The World of the Walker
Many milestones tug at parents’ hearts: the first time Baby rolls over, the first words, that first laugh. But few milestones have such a large impact on the lives of parents—and babies—as taking those first steps. “We were so excited when our little girl started walking. It was amazing to see that smile of pride on her face. And then the panic hit—we are going to be chasing her around for the next 16 years!” says Anne Donovan, Prairie Village mom.
One of the biggest worries parents have when Baby takes his first steps is how to keep him safe. “I had no idea that so many new worries would come when my son started walking. Suddenly, every time he moved, it seemed dangerous,” says Kristi Springer, Kansas City, MO, mom. Another large concern for parents is timing—is it time for baby to be walking? Why has he or she not taken those first steps yet? Here are a few tips for preparing your home and your life for this major milestone!
Watch for the signs. If your baby is starting to become mobile, walking might not be far behind. Pulling up on furniture, scooting and crawling are all signs that Baby is ready to expand his environment!
Let Baby set the pace. Every baby reaches milestones on his or her own timeline. Just because older siblings or a friend’s baby started walking at 10 months does not mean your baby will walk at 10 months. “I used to compare all the time what my son was doing with what my friends’ kids were doing. I worried when he didn’t keep up and I was proud when he did things first,” Sarah Belle, Olathe mom, says. “When it came to walking, he reached a year and still hadn’t taken his first steps. That terrified me, until I talked to his doctor. He said some babies walk at 9 months and some don’t walk until 17 months.”
Baby-proof your home in advance. Take the time to put safety measures in place around your house to keep little fingers and toes safe when Baby gets on the move!
Encourage walking in a safe space. You can play games with Baby, putting toys just out of reach or moving away from easy handles, like a sofa or a table, so Baby has to take a step to reach you. Be supportive and encouraging—and be understanding if Baby gets frustrated.
Choose supportive shoes. Choosing the right shoes for Baby after she takes those first steps is important. The shoes need to be supportive enough and should not rub or pinch Baby’s feet. You can visit a local children’s shoe store for tips on selecting shoes that will encourage walking and keep your baby comfortable.
Melissa Bellach is a freelance writer, wife and mom of two living in Overland Park.
Tips for Baby-Proofing Your Home:
Make sure you do not have open staircases. With a little walker traveling around your home, you don’t want to worry about a fall down the stairs. While learning to tackle stairs is an important developmental milestone, make sure your little one cannot reach the stairs alone and that learning to go up and down is an activity you supervise carefully. Baby gates can be very helpful in covering access to staircases!
Cover your outlets. Little fingers often find their way into tiny openings, and wall outlets are no exception! Cover your wall outlets with wall covers to prevent any dangerous experiments with electricity.
Be cautious of furniture. Make sure heavy furniture is secured to the wall and keep chairs or other pieces of furniture that easily topple out of Baby’s reach.
Move dangerous products up high or lock your cabinets. Stories in the news about a baby’s accidentally ingesting dishwasher pods or laundry detergent are frightening. Move all products that are not safe for Baby to a higher shelf or install baby-proof latches to keep little hands from cabinet doors.
Watch out for hazards. Take the time to explore your home and check for hazards with Baby in mind. Some families cover sharp table edges and some put pads on brick fireplace hearths. The level and extent to which you baby-proof your home is entirely up to you and depends on your environment. Make the choices that keep you all safe and happy!