I know babies start walking at all different ages. My question is, at what age should you start trying to get the baby to walk? Will they just do it on their own, or do you really have to encourage those first steps?

I'd wait until the kid is crawling before trying to teach it to walk. Those little legs aren't all that strong for a while. LOL

My sister's little girl walked at 9 months. But I think that was extremely early though.

I am unsure of the proper age to start walking. I remember my mother telling me that my sister (the oldest) learned to crawl back wards, he he. I think my -son was walking at about 7-9 months, 9 I know for sure, and I am sitting here looking at a picture that has no date on it (figures).My advice: time stamp all your pictures, just in case. :)