One of your child's most exciting milestones is when he starts to walk. Your baby works toward this important day starting at 4 months old, when his muscles and coordination levels allow him to start rolling over, sitting up, crawling and eventually pulling himself up with the help of furniture or your leg. You can play an integral part in your child’s development and ability to take those first few steps; build his confidence and he’ll be running across the room in no time.
Step 1
Encourage your child to crawl across the room once she begins crawling regularly -- typically at around 7 months. Praise her when she gets to the other side, or wherever she happens to land, with a smile, hug and kisses.
Step 2
Show your son how to bend his knees after he pulls himself up on furniture or your leg. Being able to bend his knees will make falling back to the floor easier -- and he won’t be as afraid to try balancing.
Step 3
Hold your child’s hands after she pulls herself up. This helps steady her and can encourage her to try to take a few steps. Practicing walking this way will also build muscle and strength in her legs, which will help her to eventually walk on her own.
Step 4
Encourage your child to let go of the furniture, wall, your leg, the dog or whatever he is using to hold himself up. Once he is able to stand on his own and balance without holding onto anything, he will be on her way to taking steps by himself. Make sure his environment is safe and soft to avoid painful falls.
Step 5
Applaud your child's efforts as she takes those first few steps by herself. Clapping, smiling and hugging and kissing when she is finished will reiterate that walking is a positive thing to do.
Step 6
Allow your child to walk as much as he wants. The more he walks, the stronger he'll become. He'll also enjoy his new independence.
Tips and Warnings
- Let your child walk barefoot until she walks outside; walking barefoot helps build muscle and flexibility in her feet and legs.
