Learning to walk is a huge milestone in your baby's development but in no circumstances should attempts be made to 'force' this as all babies are different and develop at their own pace.

During your baby's first year he/she will learn more in this period of time than at any other in their life including skills such as eating, sitting, rolling, crawling, pulling themselves up on furniture and even possibly standing and talking!

On average the majority of babies take their first unaided steps between the ages of 9-13 months, but even if your little one doesn't start walking until their 16th or 17th month do not panic - this is perfectly normal.

Generally at around 8-9 months your baby will start to pull themself up by holding onto furniture. You will find that if you hold him/her near a piece of furniture he/she may 'hang on', but please do not force this as his/her legs may not yet be strong enough to take the weight of the body.

Once your baby has mastered this skill he/she will begin to walk slowly around the furniture which is known as 'cruising'. It can still take a long time,  however for your baby to be able to walk unaided from this stage in their development as they still have to contend with balance and co-ordination issues.

At around 9-10 months your baby will usually have mastered bending their knees in order to sit again from their standing position and may even start squatting or sitting like a 'frog'.

By about 11-12 months it is likely that your baby may now be able to stand alone for brief periods.

13-14 months is the average age that statistics show babies generally start walking alone. It is thought that genetics and environment determine when this is most likely to be. The majority of Parents who already have one or more other children will usually find that their newest addition to the family takes their first steps alot earlier as they will try to copy their older siblings.

By 18 months your baby should be quite a proficient walker and may even be able to climb stairs and kick a ball. If by this stage your child has still not shown any interest in walking then talk to your health visitor or Doctor for further advice.

At 25 months your toddler's steps will be more even and their balance more steady. He/she will now be able to do things like jumping and possibly hopping on one leg.

You can try to encourage your baby to take their first unaided steps once they have started cruising around furniture by kneeling in front of them with your arms outstretched in the hope that they will 'toddle' towards you, or consider buying a toddle truck that they can learn to push along.

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Baby walkers are not recommended for assisting your baby when learning to walk as they actually take the bodyweight off their legs therefore delaying the upper leg muscles from developing. It has been proven in numerous studies that babies who have used baby walkers generally walk unaided much later than those who haven't used them probably because of this reason.

Baby walkers are also considered 'dangerous' for many other reasons and have actually been banned in some countries - please view my other guides for more information on baby walker usage and safety.

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Your baby doesn't really need to wear shoes until they are walking properly outside even though they do look 'cute'. While your baby is indoors barefoot is the best option as it will help them to improve their balance and co-ordination.

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Don't be too concerned if your baby seems a little late in developing skills such as crawling, etc. this will probably just mean that he/she will just require more time to learn to walk. However, if your child hasn't shown any interest in getting from A to B by their first birthday by whatever means - eg. rolling, comando style crawling (where they drag their bodies along the floor using their elbows), general crawling, etc then it may be advisable to mention it to your Health Visitor or Doctor when they have their next development check-up.

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Check out my other 'baby related' guides as listed below:

*Buying second hand baby products - what you should know

* Guide to buying or selling a second hand pram /pushchair

* The danger of baby walkers - banned in some countries!

 * Baby Walker Injuries - Results of a New Recent Study

* Bathing your baby - a guide for all new Mums

* Get FREE products for new babies, Mums and Mums-to-be

* Buying a pram - which type is best for you & your baby?

* Baby & child car seats - The Legal Requirements

* What you should know about buying and using a cot

* Baby clothing - Essential shopping list for Mums-to-be

* How to make your home safe for a baby or toddler

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