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Original poster

Early walkers

11 replies

NanaStrikesAgain · 26/03/2026 17:19

Those of you whose babies were early walkers / climbers - give me your top tips for how you managed?

My granddaughter was crawling at 5mths 🫣 and is now confidently walking across the room unaided at 10mths, and confidently climbing to stand on her activity table 🫣! She’s into EVERYTHING, doesn’t stop moving, still putting everything in her mouth constantly too, and often only has 1 short nap a day. She has to have nappy changes done on the floor since 6mths as she’s so active it’s dangerous on any surface.

Her older sister is now 2.5yrs but she was much calmer and cautious as a baby and my daughter is tearing her hair out, can’t take her eyes off the baby for a second.

Everything is childproof as much as possible.

Any tips i can pass onto my daughter to keep her sanity, or just some solidarity if you’ve had a similar temperament baby?!

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loislovesstewie · 26/03/2026 17:54

Both of mine walked at 7 months. So did their dad! I don't actually have any tips as I didn't know any different! Both were very active, the youngest slept very well. The oldest was sleep trained. I was quite pleased that they both walked early, I felt it helped them get on with things.

Morecoffeethanks · 26/03/2026 19:59

My youngest walked at 8.5 months and was pottering around playgrounds at 9 months. She is very battered bruised in all the photos of her between about 6 months when she started pulling up to stand to around 18 months.
She also wasn’t a big napper or sleeper at all.
I think we spent a lot of time in parks or at play centres. We also got one of those baby balance bikes with the fat wheels that was great for getting energy out.
She’s two and half now and keeping up with four year old boys but also will sit down and do colouring or do some imaginative play so it’s definitely easier.

namelesswench · 26/03/2026 19:59

Mine walked easily by 10 months. He was on the lighter side, which I think made it easier for him to get going. He was running and climbing everything he found by 1 year old. Chaos!

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Girrafffees87832 · 26/03/2026 20:00

That was my son, first steps tentatively at 9 months, walking at 10 months. It was an absolute nightmare. No advice, just need to keep an incredibly close eye on them. Babyproof to the hills.

ohtobethin · 26/03/2026 20:08

I don’t think it makes any difference whether they walk early or late tbh. You just need to watch them like a hawk, there’s not really any way around it. It’s the same regardless of what age they start.

Tiptopflipflop · 26/03/2026 20:48

ohtobethin · 26/03/2026 20:08

I don’t think it makes any difference whether they walk early or late tbh. You just need to watch them like a hawk, there’s not really any way around it. It’s the same regardless of what age they start.

I personally think it is harder when they walk really young because they have less of an understanding of language, and are even less inclined to follow instructions than an older baby/toddler. From personal experience a walking 9 month old is a nightmare to keep safe compared to a 15 month old, both with similar personalities.

Morecoffeethanks · 26/03/2026 21:30

@ohtobethin I would also say the character of early walkers is often one that very determined and wanting to push boundaries- or at least my early walker was/is that way. My child who was/ is walking at 12 months was much more cautious than the one who walked at 8 months.

Original poster
NanaStrikesAgain · 02/04/2026 12:23

Morecoffeethanks · 26/03/2026 19:59

My youngest walked at 8.5 months and was pottering around playgrounds at 9 months. She is very battered bruised in all the photos of her between about 6 months when she started pulling up to stand to around 18 months.
She also wasn’t a big napper or sleeper at all.
I think we spent a lot of time in parks or at play centres. We also got one of those baby balance bikes with the fat wheels that was great for getting energy out.
She’s two and half now and keeping up with four year old boys but also will sit down and do colouring or do some imaginative play so it’s definitely easier.

Ooh a balance bike is a great idea!
Thank you!

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Original poster
NanaStrikesAgain · 02/04/2026 12:24

Girrafffees87832 · 26/03/2026 20:00

That was my son, first steps tentatively at 9 months, walking at 10 months. It was an absolute nightmare. No advice, just need to keep an incredibly close eye on them. Babyproof to the hills.

Yes it’s like an obstacle course to get around all the barricades and stair gates isn’t it!!

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Original poster
NanaStrikesAgain · 02/04/2026 12:25

Morecoffeethanks · 26/03/2026 21:30

@ohtobethin I would also say the character of early walkers is often one that very determined and wanting to push boundaries- or at least my early walker was/is that way. My child who was/ is walking at 12 months was much more cautious than the one who walked at 8 months.

Yes!! I think that seems to be very true! She’s got places to go and things to do and she wants to do it NOW!! 😂

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Senmum2026 · 02/04/2026 12:29

Sound earlyish but not excessibly so. Just realise that they want/need to climb and provide safe opportunties to do it. You can get indoor wooden climbing frames really cheap now.

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