Although crawling gives babies a new perspective on the world around them, they observe people walking and strive to do the same. In preparation for this important milestone, babies begin pulling themselves up to a standing position. Once they feel secure standing, they start taking tentative steps while holding on to furniture. As their balance improves, they will occasionally take a few steps on their own, reaching for support only when they stumble. Because learning to walk includes many falls, it's important to arrange the environment to remove or protect children from dangerous things like sharp edges on tables or fireplaces.