Pulling to stand but won't let go? Cruising the furniture forever? Still no first steps?
I'm Nicole Pates, a paediatric physio with over 15 years experience working with families and this my guideĀ to sitting and walking for babiesĀ 8 to 18Ā months.Ā
Walking is the big one everyone waits for, and it builds slowly from lots of smaller skills like pulling to stand, cruising along furniture and learning to balance. First steps usually arrive somewhere between 8 and 18 months, and the pre-walker stage looks different for every baby. Whether your baby is happily crawling and not fussed about standing yet, is cruising the furniture, or is on their feet and building up the confidence for those first steps, you'll know exactly how to meet them where they are.
Sound Familiar?
- My baby pulls up but wont move anywhere - help!
- My baby is 14 months and still not standing.
- My baby is 16 months and not starting to take steps.
- My baby pulls to stand but won't let go of the furniture.
- My baby walks on their tiptoes. Is that a problem?
- My baby just flops down instead of stepping. How do I help?
- My baby cruises everywhere but seems nervous to try on their own.
- Do I need one of those baby walkers to help them along?
Ā This is exactly why I built this course.
Every baby is unique
Inside the course, paediatric physiotherapist Nicole Pates walks you through what's really happening as your baby learns to walk, and the mini milestones that lead up to it. You'll see how to set up your space so your baby has good reasons to pull up, cruise and step, plus simple hands-on ways to help with standing, getting in and out of standing, and cruising along furniture. You'll get everyday play ideas that build the strength, balance and confidence walking needs, and a clear picture of the wide range that's typical at this stage. You'll also learn the honest signs that are worth a check-in, so you can support your baby with more confidence and a lot less worry about timing.
