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| |    Walking by Dr. Benjamin Spock reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. Lots of factors determine the age at which a baby walks unassisted. Genetic inheritance probably plays the largest role, followed by ambition, heaviness, how well she can get places by creeping, illnesses, and bad experiences. A baby who is just beginning to walk when an illness lays her up for two weeks may not try again for a month or more. One who is just learning and has a fall may refuse to let go with her hands again for many weeks. Most babies learn to walk between 12 and 15 months. A few muscular, ambitious ones start as early as nine months. A fair number of bright children do not begin until 18 months or even later. You don't have to do anything to teach your child to walk. When her muscles, nerves, and spirit are ready, you won't be able to stop her. I remember a mother who got herself into a jam by walking her baby around a great deal before he was able to do it by himself. He was so delighted with this suspended walking that he demanded it all day long. Needless to say, she was tired and bored long before he was. Knees and toes, in or out A parent of an early walker may worry that it's bad for the baby's legs. As far as we know, children's physiques are able to stand whatever they're ready to do by themselves. Babies sometimes appear bowlegged or knock-kneed in the early months of walking, but this happens with late walkers as well as with early walkers, and the condition tends to resolve itself over time. Most babies toe out to some degree when they start to walk, and then gradually bring the front part of the feet in as they progress. One starts with the feet sticking right out to the sides, like Charlie Chaplin, and ends up toeing out only moderately. The average baby starts toeing out moderately and ends up with the feet almost parallel. The baby who starts out with feet almost parallel is more apt to end up toeing in. Toeing in and bowlegs often go together. How straight the legs, ankles, and feet grow depends on several factors, including the pattern of development babies are born with. Some babies seem to have a tendency to knock-knees and ankles that sag inward. The heavy child is more apt to develop these conditions. Other babies seem to be born with a tendency to bowlegs and toeing in. Another factor may be the position in which babies keep their feet and legs. For instance, you occasionally see a foot that becomes turned in at the ankle because the baby always sits with that foot tucked under him in that position. When is it a problem? If your child toes in or out, check to see if the ankle is loose enough so that you can straighten out the foot without having to force it. If so, the foot is likely to correct itself over the next few months as the baby walks on it. If the foot seems fixed in place, it's more likely to need medical attention. Your doctor or nurse practitioner, during the regular examinations, will watch the ankles and legs from the time the baby begins to stand up. This is one reason why regular visits are important during the second year. If weak ankles, knock-knees, bowlegs, or toeing in develop, corrective measures may be recommended, but most of these conditions resolve themselves over time.
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