Baby's First Steps

Baby's First Steps

First little steps towards the beautiful world…

When it comes to milestones, your baby’s first steps can’t be beat.  Baby’s first step is a milestone that most parents never forget. Your baby will probably figure out how to work himself all the way around from lying on his stomach to sitting up during the ninth, tenth, or eleventh month. Yet even if he can’t get there himself, if you sit him up, he should probably be able to sustain a sitting position for some time by the tenth month.
One day he’s standing against the couch maybe sliding along it and the next he’s tottering hesitantly into your waiting arms. Then he is off and running, leaving babyhood behind.
It is important to remember that all babies are different. Not only will they walk at different times, but they will also approach walking differently. “Some kids will crawl first, while other kids will have no interest in crawling. He will learn to sit, roll over, and crawl before moving on to pulling up and standing at about 8 months. From then on it’s a matter of gaining confidence and balance.
Your newborn’s legs aren’t nearly strong enough to support him yet, but if you hold him upright, he’ll dangle his legs down and push against a hard surface with his feet, almost as if he’s walking. This is a reflexive action, and he’ll only do it for a couple of months.
However, if parents note any of the following, they are advised to tell their pediatrician:

• Difficulty getting to stand because of stiff legs and pointed toes
• Only uses arms to pull up to standing
• Sits with weight to one side
• Strongly flexed or stiffly extended arms
• Needs to use hand to maintain sitting

It’s often said that when children learn to walk parents forget how to sit. This may well be true in the sense that as children develop their independence it takes a lot more energy for parents to look after them. Adequately safety proofing the house will go a long way towards keeping them safe, including:

• Installing baby gates on all stairs and the entrance to the kitchen.
• Cushioning sharp furniture edges.
• Putting up a fire grate in front of any open fireplaces.
• Gating open water areas such as an in-ground pool.

Not only can your 9- or 10-month-old baby now sit for quite some time without toppling over, he can use only one hand to support himself, so he can use the other to pick up toys (or other objects) and play with them.