From Crawling Forward to Walking Proud: Maximising Your Baby’s Development

Having a new child is challenging and exciting. As parents, we want to ensure our little ones meet important developmental milestones. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a unique perspective on supporting baby’s development. By incorporating TCM practices, we can provide natural and supportive measures that align with the innate growth processes, facilitating a smoother transition from crawling to walking. 

Crawling on all fours to the first steps is a remarkable process. 

As a parent, you can better assist your infant’s advancement by learning typical phases. Age and levels range from crawling to walking, contributing to muscle and nerve maturation.
Crawling on all four Stage 

Typically, infants initiate crawling around 6 to 10 months old. This stage is basic before walking as it builds the arm, shoulder, and back muscles. Crawling additionally encourages spatial mindfulness and synchronisation as infants figure out how to move their limbs together to reach their goals. 

Pulling Up to Standing 

Around 9 to 12 months, infants start pulling themselves up to a standing position. This gigantic jump in their development required significant leg and centre strength. At this period, infants additionally develop equalisation and proprioception, which is the feeling of their body’s position and development in space. 

Cruising or moving around 

After this, infants may begin cruising or moving around while holding onto furniture between 9 and 18 months (about 1 and a half years). Cruising improves their leg quality and balance, preparing them for free strolling. It additionally advances the development of their visual-spatial abilities as they navigate around obstructions. 

First Steps 

Finally, infants take their first free steps between 12 and 18 months (about 1 and a half years). This stage represents a huge milestone in their development, showing solid muscle coordination. It’s critical to note that some infants may skip certain stages or achieve them on various occasions, which is typical. 

Each stage in this excursion adds to muscle and nerve development. The repeated activities of crawling, standing, cruising, and strolling help reinforce and tone your infant’s muscles. 

Ways that TCM can help with the development 

Traditional Chinese medicine offers a holistic perspective on child growth, emphasising mind, spirit and body harmony. 

In Chinese medicine, a child’s progression is viewed as dynamic and is shaped by factors like inherent constitution, eating habits, lifestyle, and emotional wellness. The approach stresses maintaining balance within the system to facilitate changes and abilities. 

Maintaining nutritional balance is key to supporting development in TCM. According to its principles, foods contain distinct energies impacting functioning. For example, nourishing and warm chicken soup and rice congee reinforce the spleen and stomach, improve digestion, and manufacture qi and blood, which are vital to progressing motorically. 

Moreover, a practitioner may recommend herbal treatments to aid development, typically crafted from plants and minerals customised to one’s needs and makeup. Herbs like Astragalus and Codonopsis are commonly employed to strengthen the constitution, enhance digestion, and bolster qi and blood production, all of which collaborate in evolving motor skills. 

It is important to note that while traditional Chinese medicine can support growth, it must not be substituted for standard medical care. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new health regimen for a child. 

Tips that you can use to get your Child Moving 

Here are the practical recommendations motivated by this traditional medicine to inspire locomotion and fortify your baby’s appendages and core. We will also examine risk-free practices for assisting your baby’s transition from crawling to walking. 

It emphasises the importance of delicate motion and stretching to advance the flow of Qi (vital energy) and blood, back up muscle progress, and boost motor skills. Here are some TCM-encouraged physical exercises for babies: 

1. Leg Pedaling: Gently maneuver your baby’s lower limbs bicycling while lying on their rear. This activity can help bolster their leg muscles and improve hip flexibility. 
2. Tummy Time: Urge your baby to spend time on their abdomen while conscious. This position can help reinforce their neck, shoulder, and back muscles, preparing them for crawling and walking. 
3. Aided Squats: Uphold your baby standing and delicately steer them into a squatting stance. This physical exercise can help strengthen their leg muscles and advance their balance. 

Supporting your baby’s transition from crawling to ambulation requires patience and consideration. Here are some safe practices to consider: 

1. Provide a Protected Environment: Generate a risk-free space for your baby to investigate and rehearse new skills. Remove any sharp objects or obstacles that could cause injury. 
2. Offer Help: When your baby starts pulling up to a standing position, offer help by holding their hands or placing a sturdy object before them for balance. 
3. Encourage but Avoid Rushing: Every baby evolves independently. Motivate your baby’s efforts but avoid pushing them to walk before they’re prepared. 
4. Maintain Regular Check-ups: Regular check-ups with your healthcare provider can help ensure your baby’s development is on track. If you have worries about your baby’s motor skills, seek advice from your healthcare provider. 

Common concerns about how Babies Grow and Develop 

Not Completing Milestones: 

A frequent concern is when babies don’t hit developmental milestones within the expected timeframe. TCM sees development as a dynamic process impacted by various factors, like innate strength, diet, lifestyle, and emotional health. If your baby isn’t achieving milestones as anticipated, TCM may help through dietary guidance and herbal remedies to reinforce the body and encourage growth and progress. 

Weaker Muscles or Poor Coordination: 

Some babies may have weaker muscles or difficulties with coordination, impacting their ability to crawl or walk. TCM-inspired exercises, like leg bicycles and assisted squats, can help strengthen muscles and improve coordination. Additionally, a practitioner may recommend herbal remedies to support muscle development and enhance motor abilities. 

Digestive Problems: 

Digestive issues, such as constipation or reflux, can affect a baby’s comfort and overall development. TCM emphasises the importance of dietary balance and may offer eating guidance to support digestive health. For example, warm and nourishing foods, like chicken soup and rice congee, reinforce the Spleen and Stomach, promoting digestion and the production of Qi (vital energy) and blood. 

When to Seek Additional Medical Advice? 

While TCM can be a valuable tool in supporting child development, it’s important to remember that it shouldn’t replace conventional medical care. Always consult a healthcare provider if you have worries about your baby’s development. Seek prompt medical attention if your baby shows signs of serious illness, such as persistent vomiting, difficulty breathing, or unusual tiredness.

Tuina Massage for Kids: What it Does? 

Pediatric Tuina, a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine focusing on children, is a therapeutic massage developed specifically for young ones’ requirements. 

This involves administering delicate force and manipulating precise points on the body to encourage the streaming of Qi (vital energy) and blood, assist organ performance, and enhance total health and wellness. Unlike adult Tuina, Pediatric Tuina uses gentler stress and simpler methods to match the sensitive constitution of babies and kids. 

Benefits of Pediatric Tuina for Infant Advancement: 

1. It can help stimulate digestion, alleviate obstruction, and decrease reflux indicators, endorsing general digestive health. 

1. It can help strengthen the resistant system and improve resistance to sickness by promoting the flow of Qi and Blood. 

1. It can help toughen muscles, improve coordination, and back the healthy progress of the musculoskeletal system. 

1. It can help calm the mind, unwind the body, and improve sleep quality, crucial for growth and progression. 

How and When to Incorporate Pediatric Tuina Safely? 

It should be performed by a qualified practitioner with experience in pediatric care. Communicating health concerns or changes in your baby’s condition with the practitioner is important. 

This can be included in your baby’s health routine from a young age, often starting from a few weeks old. However, the techniques will vary depending on your baby’s age, constitution, and precise health needs. Always seek advice from a healthcare provider before starting any new health regimen for your baby. 

Explore Natural Baby’s Development—Speak with Our Experts 

If you’re curious about how TCM can benefit your child’s development, we invite you to consult our practitioner. Personalised guidance can make a significant difference, ensuring the advice and treatments are perfectly tailored to your child’s needs. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit our Contact Page. 

Embracing this ancient wisdom could be a rewarding addition to your parenting toolkit, supporting your little one’s health and happiness.