How long until baby walks

On your mark, get set: Go, baby, go! From cruising to toddling to walking, your baby's first steps kick off one fun ride. Back to Top. In This Article. Continue Reading Below. Read This Next. Toddler Speech Milestones. Best Walking Toys. View Sources. Crawling, Cruising, and Walking , March First Year. First Year Groups. Go to Your Baby's Age. Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners. Your Baby's Vision Development. Follow us on. Show him how to bend his knees so he can sit down without toppling over, and let him give it a try himself.

You can encourage your baby to walk by standing or kneeling in front of him and holding out your hands. Or you might hold both his hands and let him walk toward you.

He'll probably also enjoy a toddle truck or push toy that he can hold on to as he walks. Look for toddle toys that are stable and have a wide base of support. Always make sure your baby has a soft, safe environment in which to hone his new skills. Follow standard childproofing guidelines, and never leave your baby unattended. Because they make it so easy for your child to get around, walkers can prevent a baby's upper leg muscles from developing correctly.

And because they make it possible for a baby to reach hot items or poisons that a child wouldn't normally be able to get to, they're less safe. Hold off on introducing baby shoes until your baby is walking around outside or on rough or cold surfaces regularly.

Going barefoot helps improve balance and coordination. Don't fret if your child is simply taking her time. But if your child doesn't stand with support at 12 months, can't walk at 18 months, or isn't able to walk steadily at the age of 2 years, bring it up with her doctor. Keep in mind that babies have different timetables, and premature babies may reach this and other milestones later than their peers. If your baby was premature, you should date her milestones from your due date, which pediatricians refer to as your baby's adjusted age.

After those first magical steps toward independence, your child will begin to master the finer points of mobility:. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world.

When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals.

We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Babywalkers: A dangerous choice. American Academy of Pediatrics. Movement 8 to 12 months. Milestone moments. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Learning to walk involves much more than footwork!

We've also given typical ages, but keep in mind that this is just a rough guideline. Some kids walk as early as 9 months, others as late as 17 months. There's a wide range of normal ages for kids to start walking. If you're concerned about your child's progress, check with his doctor. Has step reflex. If held in a standing position on a hard surface, your newborn will move his legs as if he's walking. The reflex disappears around 2 months of age. Does mini-pushups. That means lying tummy-down and raising her head and chest off the ground, using her arms for support.

Mini-pushups build upper body muscles crucial for walking. Bounces up and down when held in a standing position. This movement helps build leg strength.

Starts to "tripod" by leaning forward on his arms for support while seated. Quick tip: Childproof your home before your baby becomes mobile — which is right around the corner. Learns to sit. Sitting without support requires neck strength, head control , balance, and coordination — all important skills for walking. Most babies also learn to crawl between the ages of 7 and 12 months, although some skip it altogether and move straight to walking.

Red flag: If your child doesn't bear some weight on her legs when you hold her up by 7 months, or can't sit unsupported by 9 months, check in with her doctor. Pulls up to a standing position with the aid of a sturdy object, such as a sofa or table leg. Figures out how to do deep knee bends in order to sit after standing. Soon your baby will be cruising — taking sliding steps while holding on to whatever's nearby for support.

Can stand unsupported — for a few seconds — and may be able to walk while holding hands. Your baby may take his first steps! Your child probably is walking, though awkwardly. Those outstretched arms of her "Frankenstein" walk actually help keep her balanced. Soon your toddler will learn to stoop and stand up again. As she gets moving, she may enjoy push-and-pull toys.