While tiny shoes are undoubtedly some of the cutest things you can buy for your baby, you might want to hold off on making any purchases before they’re actually on the move. Turns out, your baby doesn’t really need to wear shoes until they’re walking. Is it bad for babies to wear shoes? Not necessarily, but according to Sanford Health, they offer your baby no real benefit. Verywell Family reports pediatricians have been debating the effects of shoes on developing feet for “decades,” and that the American Academy of Pediatrics actually advises against them. According to Sanford Health, if baby...

If your baby has gotten to the stage where they’re standing up and taking steps while using furniture (or anything at their eye-level, really) for support, congratulations! Your little one is officially cruising, which means they’re not that far off from walking. But how long after cruising do babies walk? Like with most milestones, it depends on your baby. Everyone is different, and there is no concrete timeline they’ll follow. (If you’re concerned about your baby’s development, reach out to their doctor.) According to Parents, your baby will start cruising after they learn to pull themselves up to stand, which...

Like with most milestones, your baby will learn to walk on their own timeline and at their own pace. But if you’ve ever asked yourself, “How can I help my baby learn to walk?”, you wouldn’t be the first parent. Naturally, parents want to do everything they can to help their babies progress. And while there are a few ways you can encourage them to take their first steps, ultimately, they’re going to walk when they feel ready. There are several motor skills and strengths your baby needs to develop before they’re ready to start walking independently. Every baby is...

Every baby is different, so naturally, there are some milestones your baby might speed through or skip altogether. But can babies go straight to walking and skip crawling altogether? Absolutely. In fact, it’s totally normal for baby to adopt alternative ways of moving around that don’t include crawling on all fours. According to Today’s Parent, alternative crawling methods might include creeping or sliding on their tummy, “bottom shuffling” — which involves baby sitting upright and using their legs, and sometimes, their arms to scoot themselves forward on their bums — or the “commando crawl,” which is when babies use their...

Your baby’s first year of life is full of many exciting milestones. They’ll learn to babble, recognize your face, and by the time they’re nine months old, they’ll probably be crawling. But when do babies start walking? According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the answer varies, but you may start seeing them take their first steps at around 12 months old. The time it takes for babies to hit any milestone varies. Everyone develops differently, but for the most part, you can rest easy if your baby isn’t taking steps until or after their first birthday. The...