Carrying the Growing Baby

It's a big problem for parents if their toddler, who has learnt to walk, insists for being held and carried by them. It is more irritating to see that the child refuses to walk with a moving adult, yet runs happily around a seated person. Though such behavior may give the impression of laziness or defiance, it's rarely anything of the kind. Early walking in toddlers isn't about reaching from point A to point B, but usually a pattern of going and coming to an adult base. If the base moves, the pattern is disturbed and the child may plop himself down on the ground and growl. If you're moving slowly, the baby won't follow as he can't. In case you go back and hold his hand, the baby might walk a few steps, but couldn't maintain that pace of walking beside you. Parents must understand that there could be some reasons as why toddlers want to be carried by parents.

Why Toddlers Want To Be Carried

• One of the main reasons is that, children like the view they get when their heads are at the same height at ours. During toddler hood, kids are very small and they seem to miss most of the things that happen or exist above their level of sight.
• For sure, all children feel comforted when being held. They feel soothed when they are held close to the heart.
• Kids tend to be more alert or afraid of new places or strangers. They feel safer and more secure in your arms. You are the world to them and they feel that no harm can come to them as long as you are with them.
• Babies demand to be carried because, until they're around 3 years old, that's the only way they can stay with you.
• Children feel that no attention is paid to them. When they're at your level and close to your ears, they can easily talk to you and you will easily listen to whatever they say.

Handling The Babies Who Want To Be Held
It may not be easy to convince a child for walking on his own. But you may relieve yourself of the load of carrying a child constantly by:

• Offering to hold the hand of the child.
• Setting limits, like you'll carry the child for five minutes, but then he will walk for ten minutes on his own, or you will carry the child to the store but the child will have to walk inside it.
• If you're at home and the child just wants to be held to see what you're doing, you may make him sit on a high chair while you cook, so that he can watch you while he can be busy trying to pull the lid of a container, or doing something else to keep his hands busy.
• While walking, if the child feels that he's not able to see what you're seeing and thus, wants to be carried, you may try showing him interesting things at his level, such as flowers, dogs and other children.