Let Your Baby WALK

"There is nothing that God hath established in a constant course of nature, and which therefore is done every day, but would seem a miracle, and exercise our admiration, if it were done but once."

John Donne, 1627

Walking is so important for your baby.

Sometimes it is easy to forget how important it is for our little one because we see it so often, so it doesn't seem so extraordinary or important.

Often times it is easier to just snatch our baby up and carry him, or to strap him into a stroller or backpack, and simply not have to worry about him getting into trouble or about slowing down our pace.

But dear parents, resist the urge to do this.

It does not mean never use a carrier. It does not mean never use a stroller. The Doman philosophy says if your baby can walk a little, let him walk a little. Then carry him a ways. If he can walk a lot (which all babies can after such a short time from learning to walk), then let him walk, walk, walk.

Because it is worth it. Walking is so incredibly important, especially for your little baby.

When your baby walks, he is growing his brain. The brain grows by use, and the more you use it, the more it grows.

Walking grows, organizes, and builds your baby's brain in a beautifully orchestrated symphony as he coordinates both sides of his body to work together in the most elegant of motions only ever performed by the homo sapiens.

Many animals can stand or even move in an upright position, but it is only humans and, yes, your little baby who has only been out of the womb for a few months, who will ever be able to walk in an upright position in a true cross-pattern, with opposite limbs moving together simultaneously (right arm and left leg, left arm and right leg).

It seems so simple because we see it every day. It is not so simple. There is so much going on in your baby's brain.

He is building countless neural connections, stimulating the senses, and strengthening the bond between the left and right hemispheres. He is making his brain healthy by giving it more oxygen. He is making his lungs healthy by giving them more air, which in turn makes his breathing more regular and helps his speech and language develop.

He is learning about gravity and balance and stimulating the vestibular portions of his brain. He is strengthening almost every muscle in his body, strengthening his bones and sending extra blood to all of his organs. He is becoming more capable and independent and being curious and exploring.

Let that take place.

Let your baby walk.

He is driven to walk. He is driven to develop, grow, and progress.

Take a stroller with you, by all means.

Pack your carrier.

And when your baby gets tired, carry him for a while. But by all means, let that little one walk.

He has lots of learning and developing to do.

Damien, in picture, was 11 months old