It can be hard to believe when you first bring home your bundle of joy that something as small and as delicate will soon be stumbling all over the place as they discover the power of their legs and walking. This stage can happen for babies most commonly between 9 and 12 months, but it can come much later around 14 or 15 months or even longer, as all children are different. Before they begin walking, they will have been busy building up the necessary muscles to get moving through sitting, rolling over, and eventually crawling. From that point onwards, you could find your baby starting to pull themselves up using furniture and standing, and then it is a matter of time while they build up confidence before they get walking. Once they reach this stage, it is time to start preparing for this exciting new milestone.
Baby-proof your home
Gone will be the days of being able to simply pop your baby into their playpen while you get on with house chores. Now that they can walk everywhere, they won’t want to stand or sit still. They will want to explore every nook and cranny of your home. What this means for you is that you need to start baby-proofing your home. From installing baby gates to securing heavy furniture and objects to prevent them from falling or tipping on your little ones as they explore, your house needs to become an even safer haven for them than it already is. As they come to grips with walking, tumbles might occur frequently, so consider adding cushioning to any sharp corners to prevent bumps and bruises, and of course, a knock to their confidence.
You should also ensure that any dangerous products are removed from their level. Place all these in a locked cupboard where they can’t reach.
Purchase their first set of shoes (or several)
There is one exciting element that comes with the new milestone: purchasing their first pair of shoes. However, it can be quite overwhelming at the choices available. What will help you little one gain more confidence, and yet still look highly fashionable? Fortunately, experts have spent a great deal of time crafting their baby shoes so that your little one can walk and run as much as they want without you worrying about their foot development. If you don’t know what type of shoe to get, take the time to read an in-depth guide on baby shoes so that your little one gets a perfect style and fit for them.
Encourage and help them
Part of the preparation doesn’t revolve around prepping your house or purchasing essentials; it requires simply your love, support, and encouragement as you help your little one grasp the concept of walking. There are several ways that you can encourage your baby to continue trying to walk, which will require some creative thinking. Try to avoid using baby walkers as you want to them be as independent as possible and instead purchase fun and exciting toys that will get them up and moving, such as push-along toys.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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