When do children tend to walk confidently?

[RedRobyn2021]

Probably a stupid question but I just don't know 🤷🏻‍♀️

My baby is almost 12mo and she is standing, coasting and uses her walker sometimes, I think by the time she is 13mo she will have taken her first steps. But how long from then does it usually take for her to walk confidently without falling over?

I ask because I'm curious but also she's really heavy 😂 so when I walk our dog I'm putting her in the carrier (we live among fields so not pram suitable) and I'm beginning to think I might struggle by the time she's coming up to 2 with carrying her.

Do you mean walking consistently and at a decent speed in the direction you want them to for an extended period of time, such as a long dog walk? Or just able to run around the playground.

Run around the playground... within a couple of months of learning.

In the direction and speed you want them to? Still waiting for my 8yo (she's very easily distracted and walls take a while, unless she wants to.) Of course, having a need to do a regular walk will speed that up, but they are pretty slow for a few years.

Think it depends when they start walking. Some kinds (most) start at 12-13 months but they gain confidence slowly. My son started at exactly 18 months but went straight to walking almost like an adult. So all depends on baby really, there are no rules

Oh, that's not the kind of confidence I thought you meant. Thought you were going to be asking why your kid didn't have a swagger yet.

They're all different! I've two neighbours both with children around 18mo. One walks perfectly, alongside their mum or dad, at all times, even if not holding hands. The other weaves about like a drunken monkey!

Mine didn't walk at all until 16mo, but then was rock steady.

Oops, sorry, they're not 18mo now, more like 21mo.

2-4. But practice makes perfect.

Mine was a fairly early walker but she would take anywhere from 2 - 8 steps for about 3/4 weeks with seemingly no progress then one day she got up and walked half way across the room and hasn't stopped walking since. So from first steps to proper walking for us was about a month and a couple of weeks after that to get really solid.

Not long really, although they do still trip or fall a fair bit IME
I remember turning 8 months pregnant with DC4 and still having to carry DC3 who was 15 months. I was wondering how on earth I was going to manage. He took his first proper steps a week later.
DC4 was born at 39 weeks and DC3 had to be restrained from running about the maternity ward.

I think the later they start to walk the quicker they progress. My best friend's kid was off at 10 months or so but she was all over like a little drunk for a fair while whereas my daughter took until 15 or 16 months but once she was off she was off and the wobbly stage was over in no time.

That's only anecdotal though, they're all so different.

Why not get a proper toddler carrier, like a Toddler Tula or a Lenny Lamb Preschool? You can absolutely carry a toddler comfortably if you’re using the right kit.

There is a fabulous Instagram account ‘wearmybaby’ who covers this topic a lot (no vested interest, just think she’s great!) She has a website and a physical shop too.

My two year old still fits comfortably in an ergobaby omni; she is quite tall but very slim and light, so if she was larger I would definitely be upgrading if I was using it regularly like you.

Re. your question - my youngest would manage that sort of walking through fields for maybe 15 minutes but would flag and want carried after that - I imagine by the time she’s 3 or 4 she would happily manage. My eldest (5yrs) would still struggle to go much beyond 20 min as she is significant less energetic.

Most of them once they realise they can walk they start running very quickly, but it's not useful for walking anywhere as toddlers have little legs.

So even if they walk well they take ages to walk anywhere, which is why getting them on a scooter or balance bike (then later bike) is the way to go on flat ground if you want to walk anywhere at a normal speed.

Then on bumper ground they will just randomly fall over until they are 3-4. As long as they get use to quickly picking themselves up and get going again it doesn't cause a problem.

Ive got three children.

The first didn't walk AT ALL until he was 17 months and then was very wobbly for quite a while. He wasn't confidently walking/running until nearly 2. He's 6 now walks to and from school every day (which is more than most of his class seem to do) and runs full adult 5k parkruns - so it didn't hold hi back!

The second literally stood up and walked just past 12 months, never crawled again and is very very lazy but has always been a confident walker.

The third walked at 13 months, was wobbly for a bit but soon got it and has been confident on stairs and things for a while (she just turned 2). I only use a pram for her when she's tired.

So it varies but even the late walker was within the realms of normal and is fine now. You've nothing to worry about.

Ours all took their 1st solo steps in the month before turning 1 year, all confident walking by 13mth. It was so much fun when the twins were confident and would go in different directions, kept me on my toes 🤣🤣

Our son could do the 2 mile walk to school at 2 years old. I didn't walk dog with twins until they were 3, took too bloody long.

When dd learnt to walk at 14 ish months, she immediately walked beautifully beside me. Walked fast and for ages, rarely fell... Then the novelty of walking wore off and now at nearly three she walks slower than a snail, throws herself on the floor at the smallest trip, inspects every bug she sees and darts off at completely random moments.

We have the toddler Tula, have used since 18 ish months, definitely recommend.

Ds is now 21 months. If I go for a walk with sling I now usually have him in sling until we are safely off the roads and in the woods, then he can toddler along at a snail pace a while, then back in sling to go home. He can run at full speed when he wants to, but usually every leaf, pine cone or branch needs picking up so he takes forever.

I would imagine, with most children by 2 years, regardless of when they start walking, you could do similar when walking dog. Carry until safe, let them walk the majority until tired or you need to go somewhere faster. As each month goes on, it will be longer walking

DS didn’t walk until 15, nearly 16 months, but he was rock solid when he did. He was a confident walker straight from the off.

At 20 months I’m still a long way off taking him on a dog walk though. He goes whatever direction he fancies, stops frequently to look at things and is quite slow. As others have said, if we are with my inlaws (who have a dog) we take them both to a big field and let them charge around. To second @Caspianberg the Toddler Tula is brill. I have to say we don’t use it as much as the buggy, but when we do carrying 15kg DS is fine.

My DD is 22 months old and has been confidently walking since about 14 months old.

She is far from being consistent on a dog walk - we're lucky in that we live about a 2 minute walk from a forest and huge field so if I'm letting her walk we'll take a stroll along the bottom of the wood and then round the field, it's about 0.8 miles there and back and she usually flags after about 0.6 miles, so I take the sling if she wants to be carried home. It also takes an hour so I have to factor that in if she's walking, we have to stop and inspect every leaf and tree along the way, fortunately the dog still gets a decent walk as she charges ahead and comes back every minute or so.

Glad to hear the toddler tula gets good reviews though as I've been eyeing it up for a while! Might have to invest.

@LunaNova - I love the toddler Tula far more than the ergo we had.
We use the pram 90% of the time, but when it’s not possible the Tula is great.

@MyHusbandTheIdiot

I have Ergobaby omni 360 so it should take her up till 2

Really I should start wearing her on my back I think it would make the load easier, I'm constantly bending over to pick up the ball for the dog and it's just hard

We're on holiday atm and where we're staying it's really hilly so it's been knackering.

@mistermagpie thanks I love how different they all were. I really want to have three children.

@Caspianberg

Although I follow a lot of sling pages I've only ever used my Ergobaby omni 360 mesh, do you think the Tula toddler would be an improvement? I still carry her on my front atm. I think she's quite tall for her age too

@RedRobyn2021 - for us yes. I had the ergo omni from birth, but found it bulky. So bought ergo embrace to use 0-9 months. Then I used the ergo omni for 9 ish months but not as much, and I just found it too awkward to get on my back as the fabric is thick where you have the option of front facing with the ergo. So only used on front parent facing.

The toddler Tula is a revelation. I would get the smaller non forward facing option in future if we had another as well.
I can even carry Ds comfortable on my back when he is in full ski clothing. It adjusts better as well, I’m fairly small and dh tall.