How To Encourage Your Baby To Walk

Welcome to the world of baby milestones!

As a parent, watching your little one grow and develop is one of the most exciting things you’ll experience. The stumbling, the babbling, and the giggles are enough to turn a difficult day into a wonderful one.

From that first cheeky grin to their adorable army crawls, every baby’s first few years are filled with milestone celebrations and heart-warming moments that will last a lifetime.

You may be feeling eager for your child to take their first steps into independence, but don’t be too eager, eventually, the only way you’ll be able to catch the little rascal is after they’ve fallen asleep.

Before your baby is ready to walk, there are several mini milestones they will naturally conquer.

Within the first year or so, development is focused on their motor skills and muscle strength, from a simple head lift to their tight hand grip (watch out for your hair!), your baby will develop all the necessary skills such as balance and coordination.

You will soon notice how active and curious your child is with their surroundings. With a little patience, a lot of encouragement, and some playful tricks up your sleeve, you will have your little one walking before you know it.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help your baby take their first steps:

Give them plenty of tummy time

This not only helps strengthen their core and neck muscles but also eases them into being on their belly more often, which is crucial for crawling and eventually walking. Plus, it’s a wonderful opportunity for some belly laughs and silly faces. We recommend having a look at some play mats.

Hold their hands and walk with them

This helps build confidence and gives them a sense of security as they take their first steps. And provide plenty of praise and encouragement along the way.

Create a safe and obstacle-free environment

Remove anything that could trip up your child and make sure they have plenty of space to explore. Clear away electrical cords, cover sharp corners and have plenty of soft surfaces for those inevitable tumbles.

Use toys as motivation

Let your baby play with toys that encourage standing and walking like baby walkers. Encourage exploration and place a toy just out of reach and watch them make their first moves. They will love the challenge, and you’ll love the results.

Dance with your baby

Put on some music and get your groove on. Dancing is a wonderful way to encourage your baby to move their legs and take those first steps. (Let loose, no one is judging your moves!) Read more on how music helps your child’s development.

Encouragement

Your child is always learning and exploring. Help encourage them on their journey of movement and sing along with musical toys, dance around the room with them and cheer them on as they make small advances from shuffling to first steps.

Your Baby Is Growing…

The following timeline talks you through several physical developmental milestones to be expected within the first year of your baby’s life.

From rolling to sitting, from scooting to walking, there will be no stopping your little acrobat.

Every baby is unique, and they grow at their own pace. Nevertheless, here are general development phases that babies will reach as they grow from 0 to 12 months old.

Hello, BIG world! (0-3 Months)

During these first few months, young babies will be learning by observing the world around them. They will be spending most of their time sleeping, eating, smiling, and discovering their senses and eventually limbs.

At this age, your baby’s motor skills are still limited. But they might surprise you with their strong grip, as they learn to grasp and feel their surroundings.

There are a variety of options for newborn gifts, from soft toys to sensory toys that are rich in textures, lights, and sounds. This is the perfect time to introduce a baby to gentle play.

From Babbling to Sitting (3-6 Months)

At this stage, your baby will begin to discover their arms and legs. They will start to sit up, roll over, and continue to take in their surroundings.

They will also develop their hand-eye coordination as they reach for bright coloured toys and new sounds. This is an exciting time to introduce them to new toys and activities, like teethers and rattles.

The Explorer Phase (6-9 Months)

As your baby continues to grow, they’ll become ever so curious of their surroundings.

They will be getting stronger by the day and will start to roll and sit up.

Watch out for furniture, as they will be determined to explore every nook and cranny of your home. Be sure to encourage them with toys like ball pits, tummy time rollers and musical toys. These toys are great from children 6 months and over.

Bye-Bye Baby, Hello Toddler (9-12 Months)

Get ready for some adorable wobbly steps, as your baby is on the journey of independence.

Your baby will begin crawling and shuffling on their bottom to eventually pull themselves up to stand and attempting those first steps.

From their first birthday, your child will be well on their way to becoming a little walker. With your encouragement and support, they’ll be taking more steps every day. And, before you know it, they’ll be running and jumping into a world of imagination.

Encourage them with toys such as baby walkers, building blocks, activity cubes and bath toys.

Toys are a wonderful way to encourage your baby’s development, but it’s important to choose toys that are appropriate for their age and abilities. From plush playmats for tummy time and toys that encourage standing to interactive toys to enhance motor skills and cognitive abilities, there are endless options to choose from.

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