Baby milestones: Walking

Learning to walk is one of the key milestones in your baby’s life, as well as an exciting time for eager parents watching their child take his first tentative steps.

It is also the start of seeing your baby turning into a toddler, gaining independence and becoming his own little person.

Before he can walk, your baby will probably have mastered how to sit, roll over, crawl and pull-up on furniture.

Most babies take their first steps between nine and thirteen months, but if your baby hasn’t walked by 17 months, don’t panic. All babies are different and when your little one walks depends on a variety of factors. Genetics play a part, so see if anyone remembers what age you and your partner were when you first walked.  Your baby’s weight and build can also be factored-in, as plump, docile babies will probably walk later than their slender friends.

If your baby was an early crawler and is proficient on all-fours, he may not take to walking as quickly as a baby who crawls occasionally or not at all. It also depends on your baby’s temperament; is he happy enough sitting and playing with his toys on his own, or is he eager to discover new cupboards and corners to hide in? If he is the latter, he may walk early in his eagerness to explore the world.

By eight months your baby will probably be able to pull himself up on furniture, and perhaps try a bit of cruising – walking while holding onto furniture. From here he will learn how to sit from standing, and how to bend down to reach for something he has dropped. Next he will probably try bending at the knees and will squat to peer at toys. Anywhere between 10 and12 months he may be able to stand solo, if wobbly, for a few seconds (probably while you and your partner crouch near by with a video camera and cushions).

From about 12 months onwards (although some babies start walking at nine months) your baby might start to take a few little steps on his own. Try not to pressure your child into walking before he is ready, as your eagerness and ‘walking practise twice a day’ attitude can make him slow down and walk later than he would have done if left to his own devices.

Baby walking tips
- Make sure your baby has a safe area to practise walking. No hard floors, or sharp edges (coffee tables, fire surrounds, bookcases which can topple are all dangerous for wobbly babies). An open space with baby-height furniture for him to cruise around is ideal. Read our feature on baby-proofing your home to ensure that your house is child-friendly.

- Leaving your baby in a playpen, cot or in his pushchair for a long time can stop him from exercising the important leg muscles used for walking and can prevent him from having to support his neck as he should be doing at this stage. It can also hinder exploration, as he has no space to get about.

- Buying your baby a toddle truck (or something they can push along) can be a helpful aid, but make sure you are nearby. Before he has fully mastered walking, he will probably have a few tumbles, which can knock his confidence if you do not reassure him.

- Encourage your baby by kneeling in front of him and holding his hands so he gets used to standing. You can then progress to holding his hands and walking behind him around the room – but make sure you let him take the steps rather than forcing him. He may also love walking with his feet on your feet – a game he will enjoy all through his childhood. Your baby’s world is low-down, so get down to his level and see what he is seeing.

- Babies walk best with bare feet as their toes help to grip the floor. Socks and shoes can be slippery, so keep shoes for outside only.

- Studies of baby-walkers have suggested that they can delay the onset of sitting, crawling and eventually walking. This is because babies don’t need to support their own weight when they use a walker, so do not build up the strength and co-ordination required for walking. Moreover, they cannot see their feet so they lose the visual feedback needed for learning to walk.

- Sit facing your partner on the floor and encourage your baby to walk, holding on to your hands at first, from one person to another. He will love to be surrounded by your encouragement and may take a few steps towards one of you.

- As long as babies have freedom (and safety) they will use their instincts to move around and eventually walk. Your job is to offer praise, encouragement and lots of kisses and cuddles when tumbles happen.

Remember all babies hit developmental milestones at different times. If your baby was premature he will probably hit milestones as if he was born on his due date. If your baby is fifteen months old and hasn’t walked yet but shows lots of interest, don’t worry and keep up the encouragement. If he has got to eighteen months and shows no interest in walking, it is probably best to consult a GP or health visitor.

Bear in mind that bouts of illness can hinder a baby’s development, even if they have mastered walking, and may send them back to crawling for a while. In no time they will be taking those first steps again so don’t worry.

Watch gurgle's video guide on Walking with your baby for more tips and advice. You can also share tips with other mums on how to encourage children to walk by visiting the Guide to Toddler area of the chat forum.