10 Things to Know About Walking
The first year is full of firsts, but the most anticipated milestone has to be walking.

First steps are a very big deal.
Even if you're not obsessing about it, chances are you've been asked, "So is he walking yet?" When will the momentous event occur? Your baby will likely take his first steps between 9 and 15 months.

Every child follows the same sequence of stages.
 Here's a quick timeline of milestones that lead to walking.
Sitting Up: At around 6 months, baby starts solving the puzzle of how to use the muscles in his trunk to stay upright.
Pulling to a Stand: The timing of this varies; many are trying by 10 months. "Seventy percent of our body mass is from the hips on up, so the legs need a lot of strength to lift the torso," notes Jody L. Jensen, PhD, professor of kinesiology at the University of Texas.
Cruising: Again, age varies, but when he does it, he'll make his way around the room using whatever furniture is available.

You'll recognize a new walker.
The final piece of the walking puzzle is learning how to lift off with one foot while balancing on the other. She'll lurch along like Frankenstein as she gets used to her land legs -- the wide stance and outstretched arms are characteristics of all new walkers. In order to stand, she has to contract a lot of muscles. But to walk, she eventually needs to relax her hips and knees a bit. "The challenge is figuring out how to get just the right amount of muscle tension in the legs," Jensen says. But 1-year-olds are quick studies -- it won't take long until she loosens up and is tearing around the house.

There's little parents can do to speed up the timetable.
What if all the other babies in the playgroup are on two feet, and yours is content with the view from the floor? If your child is 16 months and hasn't walked, talk to your doctor. (There are interventions available.) Otherwise, try not to stress. Push toys, stationary activity centers, and jumpers will not help your child walk any sooner. On the other hand, they don't cause any harm, so if your baby likes these toys, let him play. Avoid walkers, which allow kids to get into trouble fast.

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