Motor skills begin to develop from the moment a baby is born and, as they develop, they change baby's outlook on the world. A baby who can sit up independently will view their environment entirely differently from a baby who can only lie down. Interaction with that environment changes too and the more complex baby's motor skills, the more complex their interactions. This is a great source of joy to parents but a source of anxiety too; when baby discovers the stairs and sets her/his sights on the top, life will never be the same again!
Physical development can be broken in to three month periods and divided in to two types of skills -- gross (the control of baby's body in general movements) and fine (the level of baby's coordination for precise actions).
Muscle development begins at the top of the head and works down so baby's first level of control will be the neck, then the torso, then the leg muscles. This becomes obvious as you watch your baby begin by looking around them, then turning towards your voice, them beginning to move around under their own steam. Bouncing baby on your knee is a great way to help her/him develop their balance which will, in turn, help them when the begin to walk. At first baby will pull her/himself upright, perhaps try a few experimental movements of the legs, then bounce down on their bottom again. In the next few months, baby will become more active (and parents will have to as well). A few months after their first birthday, most babies are walking. If your baby is crawling, standing up and practicing their leg movements, that's perfectly normal; not all babies will walk at the same time. Some babies even skip the crawling stage and go straight to walking, others will crawl for much longer and may not be walking until eighteen/nineteen months.
As well as helping to develop their balance, there are other things you can do to help baby's motor skills develop. Expensive toys are not required. In fact, walkers/stroller are not recommended at all; babies tend to grow too reliant on them and don't develop as quickly. What you really need is to spend as much time as possible with baby, encouraging their movements, helping them when they fall and applauding them when they succeed. Interaction like this not only helps physical development but mental development too.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
• It's much easier for baby to walk barefoot; no shoes indoors.
• Hold baby by the torso when you're helping them to walk.
• Encourage baby to move around; let her/him come to you whenever possible.
• Ensure the floor isn't slippery.
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