1st step - part 1

i wonder what is the normal age your baby take the 1st step on their own without any help? miya can walks on her own when she's 10-month old (so proud of you, miya!)....sarah is now 1 year old and she is yet take the 1st step on her own...she is able to walk if she clinging to the edges of bed, chairs and cabinet and of course using the advance birthday gift bought last month...... so, i went online and search for answers that can ease my worry....this is what i found:-

Watching their baby take those first few unsteady steps is probably one of a parent's proudest moments. While most parents look forward to that day and try to encourage their baby's efforts at mobility, many wonder when their child will begin walking. The answer is simple -- babies walk when they are ready, and not a moment sooner.(this statement really ease my worries!)

From Crawler to Walker

Healthy, active babies find many ways to move about a room. Some roll, some shuffle, some are content to crawl long after their peers are running, and some are up on their feet and walking just when the baby books advise mum and dad that they can expect those first steps. As long as your baby is making progress, there is probably no cause for concern, even if they are slower than expected in getting up and about.

When Should Your Baby Walk?

If you read an assortment of baby books, they will likely tell you that babies take their first steps at approximately 12-14 months. In reality, however, your baby may be a proficient walker at nine months or may not take a single step until 16 months (or even later). Neither scenario indicates a problem, merely a natural developmental difference.

Premature babies will typically take a bit longer to reach developmental milestones, walking included. Most doctors advise using a premature baby's due date, rather than their date of birth, in looking for milestones to be achieved. For example, if your baby was born five weeks early, you can expect a five week delay in reaching milestones such as rolling over, crawling, and walking.

Steps Toward That First Step

Babies develop physical abilities so quickly during their first year that parents are often amazed at the rapid transformation. While each step along the way is a milestone in itself, many of those first achievements are helping to prepare babies to walk. Holding their heads steadily, rolling over, finding the ability to rest on all fours, crawling, and reaching for furniture to pull themselves up to a standing position are all predecessors to walking. Each of those abilities helps to strengthen a baby's muscles and increases their confidence -- both traits that are necessary for walking.

Encouraging First Steps

While there isn't much that you can do to alter your baby's natural timetable, there are a few things that may help ready your baby for walking. Be sure to provide plenty of active play time to encourage the healthy development of muscle tone and coordination. Also, most experts agree that barefoot is best when learning to walk. Years ago, parents were encouraged to purchase "walking shoes" for babies, but now we know that babies do best when allowed to walk sans shoes.

Babies are social beings and enjoy positive interaction with their parents and other caregivers, so be sure to engage your baby, both physically and intellectually, in order to help them to reach their highest potential.

Baby Bravery

Experienced parents will tell you that some babies forge through their developmental milestones fearlessly, while others are naturally a bit cautious. Sometimes, the difference between an early walker and one who waits a few more weeks (or months!) is simply a matter of caution level. Parents can help their babies to gain confidence by walking behind them and holding both of the baby's hands in the beginning. Most babies enjoy exploring their environment in this new, upright way, and will walk with a parent until mum or dad is suffering from an aching back!

Worried About Baby Taking First Steps

While books and baby experts can offer loads of advice, you know your baby better than anyone. If you are worried about your baby's developmental status, schedule a check up with the doctor. You can take that opportunity to discuss your concerns with the doctor and get individualised feedback. While there is usually no cause for parental worries, checking with the paediatrician not only eases a parent's fears, but in cases where there is a legitimate developmental delay, early intervention is always best.


taken from BabyAndPregnancy 2000-2009

i just can't wait for Sarah to take her 1st step soon!!!!

Infant From 6 to 9 Months

What your baby can do Many babies are able to sit without support, although for the first couple of weeks you’ll need to stay close by to prevent him nose-diving out of his precarious new position - checked. Sarah dah boleh dok sendiri without support since end of 5 months....... Many babies try to crawl, although it is often months before they are able to move at all, let alone crawl in the direction they want. Some babies never learn to crawl, but prefer to bottom shuffle their way around the floor - sarah baru belajar2 angkat-letak bontot tapi takut2 nak crawl. mcm kaki tersekat kat perut. almaklum ler, perut pun berlipat 3...hehehehe....tapi dia kalau letak dekat i, kjp tu dah ke depan..curious...bila masa budak ni blh bergerak laju smp ke depan...

By around nine months your baby will begin to pull himself up to standing using whatever is handy at the time; perhaps the sofa or your legs. Once he is up he will probably just stand until he bumps down again, but it’s a great new vantage point, and it will increase his urgency to get on the move to examine all those exciting places he can see - yang ni sama gak..tak berapa nak master lagi....dia mmg leh bgn kalau she grab whole of our hands, tapi bila berdiri....goleknyer mengalahkan tarian bollywood....my mom said, dia tak merangkak, lutut tak kuat aa...

• Now his fine motor control is developing and he will be able to stretch out with one hand to grasp small toys, pass them from hand to hand, let go with the first hand as the fingers of the other hand close around the toy, and examine them with concentrated interest
• He can poke at small things with an index finger, and begin to point. He can also use the pincer grip - holding with the finger and thumb - to pick up small objects
• He can put a toy down only when it is pressed against something firm, such as the floor or your hand. (But he won’t yet give the toy to you spontaneously)

kalau bab main toys, sarah have a habit of throwing away the one in her hands to get the other one kalau kita suakan dia ngan mainan lain....but above all, dia bukan suka sgt nak main ngan toys yang i dah beli berlambak tu...she still wants other things...like i bawa dia ke ofis everyday kan, apa yang dia nak main, kertas, buku, suka ketuk2 keyboard, stapler (yg ni i tk bagi main aa eventhough she's reach out for that), drawings, telephone (paling suka)....macam mana tu?????toys dia main kejap jer...then bored....

Language development 6-9 months

Your baby will love experimenting with sounds and will babble away to himself while in his cot or pram.

• He will turn to your voice or a quiet noise from across the room, unless distracted
• He will listen and watch adult conversations - tang ni mmg favourite sarah...kalau dgr org bersembang, mulut nganga memanjang, mata tak berkelip...ish ish ish...ikut perangai sapa la dia ni...
  
• He can shout now and will let you know! He can also begin to sing a few notes of a familiar nursery rhyme - shout veeeeeery loud, expecially kalau abahnya tak bagi main ngan buku yg dia tgh baca...dah pandai emo...
  
• He can combine syllables into long patterns and begins to change the pitch and tone just as you do when you ask a question

How you can help

• Play ‘This little piggy’ and ‘Round and round the garden’. He will love the actions and the songs
• Talk about the objects around you, so that he can match up things with their names
• Use your baby’s name when you talk to him: ‘Where’s Jack’s hat?’
• Look at picture books together

Toys for this stage

• Stacking toys: these make use of his developing ability to organise the world around him, and develop his hand-eye co-ordination. Choose between stacking beakers (which need sorting by size to successfully complete), bricks or a set of rings of different sizes that fit over a pole. At first your baby will not be able to do them and will need you to show him how. He may then copy you or he may just like to watch or to knock yours down. Over the next few months he will get more proficient at stacking and sorting
• Soft toys: offer him soft toys with interesting textures and shapes attached. He will use his mouth to explore them, and pass them from hand to hand
• Mirror: babies find their own reflection fascinating. Choose a safe, unbreakable mirror specially designed for babies

Developmental tests at 6-9 months

The timing and the range of these tests vary from one health authority to another. But your health visitor will be able to tell you what happens where you live.

The tests at six to nine months include:

• A hearing test
• A check on physical development
• An assessment of your baby’s social skills
• A check on his hand-eye co-ordination
• An assessment of his ability to understand

itulah serba sedikit about baby's development during 6-9 months old....taken from http://www.babyworld.co.uk