When Do Babies Start Walking? A Complete Guide

Those first wobbly steps are one of the most anticipated milestones of babyhood. When will it happen? Is your baby on track? What can you do to help? This guide covers everything you need to know about the journey from crawler to walker.

When Do Babies Typically Start Walking? AAP

The age range for first steps is much broader than many parents realize:

Very early walkers (9-10 months): A small percentage of babies walk this early. These early walkers often have older siblings to imitate and may be naturally inclined toward gross motor development.

Early walkers (10-12 months): Many babies take their first steps around their first birthday. This is often considered "average," though it's really the early side of the normal range.

Typical walkers (12-15 months): This is actually the most common age range for independent walking. If your baby isn't walking at 12 months, they're well within normal limits.

Later walkers (15-18 months): Many perfectly healthy babies don't walk until 15-18 months. This is still considered within the normal range, though your pediatrician may want to monitor development more closely.

Beyond 18 months: If your baby isn't walking by 18 months, your pediatrician will want to evaluate. This doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem, but it warrants assessment.

The key point: The "normal" range for walking is approximately 9-18 months. Most babies walk between 12-15 months. Your baby's timeline is their own.

The Stages Before Walking CDC

Walking doesn't happen all at once. It's the culmination of a series of developmental steps:

Rolling and pivoting (3-6 months): Your baby is building the core strength and body awareness that will eventually support walking.

Sitting independently (6-8 months): Sitting without support shows that your baby has developed core stability and balance—both essential for walking.

Crawling (7-10 months): Crawling builds strength, coordination, and cross-body movement patterns. Not all babies crawl, but it's beneficial for walking development.

Pulling to stand (8-10 months): This shows your baby has the arm strength and motivation to get upright. It's exciting—but expect lots of falls as they figure it out!

Cruising (9-12 months): Walking while holding onto furniture shows your baby is developing balance and leg strength. They're practicing the mechanics of walking with support.

Standing independently (10-13 months): Before walking, babies need to be able to balance while standing without holding anything. This might be brief at first—a few seconds before plopping down.

First steps (9-15 months): Those first independent steps! They're typically wobbly and wide-legged, with arms held up for balance.

Walking confidently (12-18 months): Over weeks to months, walking becomes steadier, arms drop to the sides, and eventually running begins!

What Determines When Babies Walk AAP

Several factors influence when your individual baby will walk:

Muscle strength and tone: Walking requires significant leg, core, and upper body strength. Babies who are naturally stronger may walk earlier.

Balance and coordination: Some babies develop balance more quickly than others. This is partly neurological development and partly practice.

Body proportions: Babies with larger heads relative to their bodies may have a slightly harder time balancing. Babies who are heavier may need more leg strength.

Motivation and personality: Some babies are very motivated to move and explore; others are more content to observe. Motivated babies often walk earlier.

Opportunity for practice: Babies who spend lots of time on the floor have more opportunity to develop walking skills than those who spend most of their time in containers.

Genetics: If parents or siblings walked early or late, your baby may follow a similar pattern.

Birth history: Premature babies may walk later, as their adjusted age is used for developmental milestones.

How to Support Walking Development CDC

While you can't force your baby to walk, you can create conditions that support development:

Maximize floor time: Babies need lots of opportunity to move freely. Time spent in bouncers, jumpers, and exersaucers doesn't support walking development as effectively as floor play.

Let baby go barefoot: Bare feet provide better sensory feedback and grip than shoes or socks. Let your baby practice walking barefoot indoors.

Provide stable support: Sturdy furniture at the right height lets your baby pull up and cruise safely. Push toys with stable bases help them practice walking with support.

Create motivation: Stand a few feet away and encourage your baby to walk to you. Place interesting objects just out of reach so they have reason to move.

Minimize "helpful" equipment: Baby walkers (the kind baby sits in) are not recommended—they can be dangerous and may actually delay walking. Babies in walkers learn different movement patterns than those needed for walking.

Follow their lead: Let your baby set the pace. Forcing them to walk before they're ready doesn't speed development and can be frustrating for both of you.

Celebrate attempts: Praise your baby's efforts, not just successes. Getting up, falling down, and trying again is how they learn!

Common Concerns About Walking AAP

Parents often worry about various aspects of walking development:

Flat feet: All babies have flat feet! The arch develops over years and isn't fully formed until ages 6-8. Flat feet in babies and toddlers are normal.

Bow legs: Most babies have bowed legs until around age 2, when legs typically straighten. This is normal and doesn't interfere with walking.

Toe walking: Some toe walking is normal when babies first learn to walk. If your child is still primarily toe walking after several months of walking or after age 2, mention it to your pediatrician.

Walking on toes: Similar to toe walking, some babies prefer their toes. Usually this resolves, but persistent toe walking warrants evaluation.

Unusual gait: All new walkers have unusual gaits! Wide stance, arms up, and wobbly steps are normal. Concerning signs would include significant asymmetry or persistent abnormalities.

Falling frequently: New walkers fall—a lot! This is normal and how they learn. Concern would be if falling is excessive or seems related to weakness or coordination problems.

What About Baby Walkers and Jumpers? AAP

Baby walkers (the seated type that rolls) are strongly discouraged by the AAP:

Safety concerns are significant: Baby walkers cause thousands of injuries each year. Babies can roll down stairs, tip over, access dangerous items, and reach things they shouldn't.

They may delay walking: Studies suggest babies who use walkers may walk slightly later than those who don't. Walkers allow babies to move without using the muscle patterns needed for real walking.

Better alternatives exist: Push toys (where baby walks behind and pushes the toy), stationary activity centers, and simple floor play are safer options.

Jumpers and bouncers in moderation are generally considered safe, but they don't teach walking skills. The bouncing motion is different from walking, and time in these devices is time not spent developing real walking skills on the floor.

When to Talk to Your Pediatrician CDC

While there's a wide normal range, discuss with your doctor if:

• Your baby isn't pulling to stand by 12 months
• Your baby isn't walking by 18 months
• Your baby was walking but has stopped or regressed
• Walking seems unusually unstable or asymmetric
• Your baby seems to have weakness in one or both legs
• Your baby walks only on toes consistently
• You have any concerns about your baby's motor development

Your pediatrician can assess whether your baby is developing normally or whether evaluation by a specialist might be helpful.

Safety Once Baby Is Walking CDC

A walking baby can access more things and move faster. Safety updates are essential:

Secure all furniture: Tall furniture should be anchored to walls. Walking babies love to pull on things for balance, and furniture can tip.

Gate stairs: Use hardware-mounted gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Walking babies can climb stairs but can't descend safely.

Remove hazards: Reevaluate your space from a walking toddler's perspective. They can reach higher now!

Check outdoor spaces: Driveways, pools, and streets are now accessible to your walking child. Fence pools, check gates, and supervise outdoor time closely.

First shoes: Once your baby is walking outdoors, they need shoes with flexible soles that protect their feet while still allowing natural movement. Indoors, barefoot is still best.

What Comes After Walking AAP

Once walking is established, development continues rapidly:

Walking steadily (within weeks to months): Gait becomes smoother, arms drop, and falls become less frequent.

Running (14-18 months): What looks like fast walking becomes true running, though it's still awkward.

Climbing (12-18 months): Stairs, furniture, and playground equipment become irresistible. Supervision is essential!

Kicking a ball (18-24 months): Coordination improves enough to kick at a stationary ball.

Jumping (20-24 months): Jumping with both feet leaving the ground emerges in the second year.

The Bottom Line

Every baby walks on their own timeline. The normal range is broad—from 9 to 18 months—and where your baby falls in that range doesn't predict future athleticism or abilities. Your role is to provide opportunities, ensure safety, and celebrate every wobbly step.

Clara is here to answer questions about your baby's walking development!