Most babies learn how to walk between the ages 10-18 months. They go from crawling to pulling up to cruising to get there. Keep in mind all babies are different, some have to learn how to walk, and some just start to walk unexpectedly on their own. Here are some tips to help:
Sitting
At an early stage, most babies start to support themselves while standing. They bend their knees and bounce up and down a bit. You can help the child by getting a bouncy chair. When babies start sitting on their own, it helps build their leg muscles. During playtime, roll a ball back and forth or play games to help enhance their muscles.
Cruise back and forth
Cruising is one of the basic steps that help a child gain mobility. Babies use the walls and furniture to move around. You can place your child’s favorite toy on one end of the bench. This serves as a motivation for them to walk forward. Cruising encourages babies to be confident, and over time, they will become stable with weight on one side.
Pushing and Pulling
As the babies become stronger, they tend to get curious. Get a push and pull toy that will attract them and can also teach them how to stand up, move and maintain balance. These toys help babies stand on their own without assistance and improves their confidence.
Walking with help
Help the baby as she attempts to walk. You can either stand behind her or hold her hands as she moves forward. Babies start pulling themselves up and throwing their feet to gain balance while holding your hands. They become more confident as they keep walking.
Walking barefoot
Babies shouldn’t use shoes while learning to walk. Being barefoot helps build muscles in the feet and ankles. When they feel the ground, it also adjusts their standing balance.