Your Baby’s First Steps: What To Expect?
Your baby’s first steps are often the most-anticipated and inspiring milestone in her development. It’s an important indicator of healthy development and an exciting way for her to explore the world and exercise her independence.
With this newly discovered autonomy, a new set of challenges also reveals itself. Gearing up for your baby’s first step won’t be an easy feat, but preparing and equipping yourself ahead of time can help you and your baby as you healthily cope with this new and important stage.
As parents, these little steps will be forever be engraved in our hearts
-Intuitive Moms
So, as you mark the beginning of a new and exciting phase, your Intuitive Moms would like to congratulate you for making it this far. And as your baby uncovers the world around her, we’re here to provide some ways by which you can help and encourage your precious one as she takes her first magical steps.
For all babies, learning how to walk occurs in stages. As their muscles develop, they go through the following stages that’ll eventually lead to walking:
- At 6 months old, babies learn to sit independently.
- They’ll start crawling when they’re around 6 to 9 months old.
- Pulling up to stand (around 9 months old).
- Holding onto furniture and using it as support as they take a few steps (9-12 months)
Here are some indications your baby may be preparing to walk independently:
- Playing while standing
- Independently pulling themselves up to stand
- Standing without leaning or support
At What Age Do Babies Walk?
Every baby walks at their own pace. But most take their wobbly first steps sometime between the 9-12 months and are on the road to walking perfectly by the time they’re 14 or 15 months old.
There’s no need for you to worry if your child takes quite a little longer, though. During the first year, your baby is industriously developing muscle strength and coordination in every part of her body. As your baby gains strength and courage, she’ll learn to sit, rollover, and crawl before moving on to pulling up and standing at about 9 months.
From there, it’ll be a matter of gaining confidence and mastering balance. Then one day you’ll find your precious one standing against or sliding along the couch. A couple more days and she’ll be perfectly walking on her own. Then she’ll be off, leaving infancy behind. Your child’s first steps are indeed her first major move toward independence.
How Can You Create A Safe Environment For Your Baby’s First Steps?
As your baby masters a newfound skill, you may find yourself feeling a little nervous, especially with all the stumbles and falls she’ll encounter. It’s important to remember that when your little one experiences a small tumble, as challenging as it may seem, stay calm, give a reassuring hug, and let her get back to her first adventure.
Making sure that your home is baby-proofed for this new stage will also help you and your baby through this transition. Here are some helpful tips to consider when babyproofing your home:
- Secure your furniture and other heavy things inside the house. Use furniture straps to hold your television sets, dressers, dressers, and other heavy furniture anywhere your child might be, even for a minute.
- Secure all bookshelves, racks, and sideboards so that they won’t tumble over if your baby pulls on it or use it as she pulls herself up.
- Keep your baby’s areas of exploration free from sharp things such as furniture corners and trip hazards. Add corner guards and roll up your area rugs.
- Install a baby gate on entryways and stairs.
- Address overall items, such as faucets, electrical outlets, and detectors. Give critical attention to high-risk areas like the kitchen and bathroom.
I can only imagine where your tiny feet will go in their lifetime.
My only hope is that they never forget the way home.
– Candice G.
HOW TO HELP & ENCOURAGE YOUR BABY TO WALK FOR THE 1ST TIME
Walking begins when your baby gets comfortable on her feet.
For most kids, it comes naturally as they learn the strengths and limitations that their bodies hold. They use trial and error to figure out what they can and can’t do.
However, some babies may need a little coaching and support to get there. But, whether it be doubt, fear, skepticism, or lack of practice, you can help your child get there sooner with these tips that your fellow Intuitive Moms will share:
Check Out These Tips on How to Encourage Your Baby to Walk for the First Time
TAKEAWAY:
Your baby’s growing right before your eyes and it’s the most amazing wonder that you can experience.
With the everyday transformation and progress, you witness, you may feel like it’s happening so fast. But no matter how fast they grow and how old they get, you should never forget how great your part is in unraveling your little one’s potential.
As you watch your baby grow her wings, muster enough courage to stand, and be independent; know that no matter where in life her little feet might get her, she’ll always have your arms to go home to.
