Although crawling gives babies a new perspective on the world around them, they observe people walking and strive to do the same. In preparation for this important milestone, babies begin pulling themselves up to a standing position. Once they feel secure standing, they start taking tentative steps while holding onto furniture. As their balance improves, they will occasionally take a few steps independently, reaching for support only when they stumble. Because learning to walk includes many falls, it’s important to arrange the environment to remove or protect children from dangerous things like sharp edges on tables or fireplaces.
References
Shelov, S. P. (Editor-in-Chief). (2004.) Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. The American Association of Pediatrics. Revised edition. New York: Bantam Books.
