Babies usually start walking on their own somewhere between about 10 and 18 months, according to Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, the Australian Government's parenting information service. The AAP says many first steps are taken around the first birthday, and that walking earlier or later is normal.
The World Health Organization's motor development study followed healthy children in Ghana, India, Norway, Oman and the USA. It found the normal window for walking alone ran from 8.2 to 17.6 months, with half of children walking by about 12 months. That window is more than 9 months wide.
What comes before first steps?
Walking builds on months of practice. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby describes rolling, sitting, bottom shuffling, crawling, cruising and standing all leading up to first steps, with crawling usually between 7 and 12 months and pulling up to stand usually between 9 and 12 months.
| Stage | What it looks like | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Pulling to stand | Hauls up on furniture or your legs | Usually 9 to 12 months (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby) |
| Cruising | Steps sideways holding on to furniture | Most do this by 12 months (CDC) |
| Standing alone | Lets go and balances for a moment | WHO window 6.9 to 16.9 months |
| First steps | A few wobbly steps on their own | Most by 15 months (CDC) |
| Walking well | Walks without holding on to anyone or anything | Most by 18 months (CDC) |
| Running | Runs, kicks a ball, walks up a few stairs | Most by 2 years (CDC) |
The CDC rows are from its 12-month, 15-month, 18-month and 2-year checklists, which list skills 75% or more of children have by each age.
To walk, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says your baby needs balance, coordination, the ability to stand up and the ability to shift their weight from one leg to the other. Once walking starts, they keep practising: moving from the floor to standing and back, squatting to play, walking on different surfaces and carrying large toys.
How can I help my baby learn to walk?
- Give lots of floor time and space. Clear an area where your baby can pull up, cruise and try steps over and over.
- Offer safe things to pull up on. The AAP says furniture your baby holds should have no sharp edges and be weighted or fixed so it can't tip.
- Show them how to get down. If your baby cries because they can't get down from standing, the AAP suggests showing them how to bend their knees and lower themselves.
- Encourage independent steps. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests sitting about 2 metres away and encouraging your baby to walk to you, then increasing the distance. The CDC suggests encouraging your baby to practise walking on their own.
- Try push toys. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests a toy pram or trolley, and the CDC suggests letting your baby push things like empty boxes. Choose something sturdy that won't tip.
- Build an obstacle course once they're confident, with cushions or foam shapes to walk over and around.
- Cheer them on. Your excited voice and face encourage more practice, even if they don't understand the words.
Stay close so your baby feels safe, but give them room to try. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby notes that some space to explore and take small risks builds confidence.
Should babies wear shoes when learning to walk?
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says your baby doesn't need shoes unless they're going outside. Crawling and walking in bare feet indoors helps their feet and toes develop normally. If it's cold, non-slip socks or socks with grip are fine.
When you do buy shoes:
- Have your child's feet properly measured, because poorly fitting shoes can make it harder to learn to walk (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
- Choose closed-toe, comfortable, flexible shoes with non-skid soles (AAP).
- Your child doesn't need wedges, inserts, high backs, reinforced heels or special arches (AAP).
- Check the fit regularly (the AAP suggests monthly).
Are baby walkers safe?
No major health body recommends baby walkers, but the advice is worded differently across countries.
| Source | What it says about baby walkers |
|---|---|
| AAP (US) | Has called for a ban on making and selling baby walkers with wheels; walkers can delay walking |
| CDC (US) | Baby walkers are not recommended |
| Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australia) | Not recommended; they delay walking and cause thousands of injuries in Australia each year. If used, limit to 15 minutes at a time |
| NHS (UK) | Walkers and bouncers can encourage tiptoe standing and delay walking if used a lot; no more than 20 minutes at a time |
The AAP's walker safety page says a baby in a walker can move about 1 metre (more than 3 feet) in a second. Children can roll down stairs, causing broken bones and severe head injuries, and they can reach hot items, heaters and poisons more easily or fall into a pool or bath.
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's walker page notes walkers are still legal in Australia and must meet a mandatory safety standard. If you choose to use one anyway, never leave your baby unattended, use it only on a flat surface, block off steps and stairs, and remove cords and hot drinks from the area. The NHS activity guide gives the 20-minute limit.
Safer alternatives the AAP suggests are stationary activity centres (no wheels), playpens and a sturdy push toy.
How do I make my home safe for a new walker?
Falls are the most common reason children are injured and need hospital treatment, according to Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's falls prevention guide. Until your baby's balance develops, they're at risk of tripping, stumbling and falling. It suggests:
- getting down to your toddler's level to spot hazards from their view
- removing trip hazards such as rugs without anti-slip mats and electrical cords
- securing heavy furniture like TVs, bookcases and dressers
- covering sharp edges on table corners and benches
- making sure your child can't fall from a window or balcony, by locking windows or fitting guards
- using safety gates at the top of stairs and into risky rooms like the kitchen and bathroom
- keeping the cot free of anything your toddler could stack and climb on
The AAP adds gates at the bottom of stairs too, and says to keep the stairs gated at all times.
Is my baby's walking normal?
A wide range is normal. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's 12–18 month page says many toddlers start walking on their own between 12 and 15 months, but it's normal for others to start at 15 to 18 months. Walking later within that range isn't a problem on its own.
Falls are expected while balance develops, and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says most falls lead only to bumps and bruises. What matters more is steady progress: pulling up, cruising, standing, then steps, with both sides of the body working equally.
If your baby was born more than 3 weeks early, the CDC's online checklist says to use their corrected age, counted from their due date.
When should I see a doctor about walking?
Call 999 now if your child
- falls from a height of 1 metre or more and hits their head, loses consciousness, has a seizure, or seems unwell and vomits more than once after a head knock (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby)
- has difficulty breathing, has blue, grey or pale skin or lips, or is very drowsy or hard to wake (the NHS urgent help guide)
See a doctor promptly if your child
- has started walking but begins to limp, waddle or refuse to walk (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby)
- loses movement skills they had before
- seems to have pain, or you think they may have a broken bone after a fall
Talk to your GP or health visitor if your child
- isn't walking on their own by 18 months (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby; walking without holding on is also on the CDC's 18-month list)
- isn't pulling up to stand by 12 months (it's on the CDC's 12-month list)
- uses one side of their body much more than the other (AAP)
- has muscles that seem stiff or floppy, struggles to stay balanced, or has an unusual way of walking or running, which the AAP lists as signs to raise
- does anything else with walking that worries you
What's worth writing down?
Note the dates your baby first pulled up, cruised, stood alone and took steps on their own. If something seems off, such as a new limp or always leading with one leg, write down when it started and take a short video of them walking to show your GP or health visitor.
