You know your baby is growing up when she takes her first wobbly steps. But when is this most likely to happen? As with all your baby’s milestones, there’s no set time. Although on average most babies are walking on their own by 13 or so months, some begin toddling as early as eight or nine months, holding onto furniture, while others don’t get going on their own two feet until they are 16 or 17 months old.

Signs that she’s ready to walk

You’ll know your baby is getting ready for walking when, at around eight months, she first hauls herself up to standing. Chances are she’ll try this first in her cot and hang onto the rails. The only problem is she hasn’t yet discovered how to bend her knees and lower herself down — so she’ll either collapse in a heap or wail for help.

Her next challenge is cruising. Over the following few months she’ll try to take some steps while holding onto a piece of furniture. As her confidence grows she may even let go and stand on her own without support for a few seconds.

By nine or ten months, she’ll be getting the hang of bending her knees and lowering herself down. No more running to her rescue! And she’ll be enjoying a new sense of freedom as she carefully cruises across the room using pieces of furniture to steady her. This is the last physical skill she needs to master before taking her first solo steps.

And she’s off!

Around their first birthday, most toddlers have perfected their balance well enough to take their first couple of steps. Before long, your toddler will manage more and more, until she’s really walking — albeit in a wobbly way — without help. Be prepared for a few bumps and bruises — it’ll be another four or five months before she’s really steady on her feet.

“Once she is on the move, give her plenty of floor time to practise her new skills,” says health visitor Maggie Fisher. “Sitting down close by will help her feel secure — she’s more likely to try and venture across the room on her own if she knows she can find you in the same place when she returns."

Encouraging her to walk

• Make sure your child spends plenty of time out of her highchair and buggy — having the chance to move around will help her develop her muscles and co-ordination.
• Once your child starts pulling herself up to standing, teach her how to sit back down again without toppling over by gently folding her at the knees.
• Once she’s cruising, moving items of furniture slightly further apart will challenge your child a bit more.
• Encourage your child to take her first steps by kneeling in front of her and stretching out your hands. Or hold both of her hands and walk her towards you.
• Let her go barefoot at home — this will free up all the muscles and bones in her feet that she needs to balance and walk.
• Invest in a toddle-truck – but check it doesn’t tip up when your child uses it to pull herself up.
  

Why isn’t my baby walking yet?

Every baby is different, and how early your baby walks will depend on her own individual development and is no reflection on how bright or clever she is. So don’t worry if your friends' babies learn to walk first — your baby is going at her own pace, and will catch up in her own time.

“And don’t worry if your toddler’s attempts to walk come to a halt, or even regress,” says Maggie. “If she’s unwell, or concentrating on other skills like talking, she may put learning to walk on hold for a while.”

Remember, too, that lots of babies don’t get going until they are 16 or 17 months old. And premature babies or babies with special needs often take longer to reach their milestones. Bear in mind too, that if your toddler discovered how to sit or crawl late, she’ll take a little longer learning to walk. As long as she’s making progress, however slowly, there’s no need to worry. But if she seems a long way behind other babies, talk to your health visitor or GP to make sure there is no underlying cause.

Find out more

• Teach Yourself Your Toddler's Development by Caroline Deacon (£8.99, Teach Yourself Books, available May 2008)

• Your Toddler Month by Month by Tanya Byron (£16.99, Dorling Kindersley)

• Now read our feature on understanding your toddler.