There are many reasons a child may walk later than others. Heredity plays a part; if either parent was a late walker, there's a chance the baby will be as well. Sometimes babies who are big walk later because they have more weight to support, and building up strength takes time.
Most children are able to walk alone by 11-15 months but the rate of development is very variable. Some children will fall outside the expected range and yet still walk normally in the end. Walking is considered to be delayed if it has not been achieved by 18 months.
Let us put your mind at ease: Research shows that early walkers are not more advanced or intelligent. In fact, by the time young children start school, those who started walking later are just as well-coordinated and intelligent as those who pushed off early.
Every child is different and delays reaching milestones are not always a sign of a more significant problem. Many children start walking around or just after their first birthday, however, if a child is not walking by 18 months old, it is time for a more detailed assessment by a paediatrician.
Some toddlers may not walk until closer to 18 months. Both are normal. In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new developmental guidelines. According to the new guidelines, a toddler should walk unassisted by the end of 18 months.
If a baby is not walking by 16-23 months, a medical examination should be conducted to check their muscle strength, range of motion, and joint flexibility. Delayed walking could be an initial warning sign for cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or other genetic conditions.
Yet both are wrong: Studies show no significant differences between boys and girls when it comes to these motor skills in infancy. Both sexes generally start walking independently after turning 1, often around month 14. Still, some parents believe boys start sooner.
Most children start walking between 11 and 16 months, but some will wait until 18 months with no need to worry, says Dr. Jean-François Lemay, a developmental pediatrician at the University of Calgary. “The quality of movement is sometimes more important than the child's ability to stand on two feet,” he says.
They've also concluded that, due to their findings, a slower walking pace can be used as a flag to indicate that an individual has a poorer overall physical fitness, and is thus a prime candidate for cardiovascular disease (amongst other things), citing a need for greater physical health.
(3) showed that autistic children between the ages of 3 and 10 walk somewhat like Parkinsonian adults in that they walk more slowly than normal, with shorter steps.
A pattern of behavioral (such as delayed walking) and genetic features seen in some cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) could ultimately lead to identification of subgroups and improved treatment.
Babies with autism are thought to be late to meet physical milestones, such as pointing and sitting. But a new report finds that most babies with autism and intellectual disability take their first steps — a major motor milestone — on time or earlier than those with other conditions that affect cognition1.
Typically developing infants and toddlers can begin walking anytime between 9-18 months. If your child isn't walking by 14 months, very often they're just starting to walk on the later side of the usual range.
'" says Dale Ulrich, Ph. D., a professor of movement science at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. If so, or if your child isn't walking by 15 or 16 months, talk to your pediatrician. She'll want to rule out conditions such as poor muscle tone, hip displacement, and cerebral palsy.
If you suspect that your baby or toddler has a motor skills delay, here are some signs to watch out for: Does not reach for, grasp, or hold objects by 3 or 4 months old. Does not roll over in either direction by 5 months. Cannot sit up without help by 6 months.
Most toddlers will walk by 18 months. Some factors may delay this exciting achievement, for example, the use of baby walkers, if your baby is a proficient bottom shuffler, or if your baby has been unwell or in hospital for a prolonged period.
The baby's nervous system has not developed enough to control the baby's steps or because of disorders in the muscles and bones. Therefore, if the child cannot walk at 21 months, parents should take the child to a doctor to find out the cause and have appropriate treatment.
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.
Naturally big babies—children who are clearly going to become tall adults—sometimes take a little longer to learn to walk. They just have that much more body to learn to operate. In addition, larger babies may be a little extra flexible in their joints and ligaments.
How long after learning to stand unassisted do babies begin to walk? International studies suggest that most babies start walking within 2-3 months of learning to stand (Ertem et al 2018).
But some babies may start before 6 months, and others may not crawl until after 11 months, if ever. If your baby doesn't crawl, does that mean something is wrong? No. In some cases, delayed crawling can be a sign that a child is at risk for slower motor development.
Toddlers (aged 1 to 2)
Toddlers should be physically active every day for at least 180 minutes (3 hours). The more the better.