Standing and cruising tend to come before walking, but this is another milestone that has a wide range of normal. Some babies will still be focused on crawling after their first birthday, while others are onto walking at just 10 months old. Wherever your baby is, try not to rush to the “next best” skill. Celebrate their current skills, and gently encourage them to keep on!

With your baby’s unique timeline in mind, here are some general things to know about standing, cruising, and walking.

This is a significant milestone, marking the transition from crawling to a more upright position. Some babies might begin using furniture to pull themselves upright as early as seven months, while others may take a bit longer. To support your baby in standing, provide ample floor time, encourage them to pull themselves up using furniture, and use toys to entice them into a standing position.

For example, if you have a cushioned ottoman in the family room, try putting their favorite toy on top of the ottoman instead of leaving it low. You could even install a “pull-up bar” in their play space.

Cruising, or using furniture to take steps, usually comes after standing; it’s an in-between milestone! Some babies skip cruising and go straight from standing to independent walking.

With cruising, your baby will find their way along furniture or other stable objects at that “just right” height. In the example of placing a toy on an ottoman, cruising might look like standing to reach the toy but then circling around the ottoman by taking assisted steps.

To encourage cruising, arrange furniture in a way that allows your baby to move along a path. Ensure the environment is safe by placing corner bumpers on furniture with sharp edges, placing rugs down for softer landings, and anchoring heavy furniture and lamps that are a tipping hazard. Now is the time to get those baby gates up for parts of your home that cannot be effectively baby-proofed.

At last, all those skills from tummy time, rolling, planking, scooting, crawling, and cruising culminate into walking! For typically developing babies, independent walking emerges anywhere from 10-18 months old.

Like other milestones, walking will come from free movement, in which they can build strength and coordination through varied positions. Keep offering floor play as a direct way to support their physical development.

While putting your baby in a walker with wheels can be tempting, these devices are strongly advised against. They can lead to developmental delays and pose dangerous safety risks, like rolling down a staircase. The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for a ban on manufacturing and selling baby walkers with wheels in the U.S. They are already banned in other countries, such as Canada.

Note: Baby walkers with wheels are not the same as push walkers. A push walker or wagon does not contain your baby; Push walkers or wagons, like this one by RadioFlyer, are safe and supportive!

Avoid holding your baby’s hands in a way that lifts their arms up. You may be trying to help with those wobbly first steps, but this arms-up positioning takes away your baby’s ability to balance.

Think about it this way: If you were to cross a log, you would have your arms free, out to the side, right? It’s the same for babies. As they start to walk, just stay nearby, encourage them, and offer a big hug when they reach you! This helps them find their balance sooner.

If you are shadowing from behind, you could offer your pinky finger around the front of their body but keep their arms below their shoulders.

If your baby has yet to take their first steps by 18 months, or if there are concerns about their gait or posture, consult your pediatrician for guidance. Otherwise, enjoy this window of time when your baby’s mobility expands in big ways!