7 Month Old Trying to Walk

K. if i am thinking correctlly they do make infant shoes that help prevent that. I can't really say much becasue my son when he started to walk i just let it happen no matter how he walked. I would let him crab on the the buggy at walmart and push it as he walked and it seemed to help. But I also know that now he is 3 and walks fine. Sometimes you can't stop it because its in his genes.
H. a

Please put her back down on her hands/knees EVERY TIME you see her start cruising. She needs the time on her hands/knees to organize her midbrain---which is where she develops the ability to use her eyes together well, understand social nuance, respond appropriately to noise in her environment, and MANY more important things.

Getting up on the sides of her feet makes me wonder about the appropriate integration of her Babinski reflex OR the possibility that her sensation is hypersensitive on the bottom of her feet. Either way, these are things I can teach you to work with---she would probably benefit from both.

For as long as possible, PLEASE keep her from walking precociously----I know it is fun to see her walk, but it is NOT in her best interest. Being early walkers is a commonality in many children with learning disabilities and/or ADD/ADHD.

www.parentswithpurpose.com

D.
Mom to 8 children (Yep, been pregnant 8 times with the SAME dad)
Neurodevelopmental specialist

You could always look for walking boots. Not sure if that's what you call them but they look like the shoes you always see bronzed as booties. They seem to go up on the ankles, and would keep her feet flat on the ground. I would try those. I believe you can get them at Walmart and Target, even possibly Babies'R'Us. I used them on my boys and they seem fine. And the shoes give them support.

They have some hi top shoes with a firm sole, i believe their called walking shoes (not real sure if that is the name since my babies are 35 and 30) But they will support her ankles and give her balance. I also recommend a toy that looks like a shopping cart that has a handle they hold onto to help keep them in better control in standing up and strengthing their legg muscles. I would love to take my two back to that age. You have alot to look forward to as she begins learning differant things and by the age of 2 she will be curious about everything. Enjoy every minute because they grow up to fast and you feel they don't need you as much as you wish they did. Then they Grow up and need you more than you want them to! lol

K.,
My son walked at 7 months, well 7 1/2 months... I had him in the bouncer, and he would jump up and down in it. I think that strengthen his muscles, but I think the real reason he started walking is because he has a sister who is two years older and he has always looked up to her (he won't admit it). I don't think there is a problem with it. You might want to put her in shoes, however, they cause them to fall more I think, because they are heavier and they don't pick their feet up right.
Also, with all do respect to the mother that said they could become ADHD/learning problems, my son is one of the smartest in his class and always has been. He is all boy but by no means is he ADHD. He's 12 now and ALL of his teachers tell me they wish they had a classroom full of him.
Let you daughter walk, she's still just learning to stand...

My little boy would curl his toes under his feet when he first started to try to walk, but as he practiced he stopped. One thing that helped him was lots of time standing and practicing to walk with a toy. She will learn how to get her balance when she is ready. Good Luck!

She's cruising. How cute! They all do it differently. She'll figure it out. Fortunately, 7 months is a tad early for walking-walking. Mine started cruising at about the same time. He was running at the end of about 9 or 10 months. Just keep her bare footed or in socks which are best for begining walkers, and she'll be fine.

you should be proud and encourage her! shes just developing faster than normal if i were you i would take advantage of that and start working on walking and talking. its a good thing!

She's fine! Mine did the same thing at 7 months and was walking by 9 months. She's now a super active running, jumping, rolling, tumbling 18 month old! Don't discourage her. if she's capable of doing it, it means that she's strong enough.

I was going to give my personal experience with a very precocious baby, but Donna B said it best. Try to discourage the walking. You won't be sorry!

Hi K., I have been around lots & lots of babies I come from a very large family. On thing I know for sure is that we all progress at our own pace. You really can't discourage walking. From my experience, it's better to let them learn to walk barefoot. My oldest wore shoes & had trouble with weak ankles my youngest went barefoot and never had any problems. Just try not to stress yourself about it his feet and legs will strengthen. Let him learn at his own time. Some walk for a little while very young and then stop for a few months. Good luck to you. God Bless.

You can't and shouldn't keep her from doing it, so let her go for it. However, yu do need to ivest in agood pair of shoes and keep her in them all the time. Since their feet are not really developedand big enough to spread out flat on the floor you need to keep her in a good pair of shoes, I recommend the Pedipeds. They are expensive, but well worth it. Make sure you get a pair tha really does fit right. I would also try to keep her places where she isn't able to practice her new skill, exersaucer, bounder chair, walker, highchair. Not because you don't want her to walk, but because she is still so young that serious injuries could be sustined that would normally nt effect an older baby. A bonked head could be very bad for a 7 month old. Sh jut doesn't have the coordination to walk safely, even if she has the strength to do it. I would also remove all coffe tables and imilar items to keep her from hitting her head on the edges and corners. That is so craz for me to imagie a 7 month old walking, mine didn't even crawl till nine months, and at one year birthday just started walking along the furniture, they are all different!

Not to worry...she's just using the sides of her feet to balance herself. Once she's more stable she'll plant her feet correctly, and probably with a wide stance instead (also for balance).

My son cruised at 7 months but did not walk right away.

I would not invest in shoes right now. She doesn't need them and she won't be able to feel the floor and learn to manipulate her toes and feet correctly. Get them when she starts to walk.

All I can say is, she is mobile so childproof as needed and enjoy this incredible stage in her life.

K.-
My eldest son (I have 5) started walking at 7-8 months. He was very active and did this on his own- we didn't encourage it. Anyway, the side effects that he had were extremely bowed legs (which straightened on their own with no braces by the time he was 2 years) and very bad hip pain. The pain would wake him out of a deep sleep and this lasted until he was about 18-20 months. He didn't walk on the sides of his feet though- Our doctor said that he would outgrow these symptoms and he did--he's 17 years old now--a wonderful young man and a GREAT baseball player! :)
Hope this helps-
K. M.

Totally normal! It sounds like she's grasping the concept a bit early, which is great! I agree with Lisa - DON'T worry about buying shoes right now. Talk to your doctor about it if you're not sure, but the AAP recommends that infants learning to walk go barefoot as much as possible, and if they wear shoes, they need the type with very flexible soles (like Robeez). Have fun - what a fun stage!