Parenting Blog

Your baby’s first steps are an exciting and important milestone, and though every child develops at a different rate, there are signs that can tell you when your baby is ready to walk. Anywhere from the ages of six to ten months, your baby may start to crawl. Not all babies will crawl in the conventional way, however, or never crawl at all. Some babies will scoot along or even roll on their bottom from side to side, and many will skip crawling altogether. Some babies are so easygoing that they simply aren’t in a hurry to get anywhere. Unless your baby can’t get around by the time she turns one, this is not a problem. You should childproof your home before your baby becomes mobile.

When a baby first learns to stand, the tricky part will probably be learning how to sit down again. She’ll fall many times, but you can help by practicing knee bending with her. Once your baby begins to stand and move along furniture, she’s almost ready to walk. With practice, she’ll learn to shift weight between her feet. She will let go of the furniture when she feels ready. This usually occurs between the ages of nine and fourteen months, but don’t be alarmed if your baby doesn’t take her first steps until she’s a bit older, and don’t try to force her to stand on her own, as this can be harmful to her developing bones and muscles. Babies aren’t built in a way that makes walking easy; their heads are disproportionately large for their bodies and balancing is tough. Some children don’t attempt to walk until the age of fifteen months. If you have concerns about your baby’s development, your doctor will help you determine if her progress is normal.

When your baby starts walking, letting her go barefoot makes balancing easier. To help her practice, hold a toy while sitting two or three feet away from her and have her walk to get the toy. Many babies will walk in funny ways when they start out; they might walk on their toes or with their feet turned out, but unless the pattern persists there is no cause for concern.

Walkers were once recommended to help your child build leg muscles before she begins to walk on her own, but experts now say that walkers might delay your baby’s development, since walkers don’t help build all the muscles necessary to begin walking. Cruising along furniture will help her build the correct muscle for taking her first independent steps.