Are you the type of parent who devours baby books and constantly checks your little one against the “normal” charts? (We are probably all a bit like that at some point!) If you are concerned whether your child’s legs and feet are progressing as they should, here are a few developmental milestones to guide you:
- At two months the leg movements will be less jerky and instinctive and become smoother
- Around four months your baby may start pressing his or her legs against a chair or your lap when you hold him or her up straight
- At six months your child will start to put weight on the legs and may bounce up and down. Some crawling motions in the legs may begin at this stage as well.
- Most nine-month-old babies will be crawling around, sitting without support, and standing while holding on to something
- Around your baby’s first birthday, he or she will likely be able to pull up to stand by furniture and start cruising around it.
At this point they are ready to stand alone and take those first few unaided steps that make parents so proud. The next few months can be rather heart-in-throat times for parents as their toddler careens around from one thing to the next, falling frequently. They will also start climbing on things, take running steps, and pull things behind them (not looking where they are going!). It’s an important stage in becoming independent, and a fun one, too.
Your two-year-old will soon be able to run, kick a ball, stand on tiptoe, climb on and off furniture, and walk up and down stairs holding on. That’s a long way from that little helpless newborn with the thin little legs and floppy feet you welcomed into your home two years ago!
These child development stages are somewhat flexible, as each child is different and grows in their own way. However, if you have any concerns that your child is not developing normally, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Robert Spencer and Dr. Nitza Rodriguez at Southern California Foot & Ankle Specialists. We want your child’s feet and legs to be strong and healthy to support them through life. Simply call our office in Ladera Ranch, CA at (949) 364-9255 (WALK) and let us know what is bothering you. We’ll get to the bottom of it and put your mind at ease.