Written by Michelle Yuen, Pediatric PT
👉 Is your little one is standing but won’t take independent steps? Most likely, they need more time! On average, it takes most children 2-3 months from when they are standing/ cruising to start stepping on their own.
Once your baby is standing, cruising, walking with a push toy, you can start the following activities to encourage walking:
1. Have them start “baby squats” from your lap or from a small stool to practice standing up to a surface.
2. Have them stand with their back to the wall for support and reach for a toy or bubbles!
3. Have them stand and play with two hands, with your hands supporting them at the hips.
👉If they have been pulling up and cruising for 4-5 months and still aren’t taking steps on their own, it may be worth seeking professional help to get them started. Children are often walking independently by 12-15 months of age, but there’s a large range of normal for this milestone. It’s always better to seek an evaluation if you have concerns; no need to ‘wait and see’ if your gut tells you there’s a problem!
Early intervention has excellent physical therapy services available for kids aged birth to 3 yrs.
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