On Teething and Walking

My son will be turning a year old on the 9th and before he reaches that milestone, I have noticed two extremely opposite err, developments.

First, he doesn't have any teeth yet.

And quite frankly, I am worried (because I'm not sure if this is normal although his pediatrician said it has nothing to do with health problems) and I am irritated (by all the questions and comparisons to other babies, blah blah blah; if you want to point the obvious, let me tell you "BULAG KA BA?").

According to Baby Center (my trusty online source of information, besides Zeke's pedia whose number is on speed dial):

The age at which babies sprout their first tooth is extremely variable. In rare cases, babies are born with a tooth, called a natal tooth, which either falls out or is pulled to prevent a choking hazard. At the other end of the spectrum, some babies' first tooth doesn't break through until they're a year old. If your baby falls anywhere in that range, she's perfectly normal, says David Geller, a pediatrician in Bedford, Massachusetts.

The average age at which a baby gets her first tooth is 6 months, says Geller. He considers 4 months early and has seen a child who got her first tooth at 17 months.

If your baby's first tooth hasn't come in by 12 to 15 months, she'll probably be referred to a pediatric dentist. X-rays may be taken to make sure teeth are in place to come in. If your baby's on the late side in getting teeth, it's no indication that there are any problems with her overall development, says Geller.

Parents often mistake a baby's drooling and chewing on a fist as a sign of teething, especially around 3 months of age. These are typical activities among babies this age, but they're not necessarily a sign that a tooth is coming in.

Whew. Thank goodness. But not to worry; I can see the beginnings of baby teeth on his gums now and I can definitely feel it whenever he's breastfeeding. Let's wait and see.

Now into the second part. He's walking, on his own.

This part I am very proud of. He started cruising in his crib (using the bars) when he was 9-month old but began to stand up on his own earlier than that age. The playpen surely helped him develop trust and was not even afraid to try again and again each time he falls.

Now, on his 46th week, he was finally walking! It was the best feeling in the world. Some says he has an advanced motor and intelligence development. He was saying a few audible words like "daddy", "no", "mama" and even "hindi". He loves to imitate the people around him and would gladly even laugh at you when he knows you're feeling blue.

What's next now that you're baby is walking? Baby Center says:

After those first magical steps toward independence, your child will begin to master the finer points of mobility:

• At 14 months, your toddler should be able to stand alone. She can probably squat down and then stand back up again, and she might even work on walking backward.
• By 15 months, your child may be pretty good at walking. She may enjoy push-and-pull toys while she toddles. At this age she will walk with her legs fairly far apart and her feet pointed outward . This is normal and helps her maintain stability.
• At about 16 months, your child will begin to take an interest in going up and down stairs –though she probably won't navigate them with your help until her next birthday.
• It's likely your child will be a proficient walker by 18 months. She might like to climb all over the furniture, and she can probably motor up stairs – though she'll still need help getting back down for a few more months. She may try to kick a ball, though she won't always be successful, and she probably likes to dance to music.
• At 25 or 26 months, your child's steps will be more even, and she'll have the hang of the smooth heel-to-toe motion adults use. She's also getting better at jumping.
• By the time your child's third birthday rolls around, many of her basic movements will have become second nature. She'll be able to walk up and down stairs  with one foot on each stair. She'll no longer need to focus energy on walking, standing, running, or jumping, though some actions, such as standing on tiptoes or on one foot, might still require concentration and effort.

Your role

As your baby learns to pull himself up to a standing position, he may need some help figuring out how to get back down again. If he gets stuck and cries for you, don't just pick him up and plop him down. Show him how to bend his knees so he can sit down without toppling over, and let him give it a try himself.

You can encourage your baby to walk by standing or kneeling in front of him and holding out your hands. Or you might hold both his hands and let him walk toward you. He'll probably also enjoy a toddle truck or push toy that he can hold on to as he walks. (Look for toddle toys that are stable and have a wide base of support.)

You can also hold off on introducing shoes until your baby is walking around outside or on rough or cold surfaces regularly. Going barefoot helps improve balance and coordination.

As always, make sure your baby has a soft, safe environment in which to hone his new skills. Follow standard childproofing guidelines, and never leave your baby unattended.

Whew! We still have a long way to go, mommies! Motherhood is the biggest life-changing experience a woman will surely have, including pregnancy and breastfeeding.