How to help your child become a confident walker 

Watching your child learn to walk can be exciting – and, yes, a little nerve-wracking 🙃 When they’re wobbly on their feet, falls are inevitable, and it’s natural to try to protect them. The key is to offer just the right amount of support to help them balance on their own. Whether your child is still working up to walking or has already taken a few independent steps, here are a few things you can do to help.

Whenever it’s safe, let them go barefoot

Bare feet give your child full sensory feedback, which helps them learn to maintain their balance, sense where they are in relation to their surroundings and adjust to different surfaces. If your child can feel whatever is under their feet, they’re more likely to look forward – rather than down – as they walk. Looking down often causes new walkers to lose their balance and fall.

Walking barefoot also builds good posture, strengthens your child’s arches and supports the healthy development of foot muscles and ligaments.

Hold your toddler’s hand at their shoulder or waist height

Parents of new walkers often try to offer support by holding their toddler’s hands above their head as they walk. But this prevents your child from engaging their core muscles, which is essential to developing balance and stability. Instead, give your toddler light reinforcement with your little finger at or below their shoulder level.

Take falls in stride

Stumbling and falling on their bottom is part of your child’s learning process. Stay close and calm when they go down. If they’re upset but unhurt, acknowledge their feelings and show your confidence in their ability. You can say, “You bumped your knee, but you can get back up again.” 

Walking is more challenging on a softer surface than on a firm one, so consider beginning on something like a wood floor. Be prepared to provide additional support when your toddler explores new surfaces like grass or thick carpet. This may also be a good time to reinforce baby proofing measures like padding sharp corners and moving breakables and cables out of reach.

When the time is right, offer playthings made to push and pull

Once your child is walking steadily on their own, you can help them expand their skills by introducing push and pull toys, like The Buddy Stroller (for 12 months and up) and The Pull Pup (for 18 months and beyond). Both pushing and pulling build motor strength and coordination. As your toddler leans forward slightly, maintaining their balance, they’ll need to determine how much force is required to move the plaything. Since the Buddy Stroller is also a container, it gives your child experience with pushing different weights. For example, they’ll learn to push harder for a playground ball than a teddy bear. Always supervise carefully to make sure your child stays in control of push and pull toys and away from hazards.

Pushing or pulling a plaything also gives your child new spatial awareness as they plan for what’s ahead, navigate obstacles and problem-solve. What if The Pull Pup falls on its side or gets caught on something? What happens when your toddler pushes The Buddy Stroller from a hard floor to a carpeted one? If the stroller doesn’t fit between two pieces of furniture, your child discovers that they need to find a different path to get where they want to go. They may have to sidestep, walk backwards or turn around – all of these are new skills for your early walker. Others they will work on in the months ahead include: 

• Stepping over a low obstacle
• Walking heel-to-toe to balance on a wide, low beam or path
• Walking while turning their head briefly to look behind them
• Walking on uneven surfaces
• Carrying large toys with two hands
• Walking up and down a sloped surface

The Pull Pup

Ready to roll along a floor, rug, or sidewalk when pulled by its string, The Pull Pup is designed to warm every toddler’s heart. Learn more about the Lovevery Pull Pup.

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The Buddy Stroller

Promote pretend play while encouraging independence and motor skill development.

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