When do babies start walking?

At the average age of 12 months, according to Bayley Scales of Infant Development. These findings are also supported by a  2013 wiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) analysis.

These researchers found that babies begin to walk at 8.5 months and 20 months, or an average – of 12 months.

Although your baby starts walking on his schedule, in some cases, it’s not unusual to begin no later than 18 months and no earlier than seven months.

So what if your baby isn’t walking by 20 months? Should you be concerned? While there are medical conditions associated with late walking in babies, there are reasons you can address without going to the doctor. Below we list 8 reasons why babies walk late!

 

 

8 reasons for late walking in babies

1 Difference in developmental speed

Not all babies are built the same. Babies mature and grow at their own pace and no one else’s. Babies who walk earlier or later are not more or less intelligent than other children. They each mature at their own pace. Differences in the achievement of developmental milestones are to be expected. It is not uncommon for babies of 15, 16, or even 17 months of age to not yet be able to walk. In most cases, this is not a cause for concern. Your baby may just need a little more time.

2 Personality and experience

Your baby’s personality plays a significant role when he or she decides to start walking. Some babies don’t feel the need to get up and walk. Most babies with a relaxed or calm attitude tend to get up and walk later than their peers. On the other hand, babies with an overly cautious personality may be afraid to take the first step. These babies may also have tried – and failed – to walk before.

3 Lack of muscle development and support

Babies need regular leg exercise to give them the strength to walk on both feet. Sick babies will have a more challenging time learning to walk because they will spend less time on their legs. Babies who have not had enough space to crawl and stand are more likely to be late walkers. Babies with too much time in carriers will also have weaker leg muscles. Playtime and space are essential for babies to exercise their legs.

4 Too much support

Babies who are constantly moved around by their parents can become late walkers. These babies may not be motivated to learn to stand and walk because they know their moms and dads will do it for them.

Babies who have been supported too much by baby walkers may become late walkers. These babies have not yet developed their sense of balance because of the constant support. With time and effort, they can catch up to their peers.

5 Muscle and Skeletal Disorders

Babies can also be affected by muscle and bone problems. Hip flexibility and stability are common problems in late walkers. Other babies have weak ankle muscles that tire quickly.

Most parents worry that their babies will have bowed legs. The truth is that almost all babies have bowed legs. A baby’s leg bones normally straighten out by the time he or she is two years old. But sometimes, bowed legs are a sign of skeletal problems, such as rickets. Rickets is caused by a lack of calcium and vitamin D in the baby’s diet.

Some babies have hypotonia. This causes brain signals to be interrupted.

These scrambled signals cause problems with the baby’s muscular system and movements. Hypotonia is also usually a symptom of an underlying neurological condition.

6 Neurological disorders

Babies who have not learned to walk by 18 months are rare, but they exist. But babies who haven’t learned to walk or talk by 20 months should be seen by a doctor. When in doubt, check for signs of your child’s developmental growth. These signs include language, hand motor skills, rolling over, and crawling. They are an excellent way to tell if your baby has a neurological condition or if he or she is just a late bloomer.

Neurological problems such as Down syndrome or cerebral palsy cause problems with walking. These are diseases that affect the brain. People with these conditions have trouble controlling their bodies. In babies, they most often show up as an inability to walk. Neurological diseases are serious problems that need immediate attention from a doctor.

7 Genetic causes

Studies have shown a link between parents who were late walkers and their children. Parents who were late walkers themselves are more likely to have late walkers. This is because babies inherit the genes that cause late walking. These genes can remain dormant.

Muscular dystrophy is a possible genetic reason for your baby’s late walking. Congenital muscular dystrophy is an inherited disease.

Muscular dystrophy weakens the muscles of the body. In babies, this shows up as general weakness and an inability to stand and walk. Muscular dystrophy also makes it hard for babies to breathe.

8 Babies like to crawl

Some babies get too used to crawling. For these toddlers, there’s no real point in learning to walk if crawling does the trick. This is a normal developmental delay in babies and nothing to worry about. All these babies need is a little motivation.

If the reason for your baby’s walking delay is not genetic, there are many ways to help your baby start walking! Parents’ happy faces and clapping hands are the most motivating things for your baby to start walking. Here are 16 great tips to help your baby learn to walk.

 

 

Signs that your baby will be walking soon

Pulling Up

Babies don’t crawl for long because they see everyone else walking around them and want to do the same. Babies pull themselves up to a standing position every chance they get; this is preparation for the next phase.

Standing on their own

Once your baby learns to pull himself to stand, it’s the ultimate happiness for both baby and parent. By standing up, your baby is even more excited to reach his goal, and after this stage, the walking phase begins.

 

What do babies do before they walk?

A baby’s first walk doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s a gradual process that begins the day your baby learns to pull himself upright. The curiosity to explore the world begins the day your baby holds his head and starts to observe the world around him.

Turning the tables

There are many stages your baby goes through before he or she can walk on his or her own feet. Babies start moving between the ages of 8 and 12.

When your baby is on her stomach, she tries to arch her neck to look around. When your baby is on his back, he tries to grab his feet with his mouth or anything else he finds around him. His curiosity won’t allow him to stay on his back for long, and he will roll over to look at the attraction around him. This rolling over is most common during diaper changes.

Crawling

In their seventh or eighth month, babies mainly master a new technique for exploring the world: crawling. Your baby uses his hands and knees to crawl because his upper body muscles are stronger than his lower ones. At first, he pushes himself backward, but over time, he learns to propel his body forward to reach the target of his choice.

Scooting or sliding

There’s no hard and fast rule for growing up, as few babies ever crawl; instead, they master walking on their butts or sliding on their bellies. The most important thing for your baby at this age is discovering the world around him. He uses his arms, legs, and other parts of his body, to reach the target of his choice.

Sitting

At this age, your baby is learning to sit with support in a chair with a back and armrest. At first, she’ll topple over when you let her sit unsupported, but over time she’ll learn to protect herself with her arms when she tips over. As her core muscles strengthen, she will enjoy sitting and playing.

Once your babies are comfortable sitting up on their own, there’s a good chance your baby will be walking soon.

 

16 tips to help a baby learn to walk

Practice and lots of time in motion are the best ways to help your baby learn to walk. It encourages your baby to move around and take the first step. Let your baby move freely and see how her body adapts to the new movements. Here are some steps that can help your baby learn to walk.

#1 Don’t rush your baby to walk

A parent’s ultimate wish is that their baby learns to walk, but don’t push until your baby is ready for it. It’s not alarming if your one-year-old bay isn’t walking, as most babies start walking around 15 months and some even later. On the other hand, many babies start walking as early as 8 or 9 months.

It all depends on your baby’s physical structure and bone development. The later your baby starts walking, the more time he has to develop his bones properly. That’s why it’s normal for babies to learn to walk between 9 and 18 months, so don’t rush your baby into walking before he’s ready for this phase.

While teaching your baby to walk, don’t push him or her to walk. There are various signs that your baby is ready for this phase, but it takes a long time to simultaneously complete a coordinated brain and body activity. So try to meet your baby at his ability level while taking him to the next level of learning. In this phase, it is natural to spoil the baby with many toys. Remember that little ones are very sensitive at this stage, so try to stay away from plastic and choose eco-friendly wooden toys instead.

#2 Provide a safe place for babies to walk

Before you physically help the baby learn to walk, you need to set up a space for your baby to walk easily and safely. First, clear the floor and remove objects that may be a tripping hazard for your baby. For your baby’s safety, move fragile decorations to another location.

If you have trouble removing items from the entire house, close off delicate rooms to create a safe space free of hazards or tripping hazards. If you live in a house with stairs, don’t forget to put up a baby stair gate. This baby gate can give you the confidence to take the step without getting hurt.

#3 Strengthen your baby’s core muscles so he can walk

Your baby needs strong core muscles to stand and walk. So you need to help him develop the muscles in his lower body to support his weight on his little feet. The same tricks that get your baby to crawl can also get him to walk.

You can use a stool or chair for your baby to sit on and place enticing toys nearby but out of her immediate reach. Have your baby reach for the toys. This will help your baby move up and down by strengthening his lower body muscles and pulling to strengthen his upper body muscles. When sitting in a chair, focus on the leg muscles. This will help your baby control her body in sitting and standing, which will be crucial for walking later.

#4 Avoid shoes for walking.

You don’t need to invest in shoes for your baby to learn to walk. Let your baby experience the feeling of bare feet while walking. Studies show that most babies have flat feet when they first start walking because of underdeveloped bones, muscles, and ligaments.

The sole of your baby’s foot has an arch called the medial arch made of bones, ligaments, and muscles. Babies’ feet are naturally soft and fragile, so you don’t want to make them rigid by popping them into shoes. When your baby walks, these muscles and ligaments get stronger and help balance the body properly.

As your baby walks, she gets a lot of information through her feet, feeling the structure of different surfaces, plywood, carpet, grass, and more. The brain adjusts the body for balance, and the muscles develop accordingly. On the other hand, shoes can dull the brain’s messages when walking on different surfaces, which can cause some impairment in muscle development.

But make sure that while your baby is walking barefoot, there are no objects that can hurt his or her little feet. However, if your floor is rough or uneven, you must provide your baby with shoes with sufficiently hard soles to protect his fragile feet from injury. You can also use these shoes when you plan a long walk outside your house for the safety and comfort of your little feet.

#5 Support your baby’s trunk, not his hands

If you lead with your hands, your baby will tip forward and be unable to put his weight evenly on his legs and feet, which can cause his muscles and ligaments to develop in an unnatural posture. Babies should carry their weight on their heels and toes; this improves their natural posture and balance.

So leading your baby with your hands is not conducive to his natural posture and muscle development. Instead, you need to support their trunk to develop a strong movement pattern throughout their lower body. This also helps them learn the self-balance of their body on different surfaces. Supporting the baby’s trunk also improves their natural body posture for walking. Using a doll’s baby carriage for girls is often a suitable solution in this phase.

#6 Give your babies motivation to walk

If your baby can stand but is still afraid to take steps, she needs extra motivation to take steps. She needs lots of practice balancing her body and managing her movement with her body weight. You can help your baby with your favorite toys or stuffed animals in your hands while sitting a few steps in front of her.

This activity works well with crawling and walking and helps improve the gross motor skills needed for smooth walking. You can add more toys to the room as your baby’s mobility increases. Plus, you can change the position or rotate each toy daily to keep it fresh for your baby.

Your baby’s favorite toys are a great reason to keep him moving in the baby area, and it converts that challenging exercise into fun play for him.

#7 Let your baby move up and down

Moving up and down is also very beneficial to a baby’s lower body muscles and helps them balance multiple surfaces. The legs learn to transfer weight and balance to support the body by moving up and down.

You can define high and low targets by placing your babies’ favorite toys on different surfaces; an open shelf is a good choice for this task. The open shelf provides a clear view and easy access that motivates the baby to climb up and down. This practice improves lower body muscles and gross motor skills and helps your baby balance his or her body for different situations.

This squatting movement is essential for the first walk as it teaches your body to transfer weight to each leg while standing and moving while developing lower body muscles.

#8 Walking Along with Baby-Proof Furniture

Walking along furniture like the couch, bed, or writing table is the next step when your baby is pulling to stand upright easily enough. This helps your baby learn to transfer weight from one object to another while balancing his body. Over time, these cruising sessions get longer and strengthen the foot muscles so they can hold the bodyweight for a long time and increase endurance.

Cruising is a weight-bearing walk that activates and strengthens hip and thigh muscles. After long cruising sessions, your baby no longer relies on hands and gains the confidence to walk independently without support. Before cruising, ensure all items are sturdy and heavy enough as a baby pushes most of his weight on them.

#9 Start with a flat, firm surface.

Parents have compassion for their babies and are afraid to let their unbalanced babies walk on hardwood or tile floors, but this is the best place for them to learn to walk. Hard, sturdy surfaces provide better friction that helps your baby gain control.

As your baby settles down with a hard surface, allow him to test his skills on soft or uneven surfaces. Once he’s used to a hard floor, let him walk on different textured surfaces like rugs, beds, and couches. The grass is also suitable for sensory experience and helps maintain balance.

#10 Place your babies on their feet when you put them down

Many parents are used to putting their babies to sleep in a sitting position and think it’s easy for them. But you’re missing an opportunity to make them feel the weight on their feet. So put them on their feet when you put them down.

By putting your babies on their feet, you stimulate their minds by letting them know that they are supposed to stand up. This will stimulate their mind even if they sit down as soon as you put them down.

#11 Give your baby a plush toy

A push toy, mini shopping carts, and baby trolleys offer a better opportunity for babies to walk by holding the handle of the plush toy. Push toys offer independence to your babies with extra dynamic support. They build the baby’s confidence, refine balance and improve motor skills and lower body muscles.

You can choose from various plush toys available online that are sturdy enough to provide sufficient resistance on all surfaces. Some push toys are better on carpet and others on hard floors; you can choose the right one by reading reviews.

As your baby operates the push toys, they move faster than the others. When buying this one, ensure it has a handle to support the baby’s weight. And that it’s heavy enough to give your baby a slow motion. You can also choose to push toys with fun activities that encourage your baby to walk.

#12 Keep your baby’s hand busy

Keeping your baby’s hand busy while walking will take his attention away from the cruise. Your baby balances his body without support by holding something in his hands. This improves core and lower body muscles to achieve the perfect balance for smooth walking.

You can use light objects like candy wrappers or small toys. Use one toy at first and add another later. You can also use a large stuffed animal that requires both hands to hold. Or any other object that keeps your baby’s hands busy. Over time, your baby will break free of the cruiser brackets and begin to walk independently, holding any toy.

#13 Walking up the stairs

Some babies feel bored walking on the first floor. So you can use the stairs to get them involved in the walking show. For this activity, you must be close to your baby and help him/her up the stairs. Your baby uses his hands, knees, and feet to climb, getting a full-body muscle workout.

Climbing stairs is a perfect lower body disassociation; this means it separates lower body movement from upper body movement and helps improve the muscles of the entire body. All while straightening your baby’s core and leg muscles. If you don’t have stairs at home, you can use any foam ramp to help your baby achieve this excellent performance. The foam ramp can improve many gross motor skills in your baby.

 

#14 Parents’ smiling faces – babies’ biggest motivator

You can adopt different techniques to motivate your baby to walk, but the smiling face of the parents is the biggest motivation for babies. The parents’ open arms, lots of clapping, and smiling eyes motivate the baby to do something new and exciting. And the first walk is the most exciting experience for babies and parents.

#15 Celebrate every little victory

You can’t expect a giant leap from your baby; instead, appreciate her little steps. And celebrate your baby’s small victories, whether it’s a small step or even the attempt to take a small step. Your celebration motivates the baby and encourages him to do something new for his parents.

#16 Practice helps your babies learn to walk.

Practice is the key to learning any new skill; the same is true for babies learning to walk. You can’t expect your baby to walk by himself in one day. So you can set up several times during the day to practice your baby learning to walk.

You can set a time in the morning after waking up, after lunch, or before bath time to practice your baby walking. Your consistency stimulates your baby’s mind about your expectations of him or her. Continue to enjoy your baby’s every move; it makes him confident to learn new skills.

Conclusion

Your baby’s first walk is the most exciting and thrilling time for baby and parents. Like other early phases of development, this phase also requires the development of baby-specific muscles. These developed muscles support your baby in this new way of exploring the world.

It is typical for babies to begin walking between 7 and 18 months, depending on body development. In the early stages, babies learn to use the different body muscles for each movement. But walking requires coordination of all those muscles with the brain, which takes time.

If your baby has passed the 18-month mark and is still not taking steps, you should contact your pediatrician. You can also make an appointment with Early Invention. But remember, walking is a combination of a complex algorithm that takes babies a long time to learn. Some babies learn to walk very early, and others take time. And yes, your help can make this learning process faster and allow your baby to explore the world on his or her feet.