Forget the fancy walkers, this mom used just two items to help her toddler take her first steps

Sometimes, parenting advice comes from the most unexpected places and turns out to be just what one needed. That’s exactly what happened to Beth, a mom of six, when a kind elderly woman stopped her one day and asked, “Is your little girl walking yet?” When Beth said no, the woman offered a simple tip: “Stand her up, place two objects in her hands, and she will walk.” Curious but unsure, Beth decided to give it a try. 

To her surprise, it worked. Her daughter, holding a block in each hand, took her very first steps and even turned around, like she’d been walking for days. With a wobble here and there and a determination in her step, she even turns around confidently, to the amazement of her mom behind the camera. Beth captured the moment on video and shared it on TikTok under her handle @beth86455, where it quickly touched hearts and went viral. In the clip, the overlay text read, “Bumped into an old lady who asked if my girl was walking yet. I told her no, she said, ‘Stand her up, place two objects in her hands and she will walk.’ I can’t actually believe my eyes. The turn at the end.” 

It might sound like a parenting trick passed down through folklore, but there’s actually some science behind it. Pediatric occupational therapists often explain that giving babies something to hold can offer a sense of balance and distraction from the fear of falling. It mimics the security of holding onto furniture or a caregiver’s hands, but gives them more freedom to take those brave first steps. According to child development research, infants generally begin walking between 9 and 15 months, and feeling secure is a major factor. The act of holding objects can reduce the fear associated with standing or stepping independently, and promote muscle memory and balance.

The video, which quickly gained traction on TikTok, prompted a flurry of heartfelt and funny responses. @Stephanie, offering an insightful explanation, said, “It gives them the sense of security that they are holding a stable object. They don’t realize it’s moving with them.”@Jessica Richards talked about a personal moment, and mentioned, “My daughter has cerebral palsy and crawled for the first time at 14 months yesterday, and I literally cried. I was so proud of her.”Others chimed in with a dose of humor and realism, like @Hailee, who said: “Everyone wants their baby to walk until you have to chase them because they have something they shouldn't.”

And for some, like @Kate Tyler, the moment brought back memories: “My eldest was 10 months old, I was holding someone else’s baby, and she got up and ran to me like she’d been walking her whole life.” Many applauded Beth for taking the advice without brushing it off. @DandelionDazeFarm wrote,“ Good for you for taking the advice and not being offended!” Meanwhile, @Vicky x said, “I hope you see that lady again so you can tell her that what she said worked.”

 You can follow @beth86455on TikTok for more videos like this.