One Step at a Time: Celebrating the Baby Cruising Milestone

I’ve recently discovered a thrilling new way to explore my world. By standing tall and moving sideways like a little crab! This exciting phase is called the baby cruising milestone, and it’s what happens after a toddler pulls up to stand but before full-on walking takes over. My legs are wobbly but determined, and my fingers grip tight as I chart new territory one step at a time.

Over the last few months, I have been working very hard on gaining mastery of my lazy feet. I have made immense progress, and I continue to develop my new abilities every day. I don’t even go plunkers as much anymore. I rarely go plunkers while I’m sitting, and from a standing position I only plunk a handful of times per day.

I can now consistently pull myself up from the ground to my feet. It’s not always easy, but I can always manage to figure out a way. All I need is something to hold on to. Sturdy furniture works best, but Mommy’s hands are a decent substitute.

The Baby Cruising Milestone

I am now able to navigate my way around the room while holding onto things. I used to have a great deal of trouble with this. It was hard to figure out when to move which foot. I spent many hours practicing at the coffee table.

At first I could only go to my right for some reason. With a bit of practice I learned how to travel from one end of the table to the other and then back again. It took a lot of walking along the edge of that coffee table, but it was well worth it. Now, in addition to the coffee table, I can use the couches, TV stand, bench, ottoman, and cabinet to move around the living room.

Mommy bought a few play tables for me to help me move around better. They can easily be moved to bridge gaps between furniture so that I have something to hold onto in those areas. The play tables are very useful, and they are also fun to play with.

With the help of these additions and a strategically placed ottoman, I am able to walk anywhere I want within the area of the living room designated as my “baby zone.” Sometimes I venture out of this area on an expedition, but I generally crawl while I’m exploring. It’s the safer mode of travel.

What Goes Up Must Come Down

There is only one downside to standing. Sooner or later, you have to get back down to the ground. It’s a bit scary to do that. It starts off well enough, but there comes a point where you simply have to let go and allow yourself to deliberately plunk back down to the ground. I’m getting better at it, but I haven’t mastered that move just yet.

Standing and walking have given me the ability to reach things that were previously unreachable. I also enjoy bringing my toys up with me. Then when I throw them, they make even more noise, and I like that. Another benefit of standing is that I can see around me better. Sometimes I spot new ways to have fun that I would never have noticed from the ground.

Standing and walking may pose some challenges, but it’s worth the effort. If you haven’t mastered it yet, I recommend it. Stick with it and you can be just as good at it as I am. Don’t give up!

So now, every time I pull myself up and cruise along the furniture, I feel like I’m unlocking a new superpower. This baby cruising milestone is more than just practice. It’s my way of discovering the world, one wobbly step at a time. If you’re a toddler pulling up to stand and wondering what comes next, cruising is where the fun begins. Keep going, keep gripping, and soon you’ll be zooming like me.