Pitter-patter of tiny feet is what all new mommies long to hear when their baby is nearing his first birthday. It’s a milestone that mommies want to achieve as soon as possible. If you are a new mommy or even a mommy of a dozen kids, I am sure you are anxiously waiting for your infant to stand up tall and start walking, and you have asked a lot of people, how early can babies walk?
Although walking toddlers are another nightmare added to your daily mishaps, we can’t wait for it to happen. We are sure that you have had read a lot of material and guidance on when do babies start walking, and we are also very sure that you have done all you can to ensure that they are healthy and ready to walk. Can a baby walk at 4 months is the repeated question we have ever come across? You tend to hear it everywhere, on the call with granny, or while talking to a friend who already has walking toddlers, or even in the office where you are buddies with the other mommies. You are just anxious to get the answer to what are the signs a baby is ready to walk. Well, let’s not make you wait any longer; let’s take the bull by the horn and find the right answer to of walking early is a sign of intelligence.
However, as a new mother, you need to understand that walking for babies isn’t an easy feat. According to many pediatricians, it’s a very complicated action that needs a lot of strength and balance. Your baby’s leg muscles will need to gain strength. But that’s not all, the ankles, hips, as well as the core, needs to get strong as well. Apart from that, they will also need a mature sense of balance, and then only they can stand up and start walking. So, it may look easy to you, but it’s pretty complicated for the babies. This is the reason why some babies walk quicker than others.
So, now we are back to our initial question, when do babies start walking on average? There are exceptionally quick babies, who start walking at 6 months, and then there are those who don’t take a step before 18 months, but the average timeline is around 9 months. We know you are too anxious to really listen to these timelines and average of baby walking, but we have something better to engage you.
Here are signs as well as strategies to help and encourage your baby to walk earlier than he plans to. Without an ultimate guide, you won’t need to ask anyone about when babies start walking independently.
Signs And Indication Of How Early Can Babies Walk?
We are sure that all parents, new or old, know that walking doesn’t happen overnight, the baby gradually progresses to it. You may not know this, but the preparation to walk starts earlier than they actually take their first step. It starts as soon as you encourage tummy time. Tummy time is when the baby strengthens and develops head and neck control. It’s also the time when the baby starts to roll over and sit up. Around 7 months, your baby will sit and start to crawl. From there, they stat standing up with support and walk with support as well. It’s around 9 to 12 months that they stand independently without the support and take their first tentative steps.
Once they start to gain confidence, they will start to walk without wobbling, and soon they will become the nightmare you are dreading.
Don’t worry if your baby is taking more time to gain confidence, don’t panic if your baby is cruising more than walking, all this is very normal when the baby first starts to walk. It won’t be long before your bundle of joy starts to explore every nook and cranny of the house. Every kid is unique; they all have their own learning pace, so don’t be alarmed if your baby is a bit late learning to crawl and walk.
When your baby starts to stand, take tentative steps, and seek the support of the coffee table or couch, know that it won’t be long before he or she would start walking with confidence. Once you see this behavior, make sure all the furniture around the baby is sturdy enough to take his weight, so he doesn’t topple over and hurt himself. Accidents make babies hesitant to walk and delay their progress as well.
However, this is all about the average baby; you might not be the same. Comparing your baby to someone else will only make you frustrated. Some babies crawl for weeks before they start walking, while others crawl for months before taking their first steps. Did you know that there have been many kids who didn’t crawl at all and went straight to walking?
Apart from strength and balance, a baby’s personality also matters when they start walking. A shy and easily spooked baby will take longer than a bold baby to take his first steps. A bright baby will not take much time to test the waters and master the skill of walking earlier than a meek baby.
When Do Babies Start Walking and How Can You Help Them?
Baby walking is one of the many activities that need the mother’s support as much as it needs the baby’s effort, but that’s all. Despite the fact that the market is full to brim with toys that may help the babies to walk, as a walker, you don’t need to buy any special equipment to help your baby walk. It begins when your baby starts to roll and sit up, and from there, he gradually moves to acquire more skills like standing up and walking.
However, we still have a few tricks and tips to tell you that may help you encourage your baby to walk.
- The first tip is both hard to do and relief. At 9 months or older, the baby is now a bit heavy to carry, but you have cuddled him for months, so he is used to that, this is the first thing that you need to stop to encourage walking. The more time you spend carrying him from one point to another, the less he will be prone to walk. Motivation comes from need, and if he doesn’t feel the need to move on his own, he might not do it till late. Give your baby the chance to learn the skill, with a few tentative steps he will develop his technique and master it in no time. But first, he needs to know that the carrying things is done and won’t happen any time soon.
- Many new mothers have been trapped with the promises of a baby walker that helps their baby to take the first steps and master the art of walking. However, contrary to their supposed benefits, they actually slow down the process of walking. These walkers do not encourage the normal walking position, and they are unhealthy because your baby is learning to sit and walk simultaneously, his legs are bent while he is learning to walk, this will take a lot of time to undo when actually starts to walk the natural way.
- We know how much of lifesaver baby playpens are, but did you know that they discourage walking? Imagine yourself confined in a place with toys; you would just sit and play all day long; you will not have the motivation to move around and explore. This is the same that happens to the baby when they are confined in a closed space with their favorite toys.
- Push toys instead of walkers are beneficial when your baby is learning to walk. They encourage the upright position as well as give the baby confidence to walk without support.
- We know how cute babies look in those small and shiny shoes, but when the time comes to encourage walking, let your baby go barefoot. They need to get the feel of walking, master balance as well as develop muscles and bones strong to walk without tripping.
Is it bad for Babies to Walk Early? – Mastering the New Skill
When thinking about how can I strengthen my baby’s legs when walking? you need to understand that once the baby starts to stand on his own, he or she won’t take much longer to walk, and soon your baby will master the skill of walking. However, this period is crucial; you need to understand that to master a certain skill, your baby needs utmost support as well as encouragement from you. After the first few tentative steps, the running part is only 6 months away, count your happy days, mommies.
Late Learners
No two babies are alike; some learn fast; some don’t. You need to be patient around your baby and let him learn things at his own pace. Most late walkers are timid and meek, so their delayed walking is more because of their personality. Don’t be aggressive about milestones; just make sure your baby is healthy and gaining muscle strength; it won’t be long before they start to walk and there will be no need to ask can a 6-month-old walk?
