When it comes to milestones, your baby's first steps can't be beat. One day he or she is standing against the couch – maybe sliding along it – and the next your child is tottering hesitantly into your waiting arms. Then he or she is off and running, leaving babyhood behind. Your child's first baby steps are, after all, his or her first major move toward independence.

When it develops

During his or her first year, your baby is busy developing coordination and muscle strength throughout the body. A baby learns 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. Most babies take their first steps sometime between 9 and 12 months and are walking well by the time they're 14 or 15 months old. Don't worry if your child takes a little longer, though. Many perfectly normal children don't walk until they're 16 or 17 months old.

How it develops

Your newborn's legs aren't nearly strong enough to support him or her yet, but if you hold your baby upright under the arms, he or she will dangle both legs down and push against a hard surface with his or her feet, almost as if walking. This is a reflexive action, and it will only happen for a couple of months.

By the time your baby's about 5 months old, he or she will bounce up and down if you balance his or her feet on your thighs. Bouncing will be a favorite activity over the next couple of months, in fact, as your baby's leg muscles continue to develop while he or she masters rolling over, sitting, and crawling.

At about 8 months, your baby will probably start trying to pull up to standing while holding onto furniture (so make sure everything in your baby's path is sturdy enough to support him or her). If you help your baby along by propping him or her up next to the sofa, he or she will hang on for dear life. After a couple of weeks mastering this standing position, your baby will start to cruise, moving from one piece of furniture to the next for support. He or she may even be able to let go and stand without support. Once your baby can do that, he or she may be able to take steps when held in a walking position, or even scoop up a toy from a standing position.

At 9 or 10 months, your baby will begin to figure out how to bend his or her knees and how to sit after standing, which is harder than you might think!

By 11 months, your baby will probably have mastered standing solo, stooping, and squatting. He or she may even walk while gripping your hand, though those first solo steps may be at least a few more weeks away. Most children make their early strides on tiptoe with their feet turned outward.

At 13 months, three-fourths of toddlers are walking on their own – albeit unsteadily. If yours still hasn't stopped cruising, it just means walking without assistance is going to take a little longer.

What's next

After those first magical steps toward independence, your child will begin to master the finer points of mobility:

At 14 months, your toddler should be able to stand alone. He or she can probably squat down and then stand back up again, and he or she might even work on walking backward.

By 15 months, your child may be pretty good at walking. He or she may enjoy toddling behind push-and-pull toys.

At about 16 months, your child will begin to take an interest in going up and down stairs – though he or she probably won't navigate them solo for a few more months.

It's likely your child will be a proficient walker by 18 months. He or she might like to climb all over the furniture and can probably motor up stairs – though he or she will still need help getting back down for a few more months. Your child may try to kick a ball, though he or she won't always be successful, and probably likes to dance to music.

At 25 or 26 months, your child's steps will be more even, and he or she will have the hang of the smooth heel-to-toe motion adults use. A child this age is also getting better at jumping.

By the time your child's third birthday rolls around, many basic movements will have become second nature. He or she will no longer need to focus energy on walking, standing, running, or jumping, though some actions, such as standing on tiptoes or on one foot, might still require concentration and effort.

Your role

As your baby learns to pull up to a standing position, he or she may need some help figuring out how to get back down again. If your baby gets stuck and cries for you, don't just pick your baby up and plop him or her down. Show your baby how to bend at the knees so he or she can sit down without toppling over, and let him or her give it a try.

You can encourage your baby to walk by standing or kneeling in front of him or her and holding out your hands. Or you might hold both of your baby's hands and walk him or her toward you. Your child will probably also enjoy a toddle truck or push toy to hold on to as he or she walks. (Look for toddle toys that are stable and have a wide base of support.)

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly discourages using baby walkers. Because they make it so easy for a child to get around, walkers can interfere with the development of a baby's upper leg muscles. And because they make it possible for a child to reach hot items or poisons that he or she wouldn't normally be able to get to, they aren't safe.

You can also hold off on introducing shoes until your baby is walking around outside or on rough or cold surfaces regularly. Going barefoot helps improve balance and coordination.

As always, make sure your baby has a soft, safe environment in which to hone his or her new skills. Follow standard childproofing guidelines, and never leave your baby unattended.

When to be concerned

Don't fret if your child is simply taking his or her time, but if your child seems to be lagging behind significantly, bring it up with the doctor. Keep in mind that babies have different timetables, and premature babies may reach this and other milestones later than their peers.

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