Walking is a developmental milestone that your child will achieve on her own. As parents, all you need to do is wait and watch as she grows and learns to walk by herself.

That’s the support your tot needs from you rather than the external aids you get for her to initiate walking early on...

Holding your little bundle of joy in your arms is incredible, but seeing your baby walk will make you ecstatic. Now that your tot is all geared up to explore the world around her on her feet. Not to forget, keeping you on your toes, throughout the day, as you run behind her! But paediatricians advice that you should not force your child to walk. Your child learns her movements on her own as her body develops and strengthens itself to balance on her feet. Muscle development takes time and starts from the head, gradually going down towards the toes. In the process, your baby leans to control her voluntary movements, first gaining control over the neck muscles and then the torso and, finally, the leg muscles. “That is why the baby will go through the stages of sitting, crawling, tumbling and finally stand up erect and then start taking the first few steps,” explains Dr Ajit Gajendragadkar, consultant paediatrician, PD Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai.

WHEN IT HAPPENS
Your baby will usually learn how to stand when she is around eight months. “Once this happens, she will ideally take the support of furniture to pull herself upright and walk a few steps holding on to it,” points out Dr Gajendragadkar. The normal age when a child starts to walk is between nine to 15 months. But remember, every child is unique and the muscle development of each baby happen at its own pace. So don’t panic if your baby has not started walking even during the 14th month. “If your baby is capable of sitting and crawling on her own, then there is nothing to worry about. She might start the process a little late, which is perfectly normal,” says Dr Gajendragadkar. Some babies also skip the crawling stage and start walking by the 16th or 17th month. Mostly by the 18th month, a child can walk at her own pace without any support. Even if she doesn’t, check if she can crawl and sit. Otherwise, see a paediatrician and discuss your baby’s growth and development.