When do babies start crawling? When should they start walking? What should be the first shoes? And do they have to wear shoes, socks or better barefoot? It’s all a delicate but exciting process for both baby and parents. First the baby gradually crawls, then he learns to get up and finally he takes his first steps.
When does the baby start walking?
The baby usually starts to stand up at the age of 9-10 months. Gradually, he begins to step aside, holding on to objects or furniture. And after finding a balance, realizing that in order to take a step forward, he must also move his body forward, so he starts walking alone for a short time.
The average age of the first steps is 12 months, but again it can be very individual. In fact, there are many early walkers who exceptionally start walking even at the age of 9 months, while others wait a year and a half. In any case, it is perfectly normal for one or the other and there is no point in comparing babies.
How can you help her as she takes her first steps?
The best advice we can give you is to let your child do what he or she feels and should definitely not be forced to walk. For this reason, the parent must not put him or her on his or her feet and then try to leave him or her alone: the child must reach a standing position on his or her own, because this means that only then is he or she ready to stand and take his or her first steps.
When your baby falls, your parents shouldn’t be scared: certain falls aren’t harmful to him, and if he cries, it’s just because he saw your anxious look. The anxious attitude of parents can indeed create uncertainty and hinder further attempts. But remember that walking is now an important and tiring period, because you must not lose sight of it for a moment!
Walking aids
Also note that a walker may not be the best choice for your baby to learn to walk. It can even be harmful because it does not give the baby the time to learn and try, and it does not allow the muscles to train and balance.
But in addition to being useful, it doesn’t teach you to walk, and it’s the enemy of the right posture. In a baby walker, babies have a habit of walking on their toes and this delays the acquisition of a sense of balance, which results in frequent falls, even for a long time and even when he starts walking alone.
Fortunately, there are some helpers: strollers, which can be in the shape of a truck, a dog or a toy car, for example. They are all equipped with a handle on which the child can lean and move as desired.
In addition, you can help the little one take his first steps by simply offering him a finger that your baby can hold. On the other hand, it is wrong to hold him by the hand, as there is a risk of pulling him too much, causing the bones to dislodge. Moreover, always holding hands can make him insecure and slow down autonomous walking. An adult can become a point of reference from which the child does not want to leave later.
Why should babies go?
Do not forget that for a baby, walking alone is a psychological conquest of the world, as it is the first important form of separation from mother and father. Walking on its own is an expected achievement for babies.
It’s a great developmental signal that your child is confident trying new things, no matter how dangerous. And this is a sure sign that your little baby is about to become a toddler. Let your little explorer test your physical abilities in a safe environment and you’ll see how your baby walks soon.