Bringing a new baby into the world is one of the most exciting and overwhelming experiences that a family can have. As your baby begins to mature and develop, milestones like rolling over, walking, and even cruising will happen.
Cruising is a big milestone for babies and many parents are unsure what this means for their children. If you’re a parent who is looking to better understand cruising, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss what cruising is, why it’s important, and what you should do when your baby starts to do it.
We will also provide advice from experts on how to help your baby safely master this milestone. With the right preparation and guidance, cruising will be an exciting experience that you and your baby will look back on fondly.
What Age Can Babies Cruise Around?
Cruising is one of the most exciting development milestones for babies! This is when babies first learn to hold onto furniture and move around, usually around 8 to 10 months old. This is an important time in their development, as they’re honing their gross motor skills, building strength, and learning to balance.
Cruising is usually the precursor to walking, and it’s a great indicator of when your baby is likely to take those first steps. It’s important to remember that every baby is different and while some may start cruising earlier or later than others, the most important thing is to offer support and guidance – and maybe even some toys to help with their progress!
What Are the Benefits of Cruising for Your Baby?
Cruising is an important milestone in a baby’s development, and it comes with several benefits:
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Improves balance and coordination: Cruising helps improve a baby’s balance and coordination as they navigate their environment while holding onto support.
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Develops leg muscles: Cruising helps strengthen a baby’s leg muscles as they support their body weight and move around
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Enhances cognitive development: Cruising helps babies develop spatial awareness and problem-solving skills as they navigate obstacles while holding onto support.
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Increases confidence and independence: Cruising helps babies gain confidence and independence as they explore their surroundings and gain a sense of control over their movements.
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Prepares for walking: Cruising helps babies develop the skills they need to take their first steps and prepares them for walking.
How to Support Your Cruising Baby
Image Source: iStock
What’s the best way to support your baby while they cruise? What safety measures should you take?
You’ve reached a major milestone in your baby’s development: they are cruising! Also known as ‘walking while holding onto something’, cruising is a sign that your baby is mastering their gross motor skills. Cruising typically starts around eight to ten months and is a key milestone for when your baby can walk.
To support your baby while they cruise, make sure any furniture they are holding onto is stable and secure. You can also practice crawling and cruising games like rolling a ball or setting up an obstacle course.
Be sure to use baby gates and other safety measures around the house to keep them out of harm’s way. This will help them to build confidence as they learn to explore their surroundings.
Baby Is Cruising – What Now?
Congratulations! Your baby has just learned how to cruise. Cruising is an important milestone in your baby’s development and involves the use of gross motor skills to pull themselves up using furniture or other support and move around the room. This milestone usually occurs when your baby is around 8-10 months old and can be an exciting moment for parents.
Now that your baby is cruising, here’s what you can expect in the coming weeks and months. Most babies are able to walk independently by 12 months, although some may take longer.
While your baby is learning to walk, you can help encourage them by providing them with plenty of opportunities to practice, such as pushing them around in a toy walker or playing games like ‘Follow the Leader’. You should also continue to practice fine motor skills with them, like finger painting and playing with puzzles.
We hope this article was helpful, and we encourage you to explore each of these sources further if you want to learn more about baby cruising.
Cruising is a big milestone for babies, as it marks the transition from sitting to standing and even walking. It’s important for parents to provide a safe environment for their babies to practice cruising, with plenty of soft and supportive surfaces nearby. With a bit of patience and practice, babies will be cruising around the house in no time!
Image Source: iStock
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