The Playbook

Your Baby at 10 Months: Cruising, Waving and Outdoor Adventures

By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed . 2 min read.

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

Your to-do list this month

  • Plan a weekly outdoor adventure: a trail with a carrier, a playground baby swing, a lake to throw rocks into (you throw).
  • Check every room again for things a standing baby can now reach: tablecloths, cords, mugs on low tables.
  • Offer a cup with meals so your baby practices drinking from it.
  • Start a 'first year' photo book or video so it's ready for the birthday.
A conversation to have this month

"How do we want to celebrate the first birthday, and how big?" Small and nap-friendly beats big and overtired.

What your baby is doing

Ten-month-olds are often pulling up to stand, cruising along furniture, and maybe standing alone for a moment. Many wave bye-bye, play pat-a-cake, and point at things they want. They understand many more words than they can say: try “Where’s the dog?” and watch them look.

By the first birthday, the CDC lists milestones like waving bye-bye, calling a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name, understanding “no,” pulling up to stand, and walking while holding on to furniture.

Safety for a standing baby

A baby who can stand can reach new things. The AAP suggests checking:

  • Tablecloths and dangling cords that can pull heavy or hot things down.
  • Hot drinks on low tables or in your hand while holding the baby.
  • Furniture corners at head height.
  • Windows: keep furniture away from them and use window guards or stops on upper floors.
  • Pools, tubs and buckets: a baby can drown in a few inches of water.

Rear-facing, still

The AAP recommends keeping your child rear-facing as long as their seat allows. The first birthday isn’t a switch-to-forward-facing date. Use the car seat stage finder with your seat’s limits to see where you stand.

Dad adventures

At 10 months, babies love being out in the world with you. Ideas that work:

  • Trail walks with a carrier or a hiking backpack if your baby has solid head and trunk control and meets the pack’s weight minimum.
  • Playground baby swings, with you pushing (gently) and making faces.
  • Splash time in a shallow kiddie pool, with you within arm’s reach the entire time.
  • The library for baby story time, often packed with other parents.

Your baby doesn’t need a destination. They need you narrating the world.

Frequently asked questions

Does my baby need shoes for cruising and early walking?

Not indoors. Barefoot helps babies balance and build foot strength. Use soft, flexible shoes outside to protect feet.

Can my baby face forward in the car after the first birthday?

The AAP recommends staying rear-facing as long as possible, until your child reaches the highest weight or height allowed by the seat's rear-facing limits. For most kids, that's well past age 2.

Sources

  1. Milestones by 1 Year, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  2. Home Safety: Tips for Families With Young Children, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
  3. Car Seats: Information for Families, AAP (HealthyChildren.org)

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.