gets worse and they make it very clear that by not attending to them you’re a failure as a parent. How could possibly get annoyed with them when all they want is for you stay focused on them and only them twenty-four seven?
According to the book ‘Love Without Spoiling’ by Nancy Samalin, the best way to nip the whining before it turns into a tantrum is to make it very clear that you’re not happy with your child when they’re whining. Insist that they ask for what they want in a ‘normal’ voice and let them know that they won’t get what they want if they continue to whine.
You might notice that if there’s a sibling in the picture, anytime you give attention to this other child, your toddler increases their whining. This is their way of manifesting jealousy. Make sure that they understand that you love them just as much as you love their sibling. Their brother or sister need you just like they do and while you sometimes do things just for them, sometimes you have to do things just for their sibling. It’s also a good idea to spend some blocks of time where you are focused just on your toddler. Your toddler will more likely to find it easier to ‘share’ you if they know they have this special time with mommy coming up where you’ll be all theirs.
If you notice that your child gets particularly cranky at specific times of the day, you might be able to look at his surroundings or schedule to see if there’s anything you can change about his routine or yours.
One stay at home mom of a two and a half year old from California offers this suggestion, “He tends to whine the most when he wants my undivided attention. He also whines when he wants something and I have said no. What works is sitting down with him on the floor for a while 15 minutes and playing with him then I can usually get up and do whatever it is I need to do. But this is only useful as long as the whining has not escalated and is best BEFORE he starts in because I think it would be negative reinforcement. If his whining has escalated to crying and throwing himself on the floor then I tell him he needs to go to his room. Either he runs to his room and cries for awhile and come out fine OR he will stop crying. Distraction works but I am terrible at it.”
This brings up the point that while it’s important that your toddler not feel like he can use the whining as a magic button to make you come running, it’s also important that you reward him when he does use ‘good’ methods of communication. Since whining is usually about attention, that would be the ideal reward. Even when you’re busy, as you go about your day, if at all possible, work him into your activities. If he feels like he has a special position as ‘mommy’s helper’, the whining should cut down considerably as he won’t be as starved for attention or jealous of attention you might be giving his sibling.
While no one can debate that tantrums in public aren’t fun, neither is whining and usually, whining is just the opening act to a rip roaring tantrum if you don’t do your best to head it off before it reaches that point. Chances are that whining in public has less to do with attention than it does with over stimulation, being tired, or hungry.
If you’re planning on going out to eat, trying making sure that you set the time for well before your child’s usual meal time. This is because between driving to the restaurant and waiting for your meal, your child’s blood sugar levels can drop significantly leading to one very cranky child. Trying calling ahead to the restaurant or maybe try a buffet restaurant where waiting for a table or service won’t be an issue. Brining a long a few small activities for him could also help head off boredom, another big instigator of whining in toddlers. Chances are the restaurant will offer a coloring place mat or book and some crayons for your little one to keep them entertained. But if you do get caught waiting for your meals, feel free to keep the whining at bay by taking your child for a little walk through the restaurant and pointing out some interesting artwork or maybe a fish tank if they have one.
The key to dealing with a whining child is to keep yourself calm and remind yourself that if there was a better way for your child to get his messages across, he would use them. It’s your job to patiently teach him these tools even when your little angel is reminding you more of a little demon.

Yucky Medicine – How to Get Your Kids To Take It

These days, there are a number of ways to make yucky medicine more palatable for children. Pre-sweetened medications and flavored additives are readily available –ask your pharmacist to add flavoring to a prescription – but sometimes a bitter pill or potion still has to be swallowed. Children can also be resistant to the mere idea of medicine – as every mom knows, a sick child can be resistant to just about everything! Here are some suggestions for how to get your kids to take that sometimes yucky medicine … and soon you’ll all be feeling better!

When Giving your Kids Medicine Honesty is the Best Policy

Children know when they don’t feel well, and you should explain – in simple language that they’ll understand – what’s wrong and how the medicine will help. Tell them a little while in advance that you’re going to give them medicine, and try to put a positive spin on it. If you’re making a face while pouring it from the bottle, imagine how your child is going to feel. Let your child make some part of the decision about taking the medicine – picking out a special spoon to use, for example – to feel like they have some control over what’s going on. When your son or daughter does take the medicine, remember to offer kudos and a big hug, maybe even a reward to positively reinforce the experience.

Daily Medication

If your child is taking medicine for the first time and is old enough to understand, try playing a game – pretend to give the medicine to a doll or stuffed animal. Let your child be the “grown up”, which might make it easier when it’s time to take the medicine for real. Involving your child in the process is also helpful when a child has a chronic condition and medicine must be taken daily. As a parent, it’s up to you to present this in as upbeat a manner as possible, so your child doesn’t have a negative feeling about medicine before it’s even been tasted. If you take daily medication or even vitamins, make it a shared experience with your child – even mommy has to take her medicine!

Medication Tips & Tricks for Parents

For very young children, it’s often easiest to give liquid medication in a dropper or medicine syringe. Direct the medication into the pocket of the child’s cheek or back of the mouth, so it will be swallowed quickly and before there’s a chance to taste it (we hope!). For older children, look for medication that’s chewable, dissolvable or lollipop-like, a popular option for over-the-counter medications for children. If pharmacist-added flavoring isn’t available, try giving your child something cold to eat – a popsicle or a few sucks on an ice cube – before the medicine; the cold sensation will tone down taste buds. Conversely, give your child the medicine first, then juice or another flavored drink immediately afterwards. You can also have your child eat something sticky to coat the tongue before the medicine is taken, like a spoonful of chocolate or maple syrup. If your pharmacist is flavoring the medication, pick your child’s favorite flavor. Medicine that comes in pill or powdered form can be crushed and combined with fruit or juice to go down more easily. Before you try this, check with your pediatrician or pharmacist to make sure it’s okay to mix the medicine with food or liquids. Mix crushed pills with applesauce or pudding or peanut butter – but remember to make sure that your child eats the entire portion to ensure that all the medicine is taken.

Natural Cold Remedies for Babies

ver the counter (OTC) cold and cough medicines should not be given to children under 6, and especially not to babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises doctors to always recommend more natural remedies for babies when they contract a cold. OTC medicines have been shown to have dangerous side effects in babies, and even if this doesn't happen, the medicines won't help your baby get over a cold sooner. You should always think carefully before you dose a young child or baby with OTC cold medicine. Here are some natural cold remedies you can try for your baby's symptoms:

Coughing

Breast milk is one of the best remedies any time your baby gets sick. It helps boost the baby's immune system, and transfers some of your resistance to the baby. Increase your feeding schedule to help your baby's cough.
A natural oil rub can also help sooth a cough. Mix 3 to 4 teaspoons of olive oil with 2 to 3 drops of eucalyptus, rosemary and peppermint oil. Rub the mixture on the baby's chest and back. This works especially well at night, because the rosemary can help the baby sleep while the eucalyptus eases the coughing.

Congestion

Congestion is simple to relieve with steam. You can simply stand in the bathroom and run a hot shower to make the air steamy. Stay in there for a few minutes with your baby, and it will help to clear her airway.
Another option is to give the baby a warm bath, and add a few drops of essential oils to the bathwater. Eucalyptus is a natural oil that helps to clear the airway, and you can also try sage or thyme drops. Running a humidifier in the baby's room can help keep the air moistened as well, which will relieve both coughing and congestion.

Runny Nose

Some saline drops and a bulb syringe are the way to go when your baby's nose is runny or clogged with mucous. Use a dropper to put a few saline drops into one nostril, and then use the rubber bulb syringe to suck the mucous out. Repeat on the other nostril. This is uncomfortable for the baby, but the relief from the runny nose will be quick, which is the goal.

Fever

A baby with a fever can be one of the scariest moments for parents. A fever is the body's way of naturally fighting off an infection, but if the baby's temperature gets too high, you'll want to take steps to relieve it. Ask your doctor about using either infant ibuprofen or a similar remedy for a fever. (Make sure you ask at a regular appointment with your pediatrician; babies tend to get fevers in the middle of the night, when you can't reach your doctor.)

When to Be Concerned

If your baby is 3 months old or less, you should give the doctor a call any time signs of sickness appear. A baby this young should not have a temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. From 3 to 6 months, call the doctor if her fever gets above 101 degrees, and after 6 months, call the doctor if a fever climbs above 103 degrees.
You should also call the doctor if cold symptoms appear to be getting worse, or if a fever lasts longer than 2 days. Any significant change in the baby's feeding or sleeping habits during sickness should be cause for concern.

When Should My Baby Start Walking?

Most babies start to walk around 13 months, but your baby may start walking as early as 9 or 10 months or as late as 15 or 16 months. Some babies go from cruising the furniture to walking rather quickly and other babies learn to walk at a little slower pace. The pace at which babies learn to walk will vary from baby to baby.

Standing

Before your baby can walk, she needs to learn how to pull herself up to a standing position. Your baby may start pulling herself to a standing position when she is around 8-10 months. You can encourage her to stand by supporting her waist while she holds on to the sofa or other furniture. To make things fun and keep your baby interested in standing, you can place some of her favorite toys on the edge of the sofa. This way she has some incentive to climb up on the sofa or to hold on to the edge of the sofa once she is standing.

Cruising

Once your baby learns how to pull herself up to a standing position, she may get interested in cruising the furniture. Cruising will help your baby learn to balance and also help strengthen your baby’s trunk and lower body. When your baby cruises the furniture, he will take steps from side to side to get around the furniture. Eventually he will try letting go of the furniture and take a step.
Once your baby starts cruising the furniture, he will learn how to get himself from a standing to a sitting position. This skill generally develops around 9-10 months. You can encourage your baby to squat down from a standing position by placing a fun toy or something interesting on the floor while he is standing. He may decide to check out the toy and bend down to grab it. At first he may just flop down to the floor to get the toy, but with practice he will be able to squat down grab the toy and stand back up. All this pulling to stand, squatting up and down, and cruising from side to side, helps your baby develop the strength, balance, and coordination necessary for walking.

Baby’s First Steps

Once your baby gets comfortable pulling to stand, cruising the furniture, and squatting, his next challenge will be to take his first steps. Your baby may take his first steps as early as 9 or 10 months. To get your baby inspired to take his first steps, you may want to try dangling a set of keys or an interesting toy nearby him as he is cruising the furniture. He may try to reach and grab for the toy and in the process take his first step.

Here are some other tips to help your baby start walking.

• Once your baby starts cruising the furniture, you can work on getting him to cruise back and forth from a sofa to a nearby chair. Place a chair adjacent to the sofa. Start off by having the chair very close to the sofa and slowly move the chair just a little further away. You can also place a favorite toy on the chair to motivate your baby to cruise over to the chair. With practice he will learn to go back and forth from chair to sofa and may eventually take a step and then grab the chair for support.
•  
• Purchase a push toy for your baby to use to practice walking. It may be helpful to secure a small weight, like a velcro hand weight, to the base of the toy for added support. A push toy is great to get your baby moving around. It will help him learn to balance, strengthen his muscles, and it may just give him the confidence he needs to start walking.

Do not use a baby walker. Baby walkers are different than push toys. A baby walker is an enclosed toy with a tray or bumper around it and wheels on the bottom. Your baby sits inside the walker and pushes himself around with the help of the wheels. A baby walker will not help your baby walk and may actually discourage him from learning to walk. In fact, in Canada they were so concerned about the safety of baby walkers that they have been banned from being advertised, imported, or sold. The AAP strongly discourages the use of baby walkers as well, and has attempted unsuccessfully, to get a similar governmental ban of them in the US.

Hold your baby’s hands while he walks. You can kneel in front of your baby and hold his hands while he walks around the house. Once he is comfortable walking with two hands you can try holding just one hand while he practices walking. Another trick you can try is to kneel in front of him holding a broom handle (or something similar that is sturdy) for him to grab onto. Let him use the handle for support while he practices walking.

If your baby is having a hard time walking with shoes on, try ditching the shoes for a while. Babies sometimes have a hard time balancing and learning to walk with shoes. Most babies have an easier time walking when barefoot so save the shoes for outdoor play.

Should I be concerned if my baby isn’t walking?

Not every baby will learn to walk at the same time. Some babies will start walking much earlier than others for various reasons. There is no reason to worry if your baby is under 18 months and not walking yet. You may find your baby is developing right on track with his speech and language milestones, but a little more slowly with his movement milestones. Some babies will make faster progress with language skills and others will do better with motor skills. As long as your baby is making steady progress with his milestones, there is usually nothing to worry about. However, if your baby is 18 months and is still not walking, you should talk to your doctor. He may recommend early intervention services or physical therapy for your baby.