When Do Babies Start Walking?

Babies are like little sponges. They soak up everything around them.

All the new sights and sounds, tastes and textures. Gaining mobility is no exception.

From crawling to walking, the world can be a difficult place to navigate. A parent’s love and encouragement for their child is unconditional.

They’ll be fully grown before you know it. Enjoy the moments while your child is young. No matter how exhausted you are.

As your new bundle of joy grows, we look at the walking phase in anticipated excitement.

Let’s look at when babies start crawling, when babies start standing, when babies start walking, if baby walkers are useful and what to look out for.

When Do Babies Start Crawling?

Before your baby will begin to crawl, they’ll first learn how to sit up and roll over.

Having your baby lay on their stomach is an important starter activity. Because newborns begin to build their back muscles this way.

New parents call when babies spend time laying on their stomach, tummy time.

A typical 'tummy time' session can be up to 30 minutes or until baby starts getting fussy. Try to find time to squeeze in a tummy time session routinely.

Get help from a grandparent or family member if they offer too. Accept all the help you can get.

Teach them the 20-30 minute tummy time session. It builds their tiny back muscles and gets them ready for the walking phase.

A nursing pillow is a great tool for parents. You can also get a quality pillow for tummy time.

Parents often help their baby crawl, stand and walk with nurturing words and loving encouragement. Once they get crawling, they’ll start to cruise around everywhere.

So keep an eye on those little speed demons. Some babies skip crawling all-together and go straight to walking.

What if My Baby Doesn’t Start Crawling? 

When should you start to worry if your baby doesn’t start crawling? No need to start worrying about this.

At least not within the first 11 months of birth.

Every child grows differently and at their own pace. Give them time to adjust on their own.

Observe how they progress. As long as they’re making an attempt to get around.

If 12 months have passed however, and no attempts to start walking have been made, consult your local pediatrician.

When Babies Start Crawling Tip

Help parents get their baby to crawl by placing a desired toy or item just out of reach in front of them.

This will motivate them to act upon the action by moving the arms and legs in coordination towards the toy or item.

Mommy’s smile and encouragement after they accomplish the goal will motivate them for next time.

When Do Babies Start Standing?

A baby will start standing and start trying to pick themselves up onto their feet at around 8 months old. One of the surefire signs baby will walk soon.

Babies start standing with support after 8 months.

Using nearby furniture or with help from mom and dad. They may get innovative and try to use the leg of a parent or the family dog.

Anything to get them bipedal to explore their new world more.

Your baby is looking for the right mix of self-control, balance and encouragement.

Usually at the 9 month old mark is when infants start standing up. But keep in mind it may be sooner.

RELATED:  Baby Foot Development

When Babies Start Standing Without Support

When babies start standing without support it’s exciting to see! It's a quick progression for them to get into a full stand without the need to grab onto something.

Once they’re motivated. Their first steps are close behind. Next thing you know, they’re sprinting across the room.   

Most are pretty quick to crawl toward a piece of furniture (or mom or dad) and sit themselves up.

And use their arms and legs to pull themselves onto their feet and upright. They create their own strength training routine pretty quickly!

Keep a camera close by to collect happy future memories. Before you know it, they are steps away from their first day of school.

RELATED: Is It Bad For A Baby To Walk Early?

When Do Babies Start Walking With Support?

Try this precursor exercise to walking without support.

Grab their little hands and gently pulling your baby up onto their feet (hold for 5-10 seconds) and let them back down into the sitting position again.

This can engage and develop the core muscles. And develop foot placement. The core muscles are necessary to lead into a standing position without using support.

Foot placement is good for weight distribution.

You can repeat as many times as necessary or as long as your baby tolerates. This will lead into the development of your baby’s normal gait pattern (the manner of walking).

Bow legged and arms out for balance is a typical baby gait.  

When Do Babies Start Walking Without Support?

At what month do babies start walking without support? If you’ve ever wondered, you’re not alone.

Actually, newborns start walking as early as 9 months. It’s possible sooner.

“Most babies will learn how to start walking in the age range anywhere between 9 to 14 months,”

says Dr. Marleigh Moscatel, M.D. (Board Certified Pediatrician and mother of 2).  

The goal is to build as much muscle as possible to jumpstart the walking phase. When leg muscles are compromised it can affect balance.

Look Out For This When Using Baby Walker

If you use a baby walker for long periods of time, it could be a reason for late walking in babies. The leg muscles should not be burdened in a harness when learning to walk.

Heidi Murkoff (author of What to Expect When Your Expecting) says,

“It is widely inadvisable to offer your baby a baby walker to try to help them learn.”

If you do use one, don’t keep them in one for too long.

Heidi goes on to say,

“A baby is secure in a stationary activity center that bounces or spins won’t carry safety risks but can slow walking progression.”

If cooped up for too long or too often in a baby walker, they’ll end up taking longer to learn to walk. Be conscious of how long you keep them in one if you decide to use them.   

Help Babies Start Walking Tip

After graduating tummy time for infants, hold their hands up while letting them walk in front of you. Then take one hand away and let them walk in front of you holding only one hand.

Get them used to using less and less support.

If you want to offer them assistance, we recommend a 2-sided walker with wheels. Or find something with a handle bar to grab on to.

Something that acts as a stabilizer with wheels easily generates forward momentum to develop balance in motion. 

Good luck with your tummy time sessions and when your babies start walking without support.

Get the camera ready. First steps in the walking phase come fast.

Help babies start walking with a baby walker with wheels.