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21st June 2024
04:40pm BST
When a baby begins to walk on their own, it's their first showing of independence.
It's also when the real fun begins, as their curiosity leads to wandering, climbing, and even running once they get the hang of it.
While all babies are different, most babies will start walking between about 10 and 18 months old, though some may walk as early as nine months old, according to WebMD.
There has been a lot of research in this area to better understand why some tots start building the skill earlier than others. Some suggest that that they are more likely to have great success in later life.
One area of research suggested that babies who are early walkers may have above-average intelligence in another area of their lives as they grow.
A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) found that babies who are early standers and walkers have higher cognitive test scores at age four.
Akhgar Ghassabian, MD, PhD., a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and lead author of the study, says the findings are consistent with studies in the area from decades ago.
He added that the age a child achieved major milestones of standing or walking was also a predictor of later child performance in memory.
More research indicated that babies who walk early on may learn languages quicker than others.
In this study, scientists observed the communication between babies and their parents, from hand gestures to verbal cues.
They found that parents's positive interest in their new walking abilities may aid their verbal development.
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