During the first few years of life, a baby's brain develops at an extraordinary pace, forming millions of new neural connections. These connections support learning, movement, memory and coordination, laying the foundations for lifelong development.

Babies are born with soft spots, known as fontanelles, where their skull bones haven't fully joined together. These flexible areas allow the brain and skull to grow rapidly during infancy. The soft spots gradually close as your baby develops.

Unlike an adult's skull, a baby's skull consists of several bones connected by flexible sutures. These allow the skull to expand as the brain grows. Over time, the bones gradually become more firmly joined, providing a stronger protective structure.

Learning to walk is an exciting milestone that requires developing muscle strength, coordination and confidence. Most babies begin walking independently between 12 and 18 months, although every child develops at their own pace. Those early wobbles and tumbles are a normal part of learning.

Babies have proportionally larger heads and are still developing the balance and coordination needed to navigate their surroundings. Creating a safe environment, securing furniture, removing sharp hazards and supervising play are essential ways to reduce the risk of head injuries.

Balance is a skill that develops through movement and experience. As babies crawl, pull themselves up and begin walking, their brains learn to coordinate information from their eyes, inner ears, muscles and joints. Every new movement helps strengthen their coordination and stability.

A newborn's head makes up approximately one-quarter of their total body length, compared with around one-eighth in adults. This larger head-to-body proportion, combined with developing muscles and balance, can make babies more likely to lose their stability as they learn to move.