Your baby's learning to walk! Now let the fun and games begin. Walking is a huge milestone for your baby to reach and it's the most amazing thing to see as a parent. However, with that being said, it's also one of the most nerve-wracking. As your child learns to walk there's likely to be an increase in slips and trips, meaning you need to make sure your environment is as safe as possible for your wee one. Keeping your baby safe as they learn to walk is crucial. Here are a few pointers to try to stop heart-in-mouth situations.
1. Learn to Balance First
Your baby is still developing and learning things about how their body works. It's wise to help them learn to balance first before letting them take big strides on their own. It can be handy popping them in a jumperoo or walker as it will help build strength. Having a stronger core will mean that when they are ready to walk they'll have that little bit more stability and hopefully, the transition from cruising to walking will be that bit easier.
2. Babyproof Your Home
As your baby becomes more and more independent, the likelihood of injury increases. They’re gaining independence but they still have no sense of danger. This means babyproofing your home is crucial. Making a safe environment for your child is imperative as they learn to walk.
Here are some ways you can babyproof your home;
- Install a baby gate at the top and bottom of the stairs
- Cover any heated surfaces ie radiators and fires
- Cover plug sockets
- Fix foam pads onto the corners of furniture
3. Go Barefoot
When your little one is learning to take their first steps it's wise to take off their shoes and socks. Walking barefoot provides your child with extra grip and improves their balance. If you have laminate flooring for example this can be particularly slippery for sleepsuit or sock-wearing wee ones.
4. Avoid Wet and Slippery Floors
As they're learning to walk, babies aren't used to walking on slippery floors. They're unable to support themselves efficiently thus making the chances of falling higher. It's handy when they're first learning to walk to pop your baby on a carpet or a rug to give them that little bit more grip.
When your little one is learning to walk it's highly important that you have eyes on them at all times. There's nothing cheekier than a baby who's learning to walk. However, if they see learning to walk as a game it can be especially dangerous. Their lacking sense of danger means we must provide the safest environment possible to avoid any unnecessary trips and slips.
