By Madeleine Fitzpatrick

There is no greater sight than that of your baby walking for the first time. It makes your heart jump with joy as well as fear. Joy at seeing those first tentative steps unfold before your very eyes; fear that your baby may fall and hurt herself.

As parents, we expect our children to walk; yet often, when it happens, it takes us by surprise. You may suddenly notice your little one grabbing the object closest to hand and pulling himself to standing. That object could be a chair, table, curtain or even the pants you”re wearing! Once upright, your baby takes his first unsteady steps forward. At first, he may refuse to let go of whatever is supporting him; then, as his confidence grows, he”ll look for something else to grab onto, and move from object to object in a precursor to walking known as “cruising.”

Some babies learn to walk unaided as young as 10 months of age, while others are as old as 18 months. But whenever it is that a baby takes her first steps into the world, a parent’’s joy at watching this milestone unfold is hard to match.

Once your baby begins pulling himself up, be sure to give him plenty of chances to do so barefoot, as this will help him develop balance and coordination. Remember to babyproof the area, checking for any sharp corners. When your baby falls, and especially if he cries, be as calm and lighthearted as possible - his reaction is built to a large degree on yours.

For parents keen on seeing their baby walking sooner rather than later, some gentle leg exercises or massages can help. Once your baby’’s legs are strong enough to support her own weight, try pulling her up to standing on a regular basis. Keep a firm grip of her hands one she is standing, and she will naturally venture forwards. Once her balance improves, hold just one of her hands.

While you may be anxious to see your baby walking unaided, you should also bear in mind the normal range at which this could occur. If your baby is 14, 15 or 16 months old and still needs support when walking, be patient. (If your baby is over 18 months and still needs support, then consider consulting your pediatrician.)

Also, while teaching your child to walk may be your first priority, some child experts believe that crawling is actually the more important developmental milestone. According to Glenn Doman, author of How To Teach Your Child To Be Physically Superb, a child’’s vision and even speech are partly determined by the amount of time he spends crawling as a baby. In other words, there is no need to rush your child to the next stage of mobility.

Once your baby does become a toddler, Doman recommends having her practice walking on smooth surfaces initially. As her balance and coordination improve, it’’s time to get your baby walking on progressively rough and inclined surfaces.

Most importantly, be sure to revel in the experience of seeing your baby walking for the first time. The months that pass between a baby crawling, cruising, walking and running are so very short - especially in retrospect. Savor every moment that your baby spends at each stage.

About The Author

M.F. Patrick is a writer for BrillBaby.
To learn more about your baby walking, please visit BrillBaby.