Learning to Walk

Baby's First Steps: Milestones and Safety Tips for Parents

A baby's first few years are marked by many milestones, but one you'll probably always remember is when they took their first wobbly steps. Walking is a major developmental leap for babies, and parents are often anxious about when it will happen. Every baby learns to walk at their own pace; just because your friend's child is already toddling doesn't mean yours should be, too! Read on to find out what signals indicate your child is ready to walk, how you can help, and more.

When Will My Baby Walk?

Most babies take their first steps around their first birthday, but the age range varies from 9 to 18 months. Don't worry if your baby takes a few detours along the way. Some kids never crawl—they go straight from standing to walking—and that's perfectly normal. What's important at this stage is that your child is using their arms and legs together to become mobile. If your child is doing any of the following, walking is not far behind:

- Rolling around

- Crab walking

- Scooting

- Climbing stairs using their hands

Look at your child's progress. Are they doing more this month than last? Are they getting a little more of their body off the ground? If so, you've got nothing to worry about. If by the end of their first year they don't make any effort to get around somehow, talk to your doctor.

How to Encourage Walking

It takes most babies about 1,000 hours of practice from the time they pull themselves upright to the time they can walk alone. To help prepare your child for taking those first few steps:

-From Birth: The single most important requirement for walking is strong back muscles, which babies develop by lifting their heads while lying on their tummies. Make sure yours gets plenty of tummy time while awake. Place interesting toys and objects just out of reach for motivation.

-Once They Can Sit: Help them practice balance and mobility by rolling a ball back and forth or holding a toy in front of them and moving it from side to side. This encourages leaning and helps develop strength in their neck, back, legs, and arms, enabling them to pull themselves up to a standing position safely.

-Once They Can Stand: Let your child walk in front of you while you hold their hands. Periodically let go of one hand so they can experiment with balance. Stand a few feet away and cheer them on when they're standing on their own. Offer lots of encouragement and praise.

-Once They Can Cruise: After mastering standing, they may start to leave their handprints all over the house as they cruise from the wall to a chair to the coffee table. Help them by arranging sturdy furniture so they can make their way across the room.

Safety Precautions

Your newly mobile baby can get around faster than you think! Step up your childproofing:

- Remove low tables with sharp corners that are hard to cover well enough to prevent injury.

- Put away furniture that topples easily.

- Scour your home for trailing cords or other items your child might trip on. Put away throw rugs and have siblings pick up their toys.

- Install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, and supervise your baby whenever they're on the stairs.

- Lock up all potentially harmful household substances.

 Should I Buy a Walker?

The short answer: No! Canada has banned the sale of walkers, and the American Academy of Pediatrics supports a similar ban in the United States. Each year, thousands of children end up in the hospital due to injuries from using walkers. Your baby's much better off on the floor or in a playpen.

Baby's First Shoes

When indoors, it's best to let your child walk around barefoot. This helps them grip slippery surfaces better. Outdoors, they'll need a pair of shoes. For a perfect fit:

- Don’t shop for shoes first thing in the morning, since feet grow about 5 percent by the end of the day.

- Your child should be standing when you check for fit. You should be able to press the full width of your thumb between the tip of the shoe and the end of their toe.

- Let them toddle around the store in the shoes for five minutes, then take them off and look for any irritated spots.

The Meadows Preschool: Supporting Early Development

At The Meadows Preschool, we understand the importance of these early milestones and provide a nurturing environment that promotes both physical and emotional development. Our curriculum incorporates activities that encourage movement and gross motor skills while ensuring safety. We offer guidance to parents on how to support their child's walking journey at home and foster a community focused on early childhood development.

As excited as you are about your baby taking their first steps, try to be patient. Every child has their own timeframe for reaching this milestone. The best help you can offer is encouragement, safety measures, and patience. Soon enough, the pitter-patter of little feet will be all over your house!