How do you teach babies to walk?

Walking isn't something you teach babies—it's not a skill an adult "instructs." It's a milestone that emerges naturally through your baby's motor development. What you can do is set up an environment that supports the process:

• Lots of crawling time: Crawling builds hip, shoulder, and core strength—crucial prep for walking. Don't put baby in a wheeled walker; the AAP and Turkey's health ministry both warn against them because they cause falls and don't help leg strength.
• Encourage climbing onto furniture: If furniture corners are padded, let baby pull up and hold on. This builds leg strength and balance.
• Bare feet or non-slip socks: Baby grips better barefoot, feels their balance better.
• Walk alongside with one hand: When baby reaches for your finger, let them hold it—but don't lift baby off the ground like you're carrying them. That tires your shoulder and stops baby from finding their own balance.

Walking usually starts between 9-18 months. If baby hasn't walked by 18 months, check with your pediatrician. But each baby moves at their own pace; early or late walking doesn't predict intelligence or later motor skill. A safe floor, your nearby presence, and freedom to explore—that's the best "instruction."