When do babies start walking?

If you’re wondering when babies start walking, there are several factors that need to be coordinated as they take their first steps. An infant’s development of muscles, sense of balance, and ability to develop sitting and standing skills all contribute to reaching the walking milestone.¹ Here you’ll learn when this can happen, signs your child is about to walk, how to support your baby’s first steps, and reasons for delayed walking in babies.

You may be wondering at what age babies take their first steps. Children start walking at different ages. While the average age is 12 months, your baby may take his first steps months earlier or later. Most babies learn to walk between the ages of 9 and 17 months. Once they learn to walk, it may take some time for them to maintain their balance consistently.⁴

To learn to walk, your baby builds on skills he or she has already learned. These include Roll over, while sitting, crawletc.² Some babies prefer to scoot or slide around rather than crawl.³ Once they learn how to do it pull themselves up When standing, they may hold onto furniture or your legs.^8th

After your baby has mastered this skill, he or she can begin sliding along furniture. As their balance improves, they can practice standing without holding onto anything.⁵ As your baby’s confidence increases, he may take his first unsteady steps. You may initially notice that their feet are far apart.² This posture is temporary while they work on improving their balance.⁴ They probably won’t get very far with their first attempts at walking, but many toddlers go from taking their first steps to actually walking within a few days.⁵

These milestones are signs that your baby will soon be able to walk independently:^4.8

• Your Baby can pull himself up to a complete stand.
• They hold onto furniture while walking.
• You can stand without holding on to anything.

As soon as your Baby can stand independentlyYou can help them learn their first steps by holding their hands and walking with them.⁴ Being physically close to your child as they learn this new skill can help them feel safe as their confidence gradually grows. They can also practice independently by pushing an upside-down laundry basket or sturdy and supportive push toys around the house.⁴ To encourage your baby’s first steps, you can try standing at a distance and motivating him to move towards you by showing him a fun toy.⁵

Creating a safe environment for your child while learning to walk is key to preventing accidents. But falls are unfortunately inevitable.^8th If your child falls, give him a quick, comforting hug and encourage him to try again. They will pay attention to your reaction to their accident. By remaining calm, you can provide your child with strong reassurance.²

While your baby is learning to walk indoors, shoes are not necessary. Barefoot or socks with grips can support normal foot and toe development. As soon as your child starts going outside, they should wear it Shoes to protect their feet.⁹

As your baby learns to walk, it may be tempting to compare him or her to others his or her age who are already walking. Remember that every child reaches developmental milestones at their own pace. However, if you are concerned that your child may have one Developmental delay, Talk to your doctor. They may benefit from a developmental assessment, especially if they are 18 months old and cannot walk independently, seem to have trouble walking on one side consistently, or are struggling more than usual with this milestone.⁵

Some reasons for late walking in babies are:^2.7

• Genetics: Some rare genetic syndromes can affect your baby’s ability to walk. Or if you or the other parent migrated late, it could be a trait they inherited.
• Cautious and content personality: Another reason babies reach the walking milestone late is that some children are not interested in taking the risks involved in walking. Maybe they would just prefer to take the time to learn this new skill.
• Adjusted age: If your baby was born prematurely, your pediatrician will use adjusted age to track the milestone reached. This means that their due date, not their actual birthday, will be used to track their progress. If you compare your baby to children of the same chronological age, he or she may lag behind. But remember, they are on a different timeline.
• Hypotension: Sometimes babies have low muscle tone, called hypotonia. Because walking requires large leg muscles, these children require more time and support when learning to walk.

Once your baby can walk independently, he or she will practice stopping, changing direction, squatting, etc Stand.³ Next comes running, although for some children this may not occur until 15 to 18 months.⁴ Your baby will continue to develop his new skills and will soon be able to climb onto and off a chair or sofa without assistance, kick a ball, and walk up a few stairs.⁶

Your baby’s first steps require effort, and mastering this new skill takes time. It can be difficult to watch your baby struggle with this endeavor. However, your comfort and encouragement will provide them with the support they need. When your baby is ready, they will build on the milestones they have already achieved and boldly take their first steps!