BABY MOVES #12

NOTE: Most guidelines are built for “birth at 40 weeks”. If your baby came early – it is recommended to “correct” or “adjust for due date”, specifically in movement. *Learn more about corrected age HERE.

Here is some new knowledge for your Movement Variety program.

Sitting Motions

Continue to get babies attention with a toy/object from different angles behind and above to promote trunk rotation and extension up.

With baby in sitting, hand toys/objects from above to promote independent rising into standing. Do the same a few feet in front of baby to promote transition into crawling.

As they get more curious, give opportunities for “put things in and take things out” games. Watch how they move and how they support themselves. The modern home is filled with all sorts of things to put together, take apart, put in and take out – and they’ll usually be drawn to the novelty of non-toy things. Remember to set the environment, but try not to interrupt their focus.

Work “movement mimicry” into the routines. It’s like Simon Says, but beyond your clapping getting them clapping… try arm shakes, leg shakes, kicks, waves, body rocks, etc.

All Fours

Keeping it up with ways to challenge their motor planning and problem solving skills – on all fours and on foot (if they are walking). The brain is always firing and wiring as well as always tuning and pruning. When babies explore as many possible body configurations for any given scenario the brain prunes down or selects movements that are the most useful. This can take a lot of trial and error, falling over, bumping heads, and stumbling. The more variety the more effective the learning.

Add in times where play is done on the knees. Knee play builds a lot of strength in the lower body and back. Encourage this by doing something interactive at their chest level where the child is kneeling. This can be as simple as a toy/object/crayon scribbling placed on top of a box. Or pulling post-it notes or tape off the wall or a vertical surface. Laps seem to be the perfect height for this as well.

Being Vertical

With baby standing at furniture or elevated surface, place toys on the ground 2-3 feet away to encourage the backwards transition down to quadruped to get toy/object. Repeat alternatively with toy on ground and on furniture to increase strength and motor planning during transitions from one position to the other. This kind of game uses the full range of transitions!

With baby standing at furniture, encourage play with toys/object using both hands to promote standing balance – which continues to build balance for walking. Try having them stand on a pillow or softer surface for extra challenge. If baby is leaning onto furniture, try creating a few inches of space between baby and support so they can ONLY place forearms or hands on furniture vs body leaning.

Vertical play is another way to help balance while vertical.

With baby in standing, hold by one hand only at arm level, like a walker, and prompt to walk forward. If baby is doing this with ease, introduce slight turns while walking.

I didn’t know this with my son, so for 4-6 weeks after he learned to walk he would hold an arm up in the air. This was the arm I typically held to assist his walking as I’m 6’2” and found it challenging to assist him over longer distances. His brain picked up the connection that ARM UP = NEEDED FOR WALKING!

Luckily the internet is full of Dads much more clever than I, with their DIY walkers, to compensate for towering stature.

With baby in standing, hold by one hand only at arm level, like a walker, and prompt to walk forward. If baby is doing this with ease, introduce slight turns while walking.

Overall in the 11th month some things to look for and anchor on are:

– Trunk rotation to reach around and behind while in sitting
– Manipulating toys/object while visually and manually inspecting it
– Easy transitions from sitting to crawling
– Transition to kneeling without upper body use/support
– Going backwards going down from furniture
– Attempts to rise and stand without hand support
– Using the half-kneeling and squatting as part of standing up and getting down
– Standing and playing at furniture/elevated surfaces
– Can squat and rise up and down using one hand for support, with ease
– Is using a wide spread of the feet, called a wide base of support, while standing without assistance

Lastly, a quick note on the feet. Foot development happens through foot use. As the child grows, you may feel inclined to throw some shoes on those little paws, but consider putting shoes on only for protection from elements or rough surfaces. Even then, when picking shoes – look for thin, flexible, and with a WIDE TOE BOX. Narrow shoes can cause the toes to tighten, which causes the big toe to point inward. This creates a narrower base of support for the foot. Funny enough, one of the main reasons that old people fall is due to big toe position, strength, and mobility. The way they train this in older age is to simply have these individuals push things, preferably while barefoot, so they strengthen and mobilize the big toe! Might as well start the good habits from the start.