If your baby has crossed 6 months of age, the next obvious question in your mind would be: “When do babies start walking?”. One developmental milestone you should know about is your child’s walking timeline. Usually, babies attempt to walk when they are about 10 months old. Some babies may start to walk when they are about 15 to 18 months old. Watch out for their movements, and seek medical help if they show no signs of walking even beyond the 15-month timeline. This article talks about various stages associated with the timeline for babies to start walking. Read on to know more.
Your baby learns to walk as a result of these actions —
• By the time your baby is about 4 months old, he/she learns to roll on the bed or crib. He/she understands that it is possible to move from one place to another this way.
• When a baby is about 7 months old, he/she learns to crawl on the floor. A baby uses his/her arms and legs to move forward and backward easily to reach certain objects or to be near his/her favourite people.
• When a baby is about 9 months old, he/she grabs nearby things and tries to draw support from those things to stand up on his/her own. In the initial stages, you will notice your baby tightly holding onto the objects nearby. This is to get the required balance to stand steadily.
When your baby is able to stand on his/her own, he/she is ready to walk. Your baby needs your support to develop his/her walking routine. Encourage your baby to walk and come closer to you, and you can see him/her take a few steps forward. Give him/her your hand when your baby is just about to fall.
However, if your baby cannot stand on his/her own, don’t force him/her to do that. Some children may do this only when they are about a year old. Deal with your child patiently, and wait for his/her walking milestone.
While the child walking timeline differs for each kid, you can help your baby put his/her first foot forward without any discomfort using the following tips —
• Train your baby to stand on his/her own. More importantly, you should train your child to sit properly from his/her standing position. If you don’t do this, your baby will sit down abruptly, hurting himself/herself. This may stop your baby from trying to stand up on his/her own again.
• You should try to bend your knees and sit on the floor so that your baby can mimic your actions and avoid suddenly sitting down.
• Once your baby is comfortable sitting down after standing for a while, you can push his/her favourite toy forward so that he/she starts to walk and get to that toy.
In most cases, babies may start standing up and taking a few independent steps when they are 10 to 11 months of age. This timeline can be stretched to a maximum of 15 months. If your baby doesn’t walk even beyond this period, take him/her to a paediatrician immediately.
Babies born prematurely may take longer to walk than others. Don’t encourage the use of walkers in such cases, as they stop babies from using their legs properly for movement.
What can you expect in the different stages of walking a baby in your home? See below for more details.
Age | Stage of walking |
9 to 10 months | • Tries to stand by holding onto a sofa or a chair • Knee bending is possible, thereby helping him/her to sit after standing • Can stand with help and encouragement from parents • Shouldn’t be forced to walk too much at this stage |
11 months | • Independently standing but for a few seconds only • Squatting may be possible after standing • Standing may be possible immediately after squatting |
12 months | • Tries to walk with support by holding someone’s hand for a few steps • Walking barefoot should be encouraged at this stage to improve the baby’s balance |
12 to 14 months | • First independent steps may be noticed • Arms may be stretched too wide, and legs may be apart while walking |
14 to 15 months | • Walking slightly better • Baby enjoys walking along with push-pull toys • Learns to walk backwards as well |
16 months | • Can go up and down the stairs with parental supervision |
18 months | • Walking independently almost always • Some may even enjoy dancing! |
19 to 24 months | • Increased pace noticed while walking • Begins to run, jump, kick, etc. |
25 to 30 months | • Comfortable to use the stairs with the help of the hand railing • Needs help while coming down the stairs • Can run quickly • Starts enjoying climbing in the park on slides, monkey bars, etc. |
31 to 36 months | • Comfortable jumping is noticed • Left and right movement of feet noticed • Comfortable with going up and down the stairs, even while holding certain objects |
A baby goes through different stages of walking. Once you know what to expect in these stages, it becomes easy for you to manage your kid and give him/her the support the child needs. Be patient with your baby, as his/her walking timeline may be slightly longer than other babies, but take him/her to a doctor if the baby doesn’t show any signs of walking even after completing 15 months. Also, invest in a comprehensive health insurance policy to remain prepared for any medical exigency.
One of the important components of our overall wellness is also being financially secured. Healthcare emergencies can happen any time, but a good health insurance policy can protect you from such uncertain situations. To know more about Wellness and other health related tips, visit the wellness corner.
Source: acko.com, babycenter.in
Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Kindly contact your doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.
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Published on December 23, 2024