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6 Signs Baby Will Walk Soon and How to Encourage Walking

From recording that first smile and rollover to proudly sharing your baby’s skill at sitting up and crawling, you’re on the edge of your rocking chair waiting for your little one’s next move.

And one of the most game-changing milestones might be approaching soon — taking those first adorable, wobbly steps.

Walking is a greatly anticipated infant achievement. It’s a sure sign that your little one is entering the toddler zone (and some serious babyproofing is in your near future).

But you might also be wondering if walking early or “late” is related to intelligence and even physical performance in the future.

While a 2015 cross-national study correlated learning to walk with advancing language abilities in infancy, rest assured: Research suggests that there’s no proven association between walking early and becoming the next Isaac Newton or Serena Williams.

In fact, according to this Swiss study in 2013, children who started walking early didn’t perform better on intelligence and motor skills tests between the ages of 7 and 18 compared to babies who did not walk early. What this study did conclude, however, is this:

There’s a tremendous variance in when babies decide to start strutting — usually between 8 1/2 and 20 months.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges that these walking-related physical milestones are typically met by age 1:

• pulling up to stand
• walking while holding on to furniture
• may be taking a few independent steps
• standing holding on and may stand alone

We know you want to capture those first steps in your heart (and on video) forever, so let’s take a more in-depth look at these and other signs that toddling is imminent.

Pulling up on furniture to stand is one of the first signs of walking readiness.

This boosts babies’ leg muscles and coordination — just think of how many squats they’re doing! Over time, the mini workouts condition your baby to stand independently, and then, move ahead with a few wobbly steps.

You can encourage this by modeling their movements while saying “up!” as they pull up, and “down!” as they squat down again.

If, out of the corner of your eye, you catch your sweet Houdini suddenly standing on top of the couch and smiling while ready to nosedive, it might be a sign that their inner confidence is shining.

While this puts you on accident alert — and on catcher’s duty — it’s a great developmental signal that your baby is confident about trying new things (however dangerous they may be). To walk independently, babies must have self-efficacy in their ability to do it.

So if you’re catching yourself helicopter-momming-it, try to find your zen and let your little explorer push their physical abilities — in a safe environment.

“Cruising” describes a baby walking while holding onto objects. They might use the coffee table to move around or lean from one object to another to work the room.

This shows that your tiny sport is learning how to shift weight and balance while taking steps. It also prepares for the ability to propel forward, which is required for walking.

To promote cruising, create a path of safe objects for your baby to grab onto and move about.

But take caution with furniture, plants, and other items that aren’t safely secured to walls or the ground. They could topple over, leading to an accidental fall or injury.

Who would have thought that the fussiness and extra-long nap could be a tip-off that your baby will soon blaze by you on their tiptoes?

Well, walking is such a big developmental milestone that it’s often accompanied by other developmental leaps. Your baby’s brain and body could be working double time, leaving a slightly less tolerant tot.

These moments of parenthood are tough, so take a deep breath and find solace knowing that (usually) things return to normal after a developmental milestone is achieved.

Offering safe, age-appropriate push-toys (not infant walkers — more on this below) can inspire your child to walk while picking up some speed.

Infant play grocery carts or musical walking toys with wheels and handles can bring joy and assistance to beginning walkers. You can also hold your baby’s hand or give them a blanket to hold while you hold the other end and walk.

The look on a baby’s face when they first stand alone is often one of accomplishment (and perhaps an ounce of fear, too).

At this moment, babies have the balance and stability to stand on their own. They often test the waters for a few seconds, and then gradually stand for longer periods of time, boosting confidence to take it a step further.

Make it a fun learning activity by slowly counting for as long as your child stands.

If your baby shows signs of readiness, consider these activities to boost their self-efficacy and strength.

To promote walking:

• Deliver praise. Watch for baby’s cues that they’re ready to advance — and praise every achievement. Help when needed, and sit back with a smile when you see that glimmer of self-determination in their eyes.
• Comfort a fall. Falls are inevitable in the infancy of walking, so be there to help your little one up again and console a few tears. Babyproofing is important at this stage to create the safest environment possible for your baby to explore.
• Create challenges. If your baby has mastered walking on flat surfaces, challenge them by walking up and down a ramp or on a safe, uneven surface. This helps build more balance, coordination, and muscle power.
• Extend a hand. Encourage your baby to walk to you as you extend your hands toward them. You can also ask them to follow you as you walk into another room.

You might want your baby to defy all statistics, but it’s vital to encourage walking in a positive, safe, and developmentally appropriate way. Here are some things to avoid.

Avoid the following:

• Don’t use infant walkers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using infant walkers, citing that they’re a preventable and dangerous cause of infant injury in the United States. These injuries usually occur to the head and neck after a fall down stairs. Stationary infant activity centers (like a Jumperoo or Excersaucer) are safer bets.
• Avoid pushing your own milestone goals. Be mindful of pushing children to achieve goals before they’re ready to do so on their own. This can result in negative experiences or injuries that could delay walking even further.

If your baby isn’t meeting these physical milestones by their first birthday, should you be concerned? Not quite.

The CDC recommends talking to your child’s pediatrician if they’re not walking at all by 18 months and not walking steadily by age 2 — so you have plenty of time even if your little one hasn’t started showing signs by age 1.

You may also worry that even a slight delay in walking could indicate additional developmental and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism.

While the results of a small 2012 study concluded that early motor delays may be a risk factor for future communication delays in children at risk of autism, for children with a low risk of autism, parents should not jump to this assumption.

There are many reasons for late walking in babies. Some are physical (and not common), such as:

• developmental hip dysplasia
• soft or weak bones (medically termed rickets)
• conditions that affect the muscle (for example, muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy)

Other times, the delay could be mere personality.

While walking may seem like it’s as simple as putting one foot in front of the other, for a baby, it’s a monumental achievement that takes physical strength, confidence, and a safe place to practice.

And although your baby is smart enough to get to this milestone on their own, a supportive coach certainly doesn’t hurt, either (that’s you!).

Some of these signs might tell you that your baby is ready to walk, but each child’s “go time” is that of their own.

Lastly, if you’re ever concerned about your child’s physical development, speak to their pediatrician for professional guidance and support.

Baby's First Steps: Learning to Walk Properly

PreviousNext

Contents:

1. What time do children take their first steps?
2. How does a child learn to walk?
3. Should a child be taught to walk?
4. How to help when the child has gone and is taking his first steps?
5. How to ensure safety during the first steps of a child?

All parents eagerly wait for their baby to take the first step. The child has already learned to roll over, sit, crawl, stand at the support, even walk with support, but the most difficult thing lies ahead - to walk on his own. In our article, we will tell you when the first steps of a child should normally be expected, what time children are taught to walk (and in general, whether to teach a child to walk or he will figure it out on his own). And, most importantly, what absolutely can not be done.

What time do children take their first steps? nine0023

Usually a child takes the first step at the age of 9-12 months, and by 14-15 months he moves quite confidently without the help of adults. However, if the child is already a year old, and he has not yet walked on his own, you should not worry and think about how to start teaching the child to walk. It's just that some people take longer to master this skill than others. According to studies conducted by the World Health Organization, it is considered normal to start walking independently from 8 to 18 months.

How does a child learn to walk?

The leg muscles of a newborn are still very weak, coordination is not developed, and the musculoskeletal system cannot yet bear the weight of its own body. However, if you hold the baby on weight and let his feet touch the surface, it will seem that the child has gone: he will make movements similar to the first steps - this is how the unconditioned (innate) reflex of automatic walking is checked, which indicates the normal development of the newborn. By two months, this reflex fades. nine0003

At about six months, a child held by an adult under the armpits, at the moment of touching the surface, begins to confidently lean on his legs and seem to spring them. For the next couple of months, this will be your baby's favorite pastime!

At about 9-10 months, having mastered independent sitting, the child begins to try to get up at the support. This is very difficult for the baby, and here the help of parents is especially important. After that, he learns to smoothly sit down on the floor from a standing position - this is a completely different level of control over his body. nine0003

Feeling self-confidence, the baby begins to take the first steps along the support, sideways. At first it is 1-2 steps, but later the child can go around the whole house, holding on to the furniture!

When a child has sufficiently mastered walking along a support, he wants more. He tries to take small steps from object to object, first holding on to them, and then releasing his hands. At some point, he can linger in this position and stand for a few seconds without holding on, but then he can squat down. Can a child be taught to walk at this stage to speed up the process? No, now you just need to belay and sometimes support him, and let everything go on as usual. nine0003

Only by learning to control his body, get up and sit down quickly, the baby will be able to start taking the first independent steps. For the first weeks, he will need the help of adults, and, having already felt confident in his actions, the child will begin to walk on his own. Of course, sometimes he will again return to all fours and crawl, but this is only because so far it is faster to move. Be patient: if the child went and took his first steps, it means that very soon he will not be able to keep up! nine0003

Should a child be taught to walk?

Generally speaking, a healthy child does not need outside help. We do not teach a child to walk on his own, just as we did not teach him to sit and crawl before. These are processes that are laid down at the genetic level.

A child masters each new motor skill at the moment when his nervous and musculoskeletal systems are ready for this: certain areas mature in the brain, from which an impulse arrives to the muscles; brain structures responsible for coordinating and maintaining body position in space are also able to ensure the implementation of new movements. Don't force things, everything has its time. nine0003

Parents often want to help their child take the first steps as soon as possible. It seems to them that the moment has already come when it is possible to teach a child to walk, and they acquire various “helpers” for this. But is it worth it?

Walkers, beloved by the inhabitants of our country, for example, are not recommended for use by many international organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. Firstly, they can, on the contrary, slow down the process of learning to walk by the child. Being in a walker, the child makes minimal efforts to move, so without them the desire to walk independently disappears. Secondly, babies who often run in walkers often form an incorrect motor stereotype - they get used to walking on their toes (because it is faster to run and easier to push off). Thirdly, it is unsafe: children often move very quickly in walkers around the house, while they do not see what lies under their feet. Children kick carpets, trip over toys, roll over in walkers and fall. So walkers are definitely the wrong answer to the question of how to properly teach a child to walk. nine0003

Tolocars or wheelchairs are popular with many children. This is a good device for starting walking, but it is worth choosing those that correspond to the height of the child: if the child leans forward too much for support, this can harm posture.

How to help when the child has gone and is taking his first steps?

No matter how trite it may sound, but the main help of parents lies in their presence and attention! The child is most comfortable at a time when people close to him are at the same visual level with him, i.e. On the floor. nine0003

When a child takes his first steps, moving from object to object, hold him by the body - so the baby will feel that mom or dad is nearby, which means that he is protected.

Initiate walking by drawing attention to a bright or interesting object: call the child to you and show, for example, a toy - let the baby first walk a few steps along the support, and then you can position the toy so that he has to break away from the support and take a couple of steps in side. Hold it at this time so that the child does not fall and is not frightened. This is how we teach a child to walk independently - supporting, motivating to master a new skill, but nothing more. nine0003

By the way, regarding how to hold a child who is learning to walk. The usual way for many to help the baby move by outstretched and raised arms is not considered correct: firstly, the child gets used to walking, deviating the axis of the spine forward, and, secondly, this is fraught with injuries to the shoulder joint if the baby falls forward.

When a child takes the first step, does he need shoes?

When a child learns to control his body, an important step in this process is the ability to find balance and coordinate the work of muscles at this moment. Being barefoot, the baby feels his body better and quickly builds connections in his brain: what and how to do to move around. When the legs are in shoes, it is much more difficult for a child to master walking, because he simply stops feeling the leg muscles to the extent that he needs it. Therefore, do not wear sandals or boots at home until the baby learns to walk confidently. And practice walking without shoes as much as possible in the summer on the street: this is the best prevention of various orthopedic foot problems in children. nine0003

How to ensure safety during the first steps of the child?

A child will take his first steps faster if nothing limits him around: interest is the main engine of any achievements in childhood! But in order for the baby to “explore the world” safely and without health risks, it is necessary to pay attention to some items.

• Sockets. Perhaps the most interesting place for the baby. Even at the stage of crawling, it is worth making sure that they are inaccessible to the child. There is a huge variety of plugs for sockets of any colors and configurations on the market. When the baby gets older, try to explain that it is dangerous to play with them. nine0003

• Corners. For a baby taking its first steps, still quite clumsy, corners are really dangerous. Therefore, in stores you can buy special overlays or glue them with improvised means (for example, synthetic winterizer or a layer of cotton wool and fabric).

• Anything that hangs down from the surface of the furniture or rests on the edge, such as tablecloths, placemats, decorative items. The child's attention will certainly be drawn to these objects. Try to give up for a while what the child can pull off and overturn on himself for the sake of your own peace of mind. nine0003

• Indoor plants. If possible, move the pots to a higher surface. In addition to the fact that a child can knock over a pot on himself, he can taste the leaves.

• Cabinet contents. There are no better "toys" than pots, pans, cereals, etc., while mother and child are in the kitchen! Undoubtedly, the child is driven by interest, and this is wonderful. If you are against such "revisions", use special protective locks (take care of this at the stage of mastering the crawl). If the fact that the baby will pull out their contents from the boxes does not scare you, be puzzled that items that can be dangerous to the health of the child are not freely available: put away all household chemicals and medicines, small items that can choke baby, cast iron and any heavy or fragile dishes, piercing and cutting objects, etc. nine0003

• Ovens. Be sure to be near the child when the oven or stove is working in the kitchen: it is not at all difficult for the child to open the door or turn the temperature switches.

• Obstacles in the form of steps and thresholds: be there when the baby learns to overcome them, help, support and encourage the initiative!

The first steps are always exciting for both the child and the parents. And, of course, the first successes will be accompanied by falls. Do not be afraid of this and do not think about how to teach a child to walk without failure. Agree, getting up after a fall is one of the most important skills not only while learning to walk, but in general in life! nine0003

Sources:

1. https://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/acta_paediatrica2006_suppl450pp86_95_eng.pdf?ua=1

2. https://www.babycenter.com/baby/baby-development/baby-milestone-walking_6507

3. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Movement-8-to-12-Months.aspx

At what age does a baby learn to walk

Reviewer Kovtun Tatyana Anatolievna nine0003

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September 15, 2021

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The clatter of little feet running around the house is probably the best sound for moms and dads. Do you know when you took your first steps? Ask your parents - an excellent argument will appear in disputes with friends or a soulmate: “but I started walking before you!”

You'd be surprised how different we are. After all, someone firmly stood on his own two as early as eight months, and someone relaxed to the victorious, and then, as he gave a tear at a year and a half. nine0003

While you are waiting for your little one's big steps, let's look at the main questions of this topic: what time do babies start walking, how to prepare them, and how to consolidate skills.

When will we finally go?

Nobody knows the exact answer to this question. The age range that pediatricians call is from 8 to 14 months, everything is very individual. It is absolutely impossible to predict this event, so do not worry if the process is delayed - the baby will go when he is ready for it. At the same time, of course, you need regular monitoring by your pediatrician, who will closely monitor the physical and motor development of the baby. nine0003

How does the baby prepare for the first steps and can he be helped?

The psychomotor development of the baby begins from birth. At first, the child's movements are disordered and chaotic. Gradually, the motor sphere is being improved.

By 3 months, the baby holds his head well. By 4-5 months - learns to turn from back to stomach and vice versa.

By 6 months, the baby begins to sit, at this moment the muscles are actively strengthened, which will help him keep his balance in space. You can help the child in his "training" - smoothly roll his favorite ball from side to side so that he reaches for it. This exercise trains the vestibular apparatus and improves coordination. nine0003

At 6-8 months, the child begins to crawl, more muscles of the arms and legs are connected to the muscles of the back and neck. Play with the baby: let him crawl across the room to you, where you will be waiting for him with a toy, and then praise him for his efforts.

After some time, periodic standing on legs with the help of a support is added to crawling - this usually happens at the age of 8-9 months. You can pull the baby by the handles so that he understands that there is a reverse process to when he sits down. nine0003

When these stages are behind you, at about 10 months old, help your baby stay on his feet. Let the baby grab the stroller on a walk or at home and slowly roll it in front of him. Of course, with your support.

Should I buy a walker?

The decision to buy a walker should be made by you or by consulting with the pediatrician who is watching your baby. Now many doctors recommend abandoning them altogether - there is a risk that the baby will not want to learn to walk on his own and this will delay the onset of his first steps. But despite this, walkers have their advantages. All the pros and cons we have collected in this article. nine0003

How should I react when my baby falls?

In the process of learning, the baby will often fall, stumble - this is completely normal. It is only necessary to ensure the safety of the baby, so that there are no dangerous objects in his environment, about which he can be seriously injured. Therefore, it is necessary to react to falls calmly and gently say to the child: “Did you fall? Come on get up. Dust your hands like this." If the baby is thinking of whining, then just quickly distract him with another topic: “Where did our yellow giraffe hide? Let's find him and drive a car? nine0003

When the baby begins to walk, then do not hold it constantly. The baby must learn to rise on his own, hold on to the support, flop on the ass, and rise again. Just be there and be ready to insure him.

When should I buy shoes?

As soon as the baby began to get up and take his first steps, go to the children's shoe department for his first shoes. Of course, you can buy a pair in advance, but then you run the risk of not guessing with the size: what if the baby decides to go earlier and then these red sandals will still be too big for him.

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