{"id":16019,"date":"2026-05-16T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/?p=16019"},"modified":"2026-08-07T17:47:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T16:47:31","slug":"babys-first-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/blog\/premiers-pas-bebe\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby's first steps: at what age, how to support them and what to avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <strong>baby's first steps<\/strong> are a magical moment \u2014 and often more complex than parents imagine. Between the child who walks at 9 months and the one who waits until 16 months, the range is huge and completely normal. This guide covers everything you need to know to support baby through this key milestone. \ud83d\udc63<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcc5 At what age does a baby take their first steps?<\/h2>\n<p>The average is around <strong>12 months<\/strong>, but the normal range extends from <strong>9 to 18 months<\/strong>. A baby who walks at 9 months is not \u00abahead\u00bb in the medical sense \u2014 they have just started a little earlier. A baby who waits until 16 months is not \u00abbehind\u00bb \u2014 as long as they are progressing through the preparatory stages.<\/p>\n<p>What matters is not the age of <strong>baby's first steps<\/strong> but the progression: he must first sit unsupported, then crawl (or move around in another way), then pull himself up to a standing position using furniture, then take sideways steps while holding on, and finally let go of the supports.<\/p>\n<p>If baby is still not walking at <strong>18 months<\/strong>, a paediatric consultation is recommended \u2014 not to cause alarm, but to ensure there is no underlying cause to be treated.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83e\udde0 The stages that lead up to the first steps<\/h2>\n<p>Walking cannot be rushed \u2014 it is the result of several months of muscular and neurological development:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>3-4 months<\/strong> : the baby can hold its head up on its own, strengthening its neck and back muscles<\/li>\n<li><strong>6 months<\/strong> sits with support, starts bearing weight on legs when held standing<\/li>\n<li><strong>7-9 months<\/strong> crawls, gets on all fours, pulls themselves up by holding onto the furniture<\/li>\n<li><strong>9\u201312 months<\/strong> : walks whilst holding onto furniture (cruising), stands for a few seconds without support<\/li>\n<li><strong>10 to 14 months<\/strong> : <strong>baby's first steps<\/strong> independent \u2014 often taking 2\u20133 steps before falling<\/li>\n<li><strong>14-18 months<\/strong> walking more and more steadily, starts to run<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>\ud83c\udfc3 How can you support your baby\u2019s first steps?<\/h2>\n<h3>Letting baby explore on the floor<\/h3>\n<p>Walking is prepared on the ground. The more baby crawls, stands up, and moves around on all fours, the more they strengthen the muscles needed for walking. Avoid excessive use of the baby bouncer, baby walker and baby seat \u2014 baby needs to move freely on a rug or a safe floor.<\/p>\n<h3>Create a secure environment<\/h3>\n<p>When baby starts to pull themselves up and cruise along the furniture, make the space safe: cushioned furniture corners, socket covers, stair gates, non-slip rugs. Falls are part of learning \u2014 they must be safe.<\/p>\n<h3>Encourage without forcing<\/h3>\n<p>Hold out your arms, call baby, and encourage him to move forward \u2014 but do not support him all the time. He needs to find his balance on his own. Activity arches and push toys (baby walkers) are excellent supports for his first assisted steps.<\/p>\n<h3>Avoid the baby walker<\/h3>\n<p>Paediatricians and physiotherapists unanimously advise against it. Baby walkers position babies on tiptoe, engage the wrong muscles, and create a reliance on support. They do not prepare for walking \u2014 they delay it. Baby walkers (pushed in front of oneself) are a valid alternative.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\udc5f Shoes: when and which ones?<\/h2>\n<p>A baby does not need shoes to learn to walk. Until they are walking outside on a regular basis, bare feet (or non-slip socks) are the best option \u2014 foot sensitivity helps build balance.<\/p>\n<p>When the first shoes become necessary:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Soft and flexible sole (must bend easily)<\/li>\n<li>Wide toe box to avoid squeezing the toes<\/li>\n<li>Lightweight \u2014 your baby will hardly feel them<\/li>\n<li>Adjustable fastening (preferably velcro)<\/li>\n<li>True to size \u2014 no growing room in baby shoes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Stiff shoes, thick soles and \u00abpreventative\u00bb models are not recommended unless specifically advised by a doctor.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\udee1\ufe0f Protecting baby while they learn to walk<\/h2>\n<p>Falls are inevitable and are part of the learning process. A few precautions to make them safe:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Thick floor mat<\/strong> in the play areas<\/li>\n<li><strong>Baby knee pads<\/strong> to protect the knees during the crawling phase and the first falls<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fall-prevention hat<\/strong> (padded head protector) for babies who often fall backwards when taking their first steps<\/li>\n<li><strong>Protected furniture corners<\/strong> \u2014 the coffee tables are at baby's head height<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product\/baby-crawling-knee-pads-protection-grow-up-in-complete-freedom\/\">View PetitMaxou baby knee pads<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product\/baby-fall-protection-hat\/\">See the PetitMaxou baby safety helmet<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>\ud83e\uddf8 Toys that encourage first steps<\/h2>\n<h3>The baby walker<\/h3>\n<p>Baby pushes it in front of him while holding on to it. He chooses his speed, stops when he wants, and starts again. The ideal baby walker has adjustable floor resistance (to stop it from rolling away too quickly) and is stable enough not to tip over.<\/p>\n<h3>The toys to pick up off the floor<\/h3>\n<p>Placing attractive objects a few steps away from baby naturally encourages them to move to reach them. It is the most effective motivation there is for first steps.<\/p>\n<h3>The play mat<\/h3>\n<p>A play mat rich in stimulation invites baby to crawl, explore, move around \u2014 all the preparatory steps towards walking.<\/p>\n<p>\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product-category\/games\/\">View PetitMaxou early learning toys<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>\u2753 FAQ \u2014 Baby's First Steps<\/h2>\n<h3>My baby is 15 months old and isn't walking yet \u2014 should I be worried?<\/h3>\n<p>Not necessarily. The normal range goes up to 18 months. The main thing is that he is progressing: is he pulling himself up to stand? Is he cruising while holding on? Is he taking sideways steps along the furniture? If so, he is on the right track. Mention it to your paediatrician at your next appointment for peace of mind.<\/p>\n<h3>My baby is walking on tiptoe \u2014 is this normal?<\/h3>\n<p>The <strong>baby's first steps<\/strong> toe walking is common and often transient. If this persists beyond 2 years of age or if baby cannot place their foot flat on the ground, consult a paediatrician or a paediatric physiotherapist.<\/p>\n<h3>Some babies never crawl \u2014 is it a problem?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Some babies move differently: bottom-shuffling, rolling, or hopping. The important thing is that they move around and develop their mobility. Crawling on hands and knees is not a mandatory stage.<\/p>\n<h3>How to know if baby is ready to walk?<\/h3>\n<p>The signs: he stands up by himself using the furniture, walks while holding on, stays standing for a few seconds without support, and begins to lift one foot while holding onto something. These four elements combined indicate that <strong>baby's first steps<\/strong> autonomous ones are imminent \u2014 often within the following weeks.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\udecd\ufe0f Get your baby kitted out for their first steps at PetitMaxou<\/h2>\n<p>Protective knee pads, safety hats, and early learning toys that encourage mobility: PetitMaxou offers a carefully curated selection to support your baby through every stage of their development. Free delivery across the EU, returns within 14 days.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/\">\u2192 View the entire PetitMaxou shop<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Also to read on the blog:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/blog\/9-month-old-baby-developmental-toy\/\">Baby sensory toy 9 months: the complete guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/blog\/12-month-baby-developmental-toy\/\">12-month baby developmental toy: the complete guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/blog\/what-to-put-in-a-changing-bag\/\">What to put in a changing bag? The complete checklist<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Les premiers pas de b\u00e9b\u00e9 sont un moment magique \u2014 et souvent plus complexe que ce que les parents imaginent. Entre l&rsquo;enfant qui marche \u00e0 9 mois et celui qui attend 16 mois, la fourchette est immense et parfaitement normale. Ce guide fait le point sur tout ce qu&rsquo;il faut savoir pour accompagner b\u00e9b\u00e9 dans [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16018,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[228],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conseils"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16019"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16019\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}