First Steps
Your baby's first steps are one of the bigger milestones that most dads anticipate. Sure, it's exciting when your baby first rolls over or sits up, but beginning to walk is even more exciting. Few other milestones provoke calls to the grandparents and a rush to get the movie camera.
Cruising
Before your baby learns to walk, he will begin cruising around, or walking while holding on to things. This usually begins at around nine or ten months, once your baby is able to get to a sitting and then standing position by himself. He will quickly become more adventurous, walking while holding furniture, your hand, or his push toys.
Provide a safe environment for your child to walk around in. That means no sharp corners on furniture, no heavy objects or breakables that he can grab from tables that he uses to pull himself up, and no stairs that he can fall down. Your child becomes much faster and mobile as he learns to walk, so make sure that you keep him safe.
Once your baby is cruising around effortlessly, you might think that he will quickly be walking. For some infants that's true, but for others it can take four or five months for them to walk well. On average, babies are walking on their own by ten to fifteen months. Talk to your pediatrician if your baby isn't walking by that time.
Baby Shoes
Many parents rush to get their kids into shoes once they are cruising or walking. After all, that's what shoes are for, right? Well, not really. Shoes are meant to protect your feet, and your baby doesn't really need to wear shoes until he is walking outside. He can wear them inside too, but not until he is walking well on his own. It is much harder to learn to walk with shoes on, especially hard-soled shoes.
