Between 9 and 13 months, your baby will likely start cruising. This exciting transition in their physical development typically leads to independent walking by 12 to 15 months. 🙌 Babies start to cruise after they’ve had plenty of practice pulling up to stand, which helps them learn to balance and shift their weight. To encourage cruising, you can arrange furniture so that it gives your baby a clear path of handholds for support. Pad sharp corners and use safety gates to protect your little one from potential hazards, like staircases. 💪🏽 When your baby begins to cruise with confidence, increase the challenge: 1️⃣ Offer vertical play. Try placing sticky notes on a wall for your baby to pull off. This motivates them to sidestep, and with less to hold on to, they’ll work harder to maintain their balance. 2️⃣Gradually increase the distance between furniture. For example, put a cushioned ottoman within arm’s reach of the couch so your baby needs to rotate their body to transfer between two surfaces. When they can do so with ease, move the ottoman a little farther away. Stay close so you can spot them as they begin to take one to two quick steps. #Definitions #Cruising #Walking #GrossMotorSkills #Lovevery #MotorDevelopment