Walking is one of the biggest milestones in your baby’s journey toward independence. Once those little feet start moving, a whole new world opens and they will be ready to explore the rest of Savannah, GA! Just think “stand, step, and stroll!”
This guide will walk (pun intended!) you through a couple simple, but effective exercises to help your baby build the strength and confidence they need to take those first steps.
Advanced Standing Tips
Stand: Try standing at a vertical surface (fridge, wall, door, etc). With less arm support, your baby must “up the ante” – their legs do more of the work which strengthens their muscles and improves balance.
How To Start Practicing Walking with Your Baby
- Step: Lets get moving by starting with “cruising.” Once your baby can pull up into a standing position, cruising is a great next step. When standing at a surface (couch, wall, chairs), try placing a toy to the left and right slightly out of reach. We want our babies side stepping to grab the toy. Below is a progression from easier to harder techniques.
- Cruising at a surface with arms for help (sofa, bench, etc)
- Cruising at a vertical surface (wall, fridge, etc)
- Cruising while making a turn (L shape sofa, around a chair)
- Cruising to different parallel objects. Think sofa to ottoman, chair to chair, or even diaper box to diaper box. Start close and slowly increase the distance.
- Stroll: Lots of walking practice! A push toy is great for this stage because the walking mechanics are very similar to walking without a push toy.
Tip: Not all walkers are not created the same! Traditional baby walkers (the one babies sit inside) provide extra support that can change the leg alignment and limit the ability for the child to see their legs – making it harder to practice true walking skills. A sturdy push toy, on the other hand, lets your baby lead the way.
When should my baby start walking?
While baby milestones are a range, most babies will walk between 12-18 months. Try these out and let us know in the comments if it was the secret sauce to get your baby walking. Just remember: “stand, step, and stroll!”
If your baby isn’t showing signs of walking by 12 months, this is a good topic to bring up with your Pediatrician or a Pediatric Physical Therapist.
By incorporating these walking exercises, you’ll start building the strength they need for lifelong movement success! A great resource is the CDC milestone checker. Try this link if you are wondering what else a 1 year old might be doing.
Want more tips?
If you are concerned about your baby’s walking progress, our pediatric physical therapist can help! Contact Savannah Speech and Hearing Center for a physical therapy assessment.
Leave a Reply