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When Do Babies and Toddlers Start Walking? Age, Stages, Signs and Tips (2026)

Motor Skills

Written by - Mylo BabyLast updated: Sep 30, 2026

When Do Babies and Toddlers Start Walking? Age, Stages, Signs and Tips (2026)

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16 min

Quick Answer

Most babies take their first steps between 9 and 15 months and walk on their own by about 18 months. The normal range is wide: healthy children start walking alone anywhere from about 8 to 18 months. Barefoot practice and cruising help, but baby walkers don't. See a doctor if your child isn't walking by 18 months.

Walking Milestones at a Glance

Stage	Typical Age	What It Looks Like
Pulls to stand	8 to 12 months	Holds furniture to stand up
Cruises	9 to 12 months	Walks sideways holding furniture
Stands alone	9 to 16 months	Stands without support for a few seconds
First steps	9 to 15 months	1 to 3 wobbly steps, arms up, legs wide
Walks alone	By about 18 months	Walks across a room without holding on
Walks steadily	18 to 24 months	Fewer falls, can carry toys, walks backwards
Runs	Around 2 years	Stiff running at first, then smoother

Sources: WHO Motor Development Study, Cleveland Clinic.

Key Facts Every Parent Should Know

8.2 to 17.6 months: The normal window for walking alone in healthy children (WHO)
Around 12 months: When many babies take their first steps, but many healthy babies walk later
18 months: Talk to your doctor if your child isn't walking alone by this age
Crawling isn't required: Crawling was removed from official milestone checklists in 2022, and some babies skip it
Baby walkers: The AAP advises against them. They cause injuries and don't help babies walk sooner.
Early walking isn't linked to intelligence

When Do Babies Start Walking?

Short answer: Most babies take their first steps between 9 and 15 months and walk on their own by about 18 months. The WHO Motor Development Study found that healthy children start walking alone anywhere between 8.2 and 17.6 months, one of the widest ranges of any milestone.

Age	What's Normal
9 to 10 months	Some early walkers take first steps
12 months	Pulls up and cruises; many take a few steps
15 months	Most take a few steps on their own
18 months	Almost all walk alone

Born early? For premature babies, use corrected age (age from the due date, not the birth date) when checking walking milestones.

What Are the Stages of Learning to Walk?

Short answer: Babies build up to walking in steps: sitting, pulling up to stand, cruising along furniture, standing alone, first steps, then walking steadily. Some babies crawl first, some bottom-shuffle, and some go straight to cruising.

Stage	Typical Age	How to Help
Sits without support	6 to 9 months	Floor play, sitting with toys around
Crawls or bottom-shuffles (not required)	7 to 10 months	Tummy time, toys just out of reach
Pulls to stand	8 to 12 months	Sturdy furniture to hold
Cruises along furniture	9 to 12 months	Arrange a safe "cruising path" of furniture
Stands alone	9 to 16 months	Let them stand while holding a toy
First steps	9 to 15 months	"Walk to me" from a short distance
Walks alone	By about 18 months	Barefoot practice indoors
Walks steadily and runs	18 to 24 months	Outdoor walks on grass and uneven ground

What Are the Signs My Baby Will Walk Soon?

Short answer: Your baby may be close to walking if they pull up to stand, cruise along furniture, stand alone for a few seconds, squat and stand back up, or take steps while holding your hands.

Sign	What It Means
Pulls up to stand on furniture	Legs are strong enough to take weight
Cruises along the sofa or bed	Practising balance and stepping
Lets go and stands alone briefly	Balance is improving
Squats to pick up a toy and stands again	Good leg strength and control
Walks while holding both your hands	Ready for first independent steps
Moves between furniture with one step	First steps are very close
Seems restless or frustrated	Often a sign of a big new skill coming

How Can I Help My Baby Start Walking?

Short answer: Give your baby lots of floor time, let them go barefoot indoors, set up a safe cruising path, offer a sturdy push toy and play "walk to me" games. Skip baby walkers.

Do This	Avoid This
Let them go barefoot indoors	Stiff, heavy shoes indoors
Create a safe cruising path with sturdy furniture	Unstable chairs or tables that can tip
Hold both hands and let them step towards you	Pulling them up by the arms
Offer a sturdy push toy or a cardboard box to push	Baby walkers
Place toys just out of reach on a sofa	Carrying them everywhere
Play "walk to me" from a short distance	Comparing with other babies
Walk on grass, sand and uneven ground	Long hours in prams, bouncers or car seats

Should I Use a Baby Walker?

Short answer: No. The AAP advises against baby walkers because they cause falls and injuries, especially down stairs, and they don't help babies walk sooner. Walkers can even delay walking by reducing the floor practice babies need.

Baby Walker	Better Alternative
Risk of falls down stairs and tipping over	Floor play with toys around
Lets babies reach hot or dangerous objects	A sturdy push toy (baby stands and pushes)
Doesn't build balance or leg control properly	Cruising along furniture
May delay independent walking	Holding both hands and walking together

Baby ko walker kab dena chahiye? Experts advise not using a baby walker at all. It's better to let your baby practise on the floor and cruise along furniture.

Should Babies Wear Shoes When Learning to Walk?

Short answer: Barefoot is best indoors. It helps babies feel the floor, build foot muscles and improve balance. Outdoors, choose soft, flexible, lightweight shoes with a non-slip sole.

Situation	Best Choice
Indoors on a clean, safe floor	Barefoot
Cold floors	Non-slip socks
Outdoors	Soft, flexible shoes with a thin non-slip sole
Avoid	Hard, stiff or heavy shoes; hand-me-down shoes that don't fit

What Does a Normal New Walker Look Like?

Short answer: New walkers often walk with legs wide apart, arms up for balance, feet turned out and lots of falls. Bow legs, flat feet and brief tiptoe walking are common and usually normal.

What You See	Usually Normal?	See a Doctor If
Wide, wobbly walk with arms up	Yes, in new walkers	Still very unsteady after months of walking
Frequent falls	Yes	Falls suddenly increase, or they lose balance often
Bow legs	Yes, until about 2 years	Getting worse after 2, only on one side, or with pain
Flat feet	Yes; arches develop by 5 to 6 years	Painful or stiff feet
Occasional tiptoe walking	Common	Walks only on tiptoes after 2 to 3 years
In-toeing (pigeon toes)	Often normal	Causes frequent tripping or doesn't improve

Does Walking Early or Late Mean Anything?

Short answer: Usually not. Early walking doesn't mean a child is smarter, and later walking within the normal range doesn't mean something is wrong. Some babies are cautious and prefer to master balance before they let go.

Factor	Can Affect Walking Age?
Personality (cautious or adventurous)	Yes
Family history (parents walked late)	Yes
Prematurity	Yes; use corrected age
Body weight and muscle tone	Yes
Lots of time in walkers or being carried	Yes, can reduce practice
Intelligence	No

For the causes of late walking, like vitamin D deficiency, low muscle tone or other health conditions, read reasons for late walking in babies.

When Should I Worry About My Baby Not Walking?

Short answer: Talk to your doctor if your child isn't walking alone by 18 months, can't stand with support by 12 months, loses walking skills, limps or uses one leg more than the other, or walks only on tiptoes after 2 to 3 years.

Age	Red Flag
Any age	Loses walking or standing skills (see a doctor right away)
Any age	Limps, or uses one side of the body more than the other
Any age	Very floppy or very stiff legs
9 months	Can't sit without support
12 months	Can't stand even with support
18 months	Not walking alone
2 to 3 years	Walks only on tiptoes, or falls far more than other children

Free Government Support in India

Free screening and physiotherapy are available at District Early Intervention Centres (DEIC) under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK). Ask your pediatrician, ASHA or Anganwadi worker.

What Should Indian Parents Keep in Mind?

Short answer: Skip the baby walker, let your baby practise barefoot on the floor, avoid carrying them all the time, and don't compare with other babies. Most children walk when they're ready.

Common Practice	Better Approach
Baby walker from 6 months	Floor play and cruising
Carrying the baby everywhere	Let them practise walking
Keeping the baby on the bed all day	Safe floor time daily
"Her cousin walked at 10 months!"	Every baby has their own timeline
Tight shoes or sandals indoors	Barefoot indoors
Oil massage to "strengthen legs" for walking	Massage is fine for bonding, but practice is what builds walking

Myths vs Facts About Walking

Myth	Fact
"Baby walkers help babies walk sooner"	Walkers cause injuries and don't speed up walking (AAP)
"Every baby must walk by 12 months"	Walking alone between about 8 and 18 months is normal (WHO)
"Babies must crawl before they walk"	Some babies skip crawling, and that's normal
"Early walkers are smarter"	Walking age isn't linked to intelligence
"Shoes help babies learn to walk"	Barefoot is best indoors
"Bow legs mean my baby will walk badly"	Bow legs are normal until about 2 years

Frequently Asked Questions About When Babies Start Walking

When do babies start walking?
Most babies take their first steps between 9 and 15 months and walk alone by about 18 months.

Baby kab chalna shuru karta hai? (Hinglish)
Zyada tar bachche 9 se 15 mahine ke beech pehla kadam lete hain aur lagbhag 18 mahine tak khud chalne lagte hain. Kuch bachche jaldi chalte hain aur kuch thoda der se, dono normal hain.

Is it normal for a 1-year-old not to walk?
Yes. Many healthy babies aren't walking at 12 months. Most walk alone by 18 months.

Baby ko walker kab dena chahiye? (Hinglish)
Experts ke hisaab se baby walker dena hi nahi chahiye. Walker se girne aur chot lagne ka khatra hota hai aur isse bachcha jaldi nahi chalta. Bachche ko zameen par khelne dein, furniture pakadkar chalne dein, ya ek mazboot push toy dein.

What are the signs my baby will walk soon?
Pulling up to stand, cruising along furniture, standing alone briefly, squatting and standing back up, and walking while holding your hands.

Do babies have to crawl before walking?
No. Some babies skip crawling and go straight to cruising and walking.

Should my baby wear shoes to learn to walk?
Barefoot is best indoors. Use soft, flexible shoes outdoors.

Is a baby walker good for walking?
No. The AAP advises against baby walkers because they cause injuries and don't help babies walk sooner.

When should I worry if my baby isn't walking?
If your child isn't walking alone by 18 months, can't stand with support by 12 months, loses skills, limps or walks only on tiptoes after 2 to 3 years, speak to your doctor.

Mera bachcha 15 mahine ka hai aur nahi chalta, kya karein? (Hinglish)
15 mahine mein kai bachche abhi bhi furniture pakadkar chalte hain, aur yeh normal ho sakta hai. Roz zameen par practice karwayein, nange pair chalne dein aur walker na dein. Agar 18 mahine tak khud nahi chalta, ya khade hone mein bhi dikkat hai, toh doctor se milein.

Does walking early mean my baby is smart?
No. Walking age isn't linked to intelligence.

References

World Health Organization (WHO). "WHO Motor Development Study: Windows of Achievement for Six Gross Motor Development Milestones." cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/child-growth/…/who-motor-development-s…elopment-milestones.pdf?…
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). "Where We Stand: Baby Walkers." HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Where-We-Stand-Baby-Walkers.aspx
Cleveland Clinic. "When Do Babies Start Walking?" https://health.clevelandclinic.org/when-do-babies-start-walking
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "CDC's Developmental Milestones." https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/milestones/index.html

Medical Disclaimer

This article is for information only and does not replace professional medical advice. Every child develops at their own pace. If you have concerns about your child's walking, balance or leg shape, please consult your pediatrician.

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