What age can baby walk

When Your Baby Starts to Walk

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Your baby learning to walk can be some of the most exciting and memorable moments of parenthood. From a very young age, your baby strengthens their muscles, slowly preparing to take their first steps. Usually between 6 and 13 months, your baby will crawl. Between 9 and 12 months, they’ll pull themselves up. And between 8 and 18 months, they’ll walk for the first time.

How Babies Develop Walking Skills

Your baby will develop many skills, including balance, coordination, standing up and supporting their body weight from one leg to the other. Each new skill will build upon the previous skills, making them more prepared to start walking.

Watching your baby take their first steps on their own is an experience you'll never forget. When your baby does start walking, it happens in stages, which include these big milestones:

6 months. Babies start to sit up on their own.

6-9 months. Babies start crawling.

9 months. Babies begin to pull themselves up on furniture like the couch or coffee table, so they can stand.

9-12 months. Babies may start to stand up, hold onto furniture and explore the room.

11-13 months. During this exciting time, you can expect to see your baby start to walk on their own.

Keep in mind that each baby is different and may start walking earlier or later than when the experts deem is "normal". There can be a lot of variation among children's development, and that's totally normal.

If your baby is 18 months or older and hasn’t started walking yet, or if you’re concerned about your child’s development, contact your pediatrician. Watch out for these warning signs of late walkers:

Your baby doesn't roll over in either direction or sit with help
Your baby doesn't support some weight on legs
Your baby doesn't try to attract your attention through their actions
Your baby doesn’t try to talk or babble
Your baby shows no interest in games of peekaboo

Ways to Help Your Baby Start Walking

To help your baby start walking, you can try the following tips:

Play together. When you’re around your baby, you can help them feel safer during playtime. That way, they're more comfortable exploring and have higher confidence.

Encourage moving. Moving around helps your baby build their muscles, which will help them when they start walking and eventually running. You can do this by kneeling in front of your baby, holding out your hands and encouraging them to come to you.

While toddlers are beginning to walk, it's normal for them to take a few spills, that's just a part of learning. While you can't save your baby from every fall, you can reduce the chance of injury.

You can help them by "baby-proofing" your home by making their space as safe as possible:

Put locks on doors and cabinets to help keep your baby away from unsafe items like chemicals
Pad sharp corners of furniture
Install a child-proof gate to prevent your baby from going down the stairs
Keep items like pots and pans on the back of your stovetop

Baby Products for Walking

Baby walkers. Medical professionals do not recommend using baby walkers. Because a walker makes it easy for your baby to get around, your baby’s leg muscles may not develop properly. Also, when a baby is propped up on a baby walker, it can be easier for them to get into things they normally wouldn’t be able to reach, like hot items or poisons that could be dangerous. This makes baby walkers even less safe.

Baby shoes. Hold off on buying baby shoes right away. Walking barefoot helps your child to develop improved balance and coordination. Wait until they start walking outside regularly until you introduce them to baby shoes.

What’s Next After Your Baby Starts Walking?

Your baby's first steps are only the beginning of an exciting new phase in their life. Here's what else you can expect as they become a toddler:

14 months: At this age, your toddler will likely be able to stand on their own, squat, stand back up, and maybe even walk backwards.
15 months: Your child will be pretty good at walking and will likely enjoy push-and-pull toys and exploring new things.
16 months: Your baby will start to show an interest in going up and down the stairs, although they will likely still look to you for help with this one.
18 months: By 18 months, your child will probably have the walking thing down and enjoy moving around on their own. They’ll probably enjoy climbing on furniture and dancing to music, too.

As your child gains more confidence and independence, it opens up all kinds of new opportunities. It’s an exciting time, so don't forget to enjoy it.

6 Signs Baby Will Walk Soon and How to Encourage Walking

From recording that first smile and rollover to proudly sharing your baby’s skill at sitting up and crawling, you’re on the edge of your rocking chair waiting for your little one’s next move.

And one of the most game-changing milestones might be approaching soon — taking those first adorable, wobbly steps.

Walking is a greatly anticipated infant achievement. It’s a sure sign that your little one is entering the toddler zone (and some serious babyproofing is in your near future).

But you might also be wondering if walking early or “late” is related to intelligence and even physical performance in the future.

While a 2015 cross-national study correlated learning to walk with advancing language abilities in infancy, rest assured: Research suggests that there’s no proven association between walking early and becoming the next Isaac Newton or Serena Williams.

In fact, according to this Swiss study in 2013, children who started walking early didn’t perform better on intelligence and motor skills tests between the ages of 7 and 18 compared to babies who did not walk early. What this study did conclude, however, is this:

There’s a tremendous variance in when babies decide to start strutting — usually between 8 1/2 and 20 months.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges that these walking-related physical milestones are typically met by age 1:

pulling up to stand
walking while holding on to furniture
may be taking a few independent steps
standing holding on and may stand alone

We know you want to capture those first steps in your heart (and on video) forever, so let’s take a more in-depth look at these and other signs that toddling is imminent.

Pulling up on furniture to stand is one of the first signs of walking readiness.

This boosts babies’ leg muscles and coordination — just think of how many squats they’re doing! Over time, the mini workouts condition your baby to stand independently, and then, move ahead with a few wobbly steps.

You can encourage this by modeling their movements while saying “up!” as they pull up, and “down!” as they squat down again.

If, out of the corner of your eye, you catch your sweet Houdini suddenly standing on top of the couch and smiling while ready to nosedive, it might be a sign that their inner confidence is shining.

While this puts you on accident alert — and on catcher’s duty — it’s a great developmental signal that your baby is confident about trying new things (however dangerous they may be). To walk independently, babies must have self-efficacy in their ability to do it.

So if you’re catching yourself helicopter-momming-it, try to find your zen and let your little explorer push their physical abilities — in a safe environment.

“Cruising” describes a baby walking while holding onto objects. They might use the coffee table to move around or lean from one object to another to work the room.

This shows that your tiny sport is learning how to shift weight and balance while taking steps. It also prepares for the ability to propel forward, which is required for walking.

To promote cruising, create a path of safe objects for your baby to grab onto and move about.

But take caution with furniture, plants, and other items that aren’t safely secured to walls or the ground. They could topple over, leading to an accidental fall or injury.

Who would have thought that the fussiness and extra-long nap could be a tip-off that your baby will soon blaze by you on their tiptoes?

Well, walking is such a big developmental milestone that it’s often accompanied by other developmental leaps. Your baby’s brain and body could be working double time, leaving a slightly less tolerant tot.

These moments of parenthood are tough, so take a deep breath and find solace knowing that (usually) things return to normal after a developmental milestone is achieved.

Offering safe, age-appropriate push-toys (not infant walkers — more on this below) can inspire your child to walk while picking up some speed.

Infant play grocery carts or musical walking toys with wheels and handles can bring joy and assistance to beginning walkers. You can also hold your baby’s hand or give them a blanket to hold while you hold the other end and walk.

The look on a baby’s face when they first stand alone is often one of accomplishment (and perhaps an ounce of fear, too).

At this moment, babies have the balance and stability to stand on their own. They often test the waters for a few seconds, and then gradually stand for longer periods of time, boosting confidence to take it a step further.

Make it a fun learning activity by slowly counting for as long as your child stands.

If your baby shows signs of readiness, consider these activities to boost their self-efficacy and strength.

To promote walking:

Deliver praise. Watch for baby’s cues that they’re ready to advance — and praise every achievement. Help when needed, and sit back with a smile when you see that glimmer of self-determination in their eyes.
Comfort a fall. Falls are inevitable in the infancy of walking, so be there to help your little one up again and console a few tears. Babyproofing is important at this stage to create the safest environment possible for your baby to explore.
Create challenges. If your baby has mastered walking on flat surfaces, challenge them by walking up and down a ramp or on a safe, uneven surface. This helps build more balance, coordination, and muscle power.
Extend a hand. Encourage your baby to walk to you as you extend your hands toward them. You can also ask them to follow you as you walk into another room.

You might want your baby to defy all statistics, but it’s vital to encourage walking in a positive, safe, and developmentally appropriate way. Here are some things to avoid.

Avoid the following:

Don’t use infant walkers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using infant walkers, citing that they’re a preventable and dangerous cause of infant injury in the United States. These injuries usually occur to the head and neck after a fall down stairs. Stationary infant activity centers (like a Jumperoo or Excersaucer) are safer bets.
Avoid pushing your own milestone goals. Be mindful of pushing children to achieve goals before they’re ready to do so on their own. This can result in negative experiences or injuries that could delay walking even further.

If your baby isn’t meeting these physical milestones by their first birthday, should you be concerned? Not quite.

The CDC recommends talking to your child’s pediatrician if they’re not walking at all by 18 months and not walking steadily by age 2 — so you have plenty of time even if your little one hasn’t started showing signs by age 1.

You may also worry that even a slight delay in walking could indicate additional developmental and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism.

While the results of a small 2012 study concluded that early motor delays may be a risk factor for future communication delays in children at risk of autism, for children with a low risk of autism, parents should not jump to this assumption.

There are many reasons for late walking in babies. Some are physical (and not common), such as:

developmental hip dysplasia
soft or weak bones (medically termed rickets)
conditions that affect the muscle (for example, muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy)

Other times, the delay could be mere personality.

While walking may seem like it’s as simple as putting one foot in front of the other, for a baby, it’s a monumental achievement that takes physical strength, confidence, and a safe place to practice.

And although your baby is smart enough to get to this milestone on their own, a supportive coach certainly doesn’t hurt, either (that’s you!).

Some of these signs might tell you that your baby is ready to walk, but each child’s “go time” is that of their own.

Lastly, if you’re ever concerned about your child’s physical development, speak to their pediatrician for professional guidance and support.

First steps. At what age does a child start walking?

- Our Vanya went today! - Mom joyfully meets dad after work, beaming with happiness. - Vanechka, look who's come! – And the hero of the holiday cautiously and timidly stupidly meets his big daddy, who throws him right up to the ceiling...

Do not compare: everything is subjective

The first steps of a baby are always a holiday, in every family. Moms on the playground show off the achievements of the little ones: Olenka has learned to crawl off the sofa, Ilyusha has been getting up and walking along the sofa for the third day already, but Vanechka took the first independent steps in his life! Ilyushin's mother is upset - after all, her son is a whole month older, but he still does not walk.

There is no need to be upset at all! The age when babies begin to walk without leaning on a wall or other support ranges from 8 to 14 months - everyone is different. Experts call different numbers. It is recommended to consult a doctor if the baby is one and a half years old, and he still has not gone. In other sources, the upper limit is 16 months.

As you can see, the age of the first independent steps for each child is very individual, as well as the growth schedule and other physical achievements.

Babies walk differently

The moment when the baby gets into his bed and, holding tightly to the sides, awkwardly steps along the crib, in fact, is considered the beginning of walking. The delighted mother rushes things, takes the baby out of the crib and puts it on the floor in order to finally walk around the room with him by the hand. Do not hurry! With exercises in the crib, the little one strengthens its still clumsy legs, training the muscles and making them stronger.

The gait of toddlers is not at all like the gait of adults. No wonder - after all, it will form only by the age of 4-5, at the same age characteristic synchronous movements of the arms and legs will appear, when the right arm rises simultaneously with the left leg in the swing, and vice versa (it looks as if a person is marching at a free pace ; actually, after all, all people walk like that).

In the meantime, children who are or are about to turn one year old walk with their legs wide apart for balance, while the feet are turned outward, and the legs themselves are bent at the knee and hip joints. At the age of 2-3 years, babies walk differently: their legs are almost straightened, that is, they are practically not bent at the knees, so it seems that the baby has stood on stilts.

Barefoot or shoes?

Every mother is sure that the first steps are the signal to buy a whole arsenal of new children's shoes. Interlaced sandals with beads, tiny shoes with rhinestones, demi-season boots decorated with flowers, elegant sneakers with a fashionable print. However, when choosing shoes, the main criterion should remain quality and comfort, and only then - the appearance and synchronization with children's fashion trends.

So, what is the best way for a baby to start a new life – in slippers or socks, or even barefoot?

Orthopedists recommend taking the first step in shoes that are necessarily equipped with an arch support. They claim that this serves as a prevention of flat feet, in addition, shoes limit the foot and prevent it from spreading. But differences of opinion exist even among orthopedists. In the book " Take off your shoes - and go " American orthopedist Simon Wikler concludes based on his own research: the more a person walks barefoot and the more flexible the sole of his shoes, the healthier his foot. He recommends letting children go barefoot more often.

There are other opinions that coincide with this « barefoot » theory, but with an important correction: babies must walk with bare feet, but not at home, on a smooth laminate or tile, but in nature. On sand or pebbles, on grass or a path in the garden - any natural uneven surface is good here. Grains of sand and pebbles, blades of grass and the relief pattern of paths irritate the skin of the foot. And she, in turn, sends nerve signals to the muscles, which react with the formation of the correct arch of the foot, the very springy arch that does not imprint on the trace of a healthy leg, developed without pathologies. It is this arch that helps to form the arch support in orthopedic shoes.

When a child starts walking and how to help him

October 12, 2019 Likbez Tips

One and a half - it's not too late. Have patience.

When the child should go

Pediatricians agree on some things. The average child takes their first step at 12 months. The key word here is average. And your unique one has every right (approved by pediatricians and physiologists) to go to a different age.

The scope of the norm in this case varies very widely - from 8 months to one and a half years.

Many parents are proud that their children start walking earlier than most. It seems to them that this speaks of the development of the child. But this is just a far-fetched excuse to amuse their parental vanity.

The period in which the child will go is related to his development, physical or intellectual abilities in exactly the same way as the shape of the nose or the color of the hair. In plain text, no way. Someone is red, someone has gray eyes, and someone went on their own at 8 months.

However, there are still certain situations when a delay in starting to walk should alert.

When to start worrying

First of all, a healthy baby must somehow take the first independent step before 20 months. By this age, the children have grown strong enough that it was given to them without much effort. If the child refuses to walk or does it only with support, it is necessary to contact the pediatrician. You may need additional examinations from other specialized specialists - an orthopedist or a neuropathologist.

Secondly, the big picture is important. It's one thing if the child does not walk, but his motor functions are obviously developing: he confidently rolls over, sits down, reaches for toys, crawls, tries to rise against the wall of the crib or climb onto the sofa, jumps enthusiastically when you hold him by the hands. And it’s quite another if his physical activity seems insufficient to you. This is also a serious reason to additionally consult a doctor.

If none of these situations apply to you and your children, relax. The child will definitely start walking as soon as he is ready for it.

What determines when a child goes

By and large, this is a lottery. No pediatrician will undertake to predict the exact dates, even observing a specific baby from birth and knowing everything about the family history. However, there are some regularities that allow us to make assumptions.

Here are the main factors that can affect (but not necessarily) the age at which a child takes his first independent steps.

Genetics

If a father or mother started walking at an early age, children will probably inherit this feature. The reverse is also true. If, for example, a father preferred to crawl for up to a year and a half, his son may choose the same tactic.

Weight and body type

Plumper and heavier children find it harder to get on their feet and balance than their leaner and more muscular buddies.

Some personality traits

Getting to your feet and taking the first step without support is quite a risky undertaking. Some children act on the principle of "head into the pool": they simply remove their hands from the wall or sofa and step into the unknown. Of course, they fall, sometimes it hurts, but they try again. Perhaps this propensity for risky behavior is a part of their character that will stay with them forever.

Other infants, on the other hand, behave in a more measured manner, walking only when they are sure that they can cope with this task. Caution and the ability to calculate their own strengths can also be innate features of their personality.

Duration of pregnancy

Children who were born prematurely, as a rule, begin to walk a little later than their peers.

How to help your child take the first step and begin to walk confidently

It is impossible to force children to go to a certain date. Walking, for all its seeming simplicity, is a very complex and energy-intensive process: what does it take to maintain balance on one leg at the moment when the other takes a step. The body of the child must mature for this stage. But you can help. True, you will have to start long before the first step.

What to do at 2 months

Around this age, babies first try to roll over. Encourage this movement. Lay out your child more often in a soft, safe space filled with bright toys - so that you want to look at them and, possibly, get them.

Encourage children to spend more time on their stomachs. Trying to raise your head and look at the world around you strengthens the muscles of your back and neck, which play an important role in maintaining balance while walking.

What to do at 4-6 months

The period when the child learns to sit up and possibly crawl. Provide a place to explore the world: let the children spend more time not in a crib or playpen, but on the floor - spread out some blankets and lay out toys. Trying to reach objects is a great workout for small muscles.

What to do at 6–8 months

The child is already sitting confidently, or even crawling. Give him tasks for dynamics: for example, roll a bright ball on the floor so that you want to catch it. Such a ball hunt trains the vestibular apparatus and coordination.

Another exercise that has the same purpose is as follows: make the child sit with his back to you and rock gently.

What to do around 8 months old

As babies become stronger and more curious, they tend to break away from their usual gender. For example, get a toy lurking on the couch. Or try to climb on mom (dad), holding on to trousers or a bathrobe with your hands.

Encourage these movements. Put your favorite bear cubs out in a conspicuous place. Or, when the child is sitting, invitingly stretch your hands towards him from the height of your own height, without bending down, to encourage him to reach out to you.

If you see that the child is ready to get up, help him to do it. And then show how to bend your knees to get back on the safe floor.

During this period, it would be good to buy a stationary game center, which you can play with just getting up. This encourages children to spend more time standing up.

What to do at 9-10 months

Teach your child to stand without support. At least a couple of seconds. To do this, at a time when he is holding on to something, offer to take his favorite or new toy. This will force him to take his hands off the support.

A slightly more advanced exercise: help the child stand up and then give a plastic stick as a support. Carefully move the object - the baby will start to follow him. A stroller can also play the role of a wand: put it next to it during a walk, let it grab the frame and slowly move forward.

Heavy stable toys on wheels (toy lawn mowers, carts) will also be a good simulator: by pushing them in front of them, children learn to do step by step.

What to do at 10 months and older

At this age, many children can already walk. But often they are afraid of a large open space around. Make sure that the child has the opportunity to move “along the wall” - that is, in a maximum of a step or two, move from one support to another. This will create a sense of security.

To get children to go out into the open, you can use a regular gymnastics hoop. Throw it on the child, giving him the opportunity to lean on his hands, and lead the hoop to the center of the room.