Is your cruising cutie ready to walk? Here's what you need to know about the exciting milestone, including when babies start walking, how they learn and how to help them get moving.
Your baby learning to walk is an exciting milestone-they are, literally, taking steps toward a whole new way of life as a toddler (and a whole new way of life for you as a parent of a toddler!). And like many milestones, it comes with questions. Here's what you need to know.
When do babies walk?
Parents often think babies should walk independently by 12 months, but anywhere between nine and 18 months is considered within the completely normal range, says Elizabeth Zahary, a paediatric physiotherapist in Edmonton.
Carl Cummings, a paediatrician in Montreal, agrees. "In my practice, the average age for walking alone is 13 or 14 months," he says.
And don't worry if your baby takes a few steps one day, but crawls again the next. There's no perfect timeline between a baby's first steps and walking independently.
"You need to have hundreds and hundreds of supported steps, holding someone's hand or a piece of furniture, before you're able to walk unsupported," says Zahari. It can take several months.
How do babies learn to walk?
It requires strength, coordination and balance for babies to learn to walk, and these are complex skills that require lots of building blocks. Tummy time is an important piece here, says Zahary, because it helps babies extend and strengthen their core, arm and leg muscles. Practicing tummy time from birth will help them sit, crawl, cruise and ultimately, stand.
Growth affects balance, too. "Babies are top-heavy, so their centre of gravity is just under their armpits as infants," says Zahary. "As they grow, their center of gravity moves to their hips and pelvis, which allows them to develop balance."
Neuromotor skills (how the brain and body work together) need to develop as well so that your baby can coordinate taking their first steps. "When all those systems mature, they'll be ready to walk," says Zahary.
Another factor that can be pretty important is a child's temperament, says Zahary. "Kids who are naturally more cautious tend to be a little slower to walk because they feel very safe crawling, and standing up makes them feel insecure," she says.
Stages of learning how to walk
A number of developmental milestones usually precede your baby's first steps, including pulling to stand and cruising.
Pulling to stand:
Between nine and 11 months, your baby may start trying to pull their body up to a standing position by holding onto something, such as a sofa or crib. This is one of the first early walking signs.
Cruising:
From 10 to 12 months, your baby may start cruising, which means they will stand up and hold onto a piece of furniture while they take a few steps. If you have a coffee table, now is the perfect time to make sure it doesn't have sharp edges.
Standing and walking:
Between 12 and 14 months, they may start to squat down and stand back up again. At this point, they may take a step or two when you hold them upright and gradually (or quickly, depending on the kid!) start walking on their own.
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How can I help my baby walk?
"The basic developmental mantra is ability and opportunity," says Cummings. "They're not going to walk until they have the ability, but they need the opportunity." Hold their hands while they're standing and give some loving encouragement.
You can encourage your baby to walk by placing the furniture so that your baby can hold onto one piece and move to another without obstacles in the way, or by putting toys on the couch rather than on the floor so that they pull themselves up to standing.
Activity centers that encourage standing to play, such as water tables, play kitchens and workbenches, are another good idea, says Zahary. A push toy that allows them to hold on while they walk, such as a play cart or lawnmower, also helps kids who are close to walking on their own get the hang of it (just make sure it's used under supervision and away from stairs!).
