Walking, a new phase in your baby’s milestone introduces new independence for your baby. However, it can create a new set of challenges for parents.

Path to well being

For babies, learning to walk occurs in stages. As your baby’s muscles develop, the stages leading up to walking typically comprise:

  • Learning to sit independently
  • Crawling
  • Pulling up to stand
  • Holding onto furniture to take a few steps
  • Walking independently

Tips to make your baby’s walking experience smooth and happy

  • Ensure baby’s safety while walking by making it easy for baby to take his or her first steps in your home by moving furniture out of the way, if possible.
  • Try to give your baby plenty of space to walk.
  • Make sure that furniture won’t fall on your baby when they pull up to a standing position.
  • You can encourage your baby’s first steps by having a couple of plush toys to make it fun.
  • If you are buying shoes for your baby, prefer sturdy shoes that stay on your baby’s feet, which can give your baby additional support when walking. Furthermore, it protects the baby’s feet from cuts and injuries.
  • Encourage your baby and give them time to develop the muscle strength and balance. Remember, all babies will walk when they are ready (usually between 9-18 months).

If you do decide to use a baby walker:

  • Please limit the usage to 10 minutes a day
  • Ensure that baby is closely supervised at all times while using a walker
  • Make sure that the walker is low enough so that your baby can place both feet completely flat on the floor
  • If just their toes can touch the floor, avoid using it until your baby grows a bit more

References

  1. Baby’s first steps[Internet]. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/babys-first-steps/. Accessed on Feb 27, 2020.
  2. Myths & Truths About Baby Walkers[Internet]. Available at: https://www.shb.scot.nhs.uk/departments/physiotherapy/Myths_About_BabyWalkers.pdf. Accessed on Feb 27, 2020.