For many parents, watching their babies learn to walk is a major milestone. While everyone learns at their own pace, and each child is unique, there are steps families can take to help improve their baby’s confidence when they’re trying to walk unsupported for the first time.
One of these went viral on TikTok after one parent recommended the tip to another, and they were amazed by the result. Posting on TikTok as beth86455, Beth explained that handing her daughter small objects to hold helped her to walk unaided.
She wrote: “Bumped into a lady today that asked if my girl was walking yet, I told her no, she said ‘stand her up, place two objects in her hands and she will walk.'”
She added: “I can’t actually believe my eyes!! The turn at the end,” referencing her video, which showed her daughter confidently walking around a room.
In the comments, other parents who’d succeeded with the tip shared their own stories, suggesting items you could pass to children, such as carrots. However, not everyone had the same results and wanted to remind fellow parents not to worry if their child needs more time.
One response read: “This is how my parents taught us kids to walk. Gave us baby carrots to hold in each hand so it felt like we were holding their fingers. We always knew we could walk, we just needed to be shown we could do it on our own.”
Another shared: “My eldest walked early (9.5 months) because we were putting up the Christmas tree and he was standing by the couch where we had some ornaments. He got a hold of those ornaments, one on each hand, and started running. Then noticed after that, he liked holding things while walking/running till he was stable enough. Thought it was just his thing, I guess not.”
Someone else replied: “My girl did this, I’d just taken her dirty socks off and she picked them up, stood up and walked off she hadn’t even stood up un aided for any amount of time prior.”
A commenter added: “THIS!!!!! I did this with my daughter last night and she took off. I cried. She’s my last baby. Well. Not a baby anymore.”
A different comment said: “Well done!! My little girl didn’t do this when I tried but she ended up just walking on her own.”
Another parent replied: “I just tried it!!! I mean she didn’t walk on her own but she did just stand there like a lemon watching TV but standing is good too.”
Someone else shared: “I keep trying this with my son but it don’t work,” and a viewer replied: “and that’s ok. they’ll do it when they’re ready.”
The NHS offers advice for parents, including tips for supported and independent walking. Sharing recommendations for parents teaching their babies to walk without help, the NHS says: “Make sure your baby has their balance first by encouraging them to walk between two adults. Give them lots of praise and smiles when they take steps independently.
“Your baby may walk with their hands in the air and their feet wide apart. This helps them to balance and stabilise themselves. You can pass them a toy or a ball to hold while they are walking. This will encourage them to bring their hands down and test their balance.”