Letting Go of Furniture & Taking First Steps

Cruising along furniture gives your baby a taste of what it will be like to walk. They are building confidence and stability.

But often, even the most confident cruisers are hesitant to let go of a supportive surface like the couch.

If your baby is still at the stage of cruising around furniture, and you want to help them build the confidence to let go…

Try this:

Arrange two pieces of furniture, like the couch and ottoman, close together for “island hopping."

“Island hopping” is what I call it when babies transfer (in standing) from one supportive surface to another, with brief moments of letting go of all support. 

Start with two pieces of supportive furniture close enough together that your baby can easily transfer between the two, without letting go. Then, slowly start moving one supportive surface further away, so that your baby has to reach further to transfer. Eventually, they may start to briefly let go of all supportive surfaces to go between the two. 

Be sure to provide your child with lots of opportunities for trial and error!

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P.S. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for skilled physical therapy intervention. While I am a physical therapist, I am not your child's physical therapist. If you have questions or concerns about your child's health and/or development, please contact your pediatrician.