When your baby is walking you no longer have to make sure that your house is baby proofed two feet and below, but you need to make sure it is completely baby proofed several feet up. You will want to get all your drawer locks installed and keep items out of reach on your counters so that your baby’s little hands which can now reach do not get into dangerous areas and pull anything down.

Your baby will learn to walk first by learning how to stand. He will probably crawl over to a couch or a table, something he can reach, and either sit down to grab it, or grab it with one hand from his hands and knees. He will then learn to use his arm strength to pull himself up on his feet. This may take a few tries and end in a few tumbles before your baby gets it right. Make sure you are nearby in order to keep him from hitting his head on a hard surface like your table as he falls down.

Once your baby can successful stand he will probably begin “cruising” before he can actually walk. Cruising involves your baby walking around furniture and objects on the ground, holding onto them so that he doesn’t fall. He will start with two hands, eventually holding on with just one hand.

The day will come, probably when you least expect it, that your baby will all of a sudden let go and walk without the use of furniture to hold onto. The first few times that he lets go he might either grab the furniture immediately or sit down on the ground, but he will gain courage eventually. He will probably either walk to you that first time, or possibly to a toy on the ground that he wants that is not in his reach. When your baby is accomplishing these feats, be sure to encourage him, clap and cheer so that he knows he is doing something good. Like anyone, when a baby feels like he is doing something that makes you happy and proud of him, he will keep doing it.

When your baby first learns to walk on his own, he will probably be slow and a bit clumsy. Probably too slow for your liking when you are out and about. Don’t be afraid to still carry your baby some, but when it is possible and your baby wants too, let him try walking outside or in a store for a few seconds. Buy a good pair of supportive shoes for when your baby is outdoors, and indoors let him walk around barefoot or just in his socks in order to strengthen the natural arch in his foot.

After your baby gets the walking down pat, he will eventually get faster and will begin to run. Running is a great exercise for your baby and can be a lot of fun for you. When your baby is running though make sure he is running in a safe place so that when he trips and falls, which he will do, he doesn’t get hurt.

When a baby is first born they have no way of communicating. Normally, immediately after birth a baby will start screaming. Doctors say this is how they test out their lungs, some people say that it is their way of protesting being taken from their nice, warm cocoon in their mother’s belly, to the cold air in the real world. In reality it is probably a combination of both.

While mothers and fathers are thrilled to hear this first cry, their babies cry often quickly becomes tiring. Most babies will cry frequently. Since this is their only way of communicating the parents must learn their babies cry and figure out WHY their baby is crying. There are many reasons a baby might be crying. A few include:

• The baby is cold
• The baby is hot
• The baby is wet
• The baby is tired
• The baby is hungry
• The baby is lonely
• The baby is frustrated
• The baby is scared

There are other reasons why a baby might cry, and many babies will have different cries for different reasons. The sooner the parent learns the different cries and what they mean, the quicker they will be able to quiet their baby.

Some babies cry and there is no consoling them. When this happens it is normally caused by the baby having colic. Colic is normally described as a baby crying at approximately the same time everyday, for 3-4 hours straight, and their being no consoling. This can start as early as 6 weeks and can last for several months.

If you think your baby has colic, ask your pediatrician for his opinion. Remember it is ok to hand your baby over to the other parent, or a relative who offers to come over, in order to get a few minutes of relief. If there is no one for you to hand your baby too, there is nothing wrong with putting your baby in his crib while you go out of the room for a few minutes and let the baby cry. You have to remember to do what it takes to remain calm, as colic causes extra stress in not only you, but the household and baby as well.

By 4 months old:

By 10 months old: