Transcript: 7 Secrets That Turn Baby’s First Steps From Wobbles Into Confidence
This is a text transcript from The First Time Mum’s Chat podcast. The episode is called 7 Secrets That Turn Baby’s First Steps From Wobbles Into Confidence and you can click on the link to view the full episode page, listen to the episode and view the show notes.
Are those first wobbly steps leaving you wondering what comes next? Welcome to First Time Mum’s Chat, the podcast for new moms who want to feel more confident, calm and connected on their parenting journey. I’m your host Helen Thompson, a baby massage instructor, an early childhood educator with over 20 years of experience supporting families just like yours.
In this episode of our ‘Move, Play, Grow series, we are stepping into the exciting stage after your baby starts walking. Because let’s be honest, those first few steps are just the beginning.
This stage is full of wobbles, hesitations, surprising bursts of bravery, and the occasional bump into the coffee table. So how can you help your baby build real walking confidence without pushing too fast?
Listen now to discover how to gently support your baby as they build coordination and balance. Why rhythm, repetition and simple songs can turn hesitant steps into confident movement, when to offer your hand and when to step back as they explore independence. And how to create a safe, encouraging space that helps your baby try, pause, fall and dry again. Why this stage matters for emotional development, brain body connection, and nervous system regulation.
I’ll also share one of my favorite personal stories from my time as a nanny, where a little girl found her walking rhythm with the help of music, encouragement, and a moment of gentle letting go. So if your baby is just finding their feet or zooming off faster than you expected, this episode is packed with helpful insights and heartfelt moments to support you both.
Ready to help your little one walk with more confidence? Let’s explore this next step together.
It’s one thing to know your baby is ready to walk on her own. It’s another to know how to let go at just the right moment. This first story is a perfect example of how a gentle nudge combined with the rhythm and trust, can help a hesitant walker take those early steps towards independence without even realizing it.
One little girl I worked with, actually the same determined little walker I mentioned in the last episode was incredibly capable, but she just didn’t have the confidence yet to walk independently. Whenever we went outside or were heading out to play, she always reached for my hand and truthfully, I didn’t mind. I quite liked the little hand in mine.
But I also knew she was ready to take that next step. So I encouraged her in ways that felt fun and safe. I asked her what her favorite song was, and every time she seemed a little hesitant, we’d sing it together. The rhythm gave her something to focus on and helped take her mind off the uncertainty.
And then one day as we were singing, I quietly let go of her hand. She kept walking without realizing and when she finally noticed, she plopped right down on the graph with a big smile. It wasn’t a fall, it was a moment of surprise. And from that point on, she began trying more often on her own.
It was just a reminder that sometimes a little rhythm and reassurance is all it takes to help confidence bloom.
Of course, sometimes letting go isn’t just hard for the child. It’s tough for us as parents or caregivers too. In this next story, I’ll share how a fiercely independent toddler and her parents navigated these blurry lines between holding on and stepping back.
I remember a child I worked with in a childcare setting. She had just learned to walk and was very wobbly on her feet. She was fiercely independent and incredibly determined, always wanting to do things on her own terms. Her parents told me that they felt unsure how to help her because they didn’t know when to hold on and when to step back.
As a former swimming instructor and a qualified childcare educator, I’d seen the same dilemma both in the classroom and in the water. Sometimes it’s harder to let go than to hold on.
It can be frustrating, especially when you’re in a hurry to get somewhere. But giving children the space to explore, even if it means a few wobbles and falls, it’s how they build confidence and coordination. My advice here? Allow yourself more time than you think you need. That way there’s no pressure and both you and your child can enjoy the process.
Letting go gently and supportively can be the biggest gift we can give our little ones.
Looking back at these stories, whether it’s a baby pulling to stand or a toddler finding their balance, it’s clear that confidence doesn’t just appear overnight. It’s built step by step or sway by sway!
And here’s where rhythm and repetition play a powerful role. I’ve seen time and time again, how musical games, songs with action, simple clapping patterns, or even tapping out a beat on the floor help little ones find their footing.
Why? Because repetition creates familiarity. And when a movement is tied to a song or a simple pattern, children begin to anticipate what comes next. The predictability gives them the courage to try again. It’s like their brain says, “oh, I’ve done this before. I know how this goes!” So whether you are singing, “If You’re Happy and You Know It” while bouncing together or gently tapping a beat on the side of the sofa, as they pull to stand, you are supporting their nervous system, their coordination and their confidence.
Sometimes it’s not encouragement or instruction that sparks a breakthrough, it’s joy. In this final story. I’d like to take you inside a magical moment of rhythm, scarves and spontaneous movement that reminded me just how naturally confidence can bloom when a child is engaged and having fun. And I’ll also share a little bit about my own journey in learning to walk.
I remember a beautiful moment from my time working in the baby room of a childcare center. One of the little girls had just begun standing confidently without support. She could manage a few steps here and there, but she wasn’t quite ready to fully take off walking just yet. Then one day we put on one of my favorite songs, If You’re Happy and You Know It. The educators began dancing with scarfs and streamers, and the energy in the room was full of joy and rhythm. This little one stood watching, clearly captivated. Then completely in the moment, she started tapping her feet to the beat, and before we knew it, she took a few confident steps towards the scarf that had landed nearby. She stumbled just before she reached it, but she immediately got up and tried again, smiling the whole time.
It was a lovely reminder that children often find their confidence, not when we push them, but when they’re engaged, having fun and surrounded by support.
It also took me back to my own early days. I didn’t just get up and walk straight away. I took my first steps before I turned one, but it wasn’t until I was around 12 months that I truly began walking confidently on my own. Like many little ones, I needed time, space, and a sense of security to make that transition.
That experience stays with me when I support families today. Parents often worry that their child isn’t walking on schedule, but I always reassure them that every baby has their own rhythm, whether it’s through music, movement or simple encouragement, confidence builds step by step, and sometimes all it takes is a song and a waving scarf to spark that next stride.
What really struck me about that moment wasn’t that she took those steps. It was how she responded when she fell. She didn’t cry or freeze. She got up with a smile and tried again. That’s where real confidence begins. Not in the step itself, but in a willingness to keep going.
This idea feels familiar to me, not just as someone who works with children, but through my own personal journey too. Over the years I’ve seen again and again, how powerful familiarity and repetition can be. Their bodies start to remember. This feels familiar, i’ve done this before. And with that comfort, they try again.
Rhythm and repetition play such a powerful role in that process. When we give children music to move to, patterns to anticipate and safe spaces to explore, it strengthens both their physical coordination and their emotional resilience.
And looking back, I’m so grateful my parents gently encouraged me when I was finding my feet. They didn’t rush me. They believed in me. That early support helped shape how I approach challenges even as an adult. And it’s something I always try to pass on, whether I’m working with a baby learning to walk, or a mom learning to trust her own instincts.
Because these small moments? They’re never really small.
I hope these stories remind you that growth doesn’t always happen in big leaps. It’s often in the small, quiet moments where confidence begins to shine. And as you support your little one through these milestones, know that it is not about perfection, it’s about being present and willing to walk beside them step by step.
It reminds me a little of that beautiful image from the poem, Footprints in the sand, often attributed to Mary Stevenson, that during our more challenging moments, we’re never really walking alone. And in those early steps your baby takes, whether they’re stumbling, pausing, or hesitating, they’re not doing it alone either. Your presence, even when you are quietly in the background, gives them the strength to keep going. Sometimes, simply being there is more than enough.
So if your little one is wobbling, pausing or needing that extra hand to feel safe, know that every small effort they make counts. And your presence, your voice, your rhythm, it all helps guide them forward.
Thanks so much for joining me for this episode of First Time Mum’s Chat. I hope today’s stories and insights have helped you feel more reassured and inspired as you support your little one through these early steps wobbles, falls and all.
Remember, walking isn’t just a milestone, it’s a process of building confidence, connection, and coordination. And it’s not about how fast they get there, but how supported they feel along the way.
If this episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear from you. You can contact me on Instagram at @firsttimemumschat, send me a message or share one of your own walking stories. It’s always so lovely to hear how your little ones are growing.
In our next and final episode of this ‘Move, Play, Grow’ series, we’re shifting the spotlight to toddlers and beyond, diving into how movement continues to support learning, regulation and emotional growth as your child becomes more mobile and curious. I’ll be sharing how brain gym activities and music-based play can build those amazing brain-body connections.
I am also playing around with an idea for a Sing and Rhyme With Your Baby course, and I’d love to know if it’s something you’d be interested in. Your feedback helps me shape what’s truly helpful to you. You can always connect with me on Instagram @firsttimemumschat or send me a quick message. I love learning your stories and ideas.