Walking is a major developmental milestone, and if you’re reading this, I’m sure you’re eagerly awaiting your little one's precious first steps! Below is everything you need to know about this long awaited milestone!
So, when will your baby start walking?
There's no doubt every baby is different, So the age at which a baby hits these precious milestones varies - but, your little one's first steps may happen anywhere from 9 months to 18 months of age. On average a baby will show signs of independent walking between 12 to 15 months of age. Leading up to this they may use the walls and furniture in your house to help support themselves as they move around.
Here Are 6 Signs Your Baby Is Ready to Walk:
- Pulling themselves up
- Practising standing
- Cruising
- Fussiness
- Sleep changes
- Increase in confidence
The Stages of Walking
Stage 1 - Pulling up To Standing (7-10 Months)
The first stage of learning to walk involves your little one pulling themselves up to the standing position, which usually happens around 7 - 10 months of age. Once your little one has figured out how to grab onto / hold onto things to support the weight of their bodies, they will begin pulling themselves up and rely on pieces of furniture or yours or a caregiver's legs or hands to help themselves stay balanced. This stage usually happens once your little one has learned how to sit unaided and/or crawl.
Stage 2 - Cruising (9-13 Months)
Once your baby feels confident and comfortable enough with pulling themselves up and is on track to mastering the art of keeping themselves balanced on two feet, they will begin side-stepping around the room, while holding onto furniture - this is known as ‘cruising’.
Stage 3 - Standing Unassisted (10-16 months)
The more experienced your baby becomes with the furniture cruising, the braver they will become as they start trying to take those first wobbly steps away from whatever support they have been holding onto. In the beginning, those first unassisted moments of standing may happen unexpectedly, be that when they are transferring objects from one hand to another, or for a couple of seconds when their attention is focused elsewhere. As these periods of unassisted standing increase in duration (and become less wobbly) you’ll know that their first few steps aren’t far away!
On average, toddlers will start walking around 2 - 2 1/2 months after learning to stand unaided.
5 Tips for Encouraging Those First Steps
One of the best things you can do to encourage your baby to take their first steps is to experiment with a range of different types of movement. Below are 5 ways you can encourage your little one's first steps:
1 - Don’t Be Afraid To Rearrange Your Furniture for a Short While!
Placing pieces of furniture next to each other, and making sure to keep just enough space in between them for your little one to hold onto while cruising between the two is a good way to encourage those first steps. Over time slowly increase the distance between the pieces of furniture, encouraging your baby to let go of one piece of furniture to reach the other!
Tip - Sitting yourself at the opposite end of where your baby is and encouraging them to come to you is a great way to get them cruising!
2 - Take off Socks and Shoes
Barefoot is best for babies as it supports healthy foot development, but it also is a great way to encourage movement as playing with bare feet gives your little one full sensory feedback.
3 - Encourage Squatting
Practising squatting with your little one helps to strengthen your baby’s leg muscles and their core helps with preparation for walking. While your baby is standing using support from furniture or walls, take one of their favourite toys or books over to them and pop it on the ground / hold it low enough to the floor that they’ll need to squat down to get hold of it.
4 - Support Their Trunk
As your baby transitions from cruising to walking, they will be unsteady on their feet - which is normal! Although holding their hand works, when transitioning your baby may find it more helpful for you to support their trunk. Pop your hands either side of their ribs and hold them there! By doing this you are helping to stabilise their spine.
5 - Give Them Something To Hold
Your baby will be looking to hold onto furniture, your hands and legs or walls to support themselves. A good way to encourage the transition from cruising to walking is to place small items in both hands to keep their hands full - Things like small teddies or their favourite toys. Or something that you know they won’t let go of easily.
