How your baby learns to walk

One small step…

While some babies start walking as early as 8 months, the average age for those wobbly first steps is 13-15 months and it’s the milestone every parent awaits with bated breath.

You can help encourage your baby to get up on his hind legs by making sure he spends as little time as possible sitting down. Let him pull himself up on anything and everything – if you can, re-arrange your furniture so that he has a straightforward course for cruising around the room. Push-along toys are great, especially if they incorporate a little cart so your baby can practice stooping to pick up toys and chuck them in – some come with blocks too.

Once those initial first steps take place, it may be a week or so before your baby attempts this new mode of transport again. After six weeks or so, once he’s confident, you’ll see him becoming more proficient before your very eyes as he steadies, learns to balance himself and bends his legs at the knee. It won’t be long before he’s racing away from you at every opportunity!

Ages given are a rough guide only. All babies develop at their own unique pace. If you have any concerns about your baby’s progress, talk to your pediatrician.

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