You can hardly wait to see your little one take their first steps. It is a big and important milestone in your baby’s development. You have heard all about those precious moments from your relatives and friends. Have they told you about the signs that your baby will walk soon?
You have your camera in hand and are all set to capture those dear moments. Surely, watching your baby take its first steps is an exhilarating experience. But what are the indications that you should look out for to know that your baby will walk soon? This, and a lot more below.
In This Article
- At What Age Does A Baby Will Walk?
- A Few Signs That Baby Will Walk Soon
- How To Encourage Your Baby To Walk
- How To Help Your Baby To Walk Independently?
- When Should To Consider Seeing A Doctor?
- FAQ’s
At What Age Does A Baby Will Walk?
Typically, babies begin to walk anytime between 9 and 18 months of age. Walking is a major developmental milestone after crawling. However, since every baby is different, some may skip the crawling stage altogether after sitting upright and learning to walk directly, while some may take a while before gaining enough confidence to take those valuable first steps.
Strong upper body muscles that develop during the first 3-5 months, the leg strength that babies gain from ages 5 months to 7 months, and the neck strength, head control, balance, and coordination that builds up from 6 to 9 months, all work in tandem to help your little one step ahead and become an adept walker!
A Few Signs That Baby Will Walk Soon
Below are some specific and pointed indications that your baby will walk soon:
1. Crawling Over And Above Furniture
When your child has mastered crawling, and wish to learn and do a lot more than ‘just crawl’, they will become daredevils in their own right. They will climb over furniture and cross as many hurdles as possible – like baby doors and planks. In fact, you will find your baby trying to climb upstairs using their hands.
2. Pulling Up
One of the second most common signs of your baby wanting to walk will be when they start pulling themselves up. They wish to stand and will try to achieve this by pulling up on furniture, holding the railings of their playpen, or even tugging at your feet.
3. Standing Independently
Your baby may be ready to take its first steps if they learn to stand independently, without any support. However, it could take up to a good three months before they take their first steps after they learn to stand independently. When they learn to let go of support, they gain confidence. And the sooner they gain this confidence, the earlier they walk!
4. Transferring Weight Between legs
Once your baby learns to stand independently, they will begin to shift its weight from one foot to the other. This builds muscle strength and boosts their confidence in taking those much-awaited first steps.
5. Cruising
Now that they’ve learned how to transfer weight between their legs, they will soon want to cruise, which means they will begin to walk while holding onto a push-toy or some furniture. This is essential in their forward progression and a big boost to their poise.
How To Encourage Your Baby To Walk
There are some ways in which you can encourage your child to walk:
- Help them balance. You can sit down with your baby and help them to stand up. Then count from the time that they hold their standing position and maintain balance. Needless to say, this must be accompanied by several words of encouragement, claps, and praises!
- Place your baby down on the floor in the standing position, as opposed to the sitting position. This will give them the message that you appreciate standing and walking and balancing!
- Ask your baby to walk up to you. Stand some distance away from your baby and ask them to walk towards you. They may fall during their attempt, but your encouragement will help them cover that distance soon!
How To Help Your Baby Walk Independently
a. Celebrate Their First Steps
Make your baby’s first steps a big deal. Celebrate this milestone and shower ample praises on your little one. This will greatly develop their confidence to walk independently.
b. Allow Them To Fall As Long As It Is Safe
Let your baby know that it is okay to fall, in your presence, in a safe environment. Some stops and hurdles are completely alright. Make sure that your house is childproofed well in time and keep a keen eye over them as they walk, especially during an initial couple of weeks.
c. Encourage Them To Explore
Once your baby becomes a little comfortable with walking on flat and even surfaces, encourage them to walk on uneven surfaces, and walk a little uphill or downhill at times. This will help develop their sense of balance and make them independent walkers!
When Should To Consider Seeing A Doctor?
Report instances where your baby falls excessively, their legs seem stiff, and they stumble increasingly over one side to your pediatrician. Developmental delays point to different causes which are best treated as early as you can imagine.
As a parent, you shoulder a big responsibility of building your child’s self-confidence and helping them overcome their fears and apprehensions. Hugs, kisses, claps, words of praise and encouragement, and evading comparison of your baby with others can do wonders for your little precious walker!
FAQ’s
1. Are Early Walkers Smarter?
According to research, early walkers are not more advanced or intelligent. Indeed, by the time young children begin school, those who began walking later are just as coordinated and intelligent as those who began earlier.
2. Do Walkers Help Babies Walk?
NO, baby walkers and jumpers do not aid in the development of a baby’s walking. In fact, walkers and jumpers can obstruct or delay your baby’s achievement of these critical milestones.
3. How Long After Pulling Up To Stand Do Baby Will Walk?
About two to three months after they first learn to stand on their own, most infants begin walking alone.
