Delayed walking is generally considered to be when a baby has not taken their first steps by 18 months of age. However, it is important to keep in mind that every baby develops at their own pace and some may take longer to reach this milestone.
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.
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.
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. Parents should not panic as everything could still be normal, and it may not be an indication of any underlying health problems.
It is typical for babies to start walking between 9 and 18 months of age, so if your baby has not taken their first steps by 18 months, it may be worth discussing with your pediatrician. However, some babies may develop at a different pace and may start walking later.
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.
Delayed walking has also been reported in other specific developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
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.
Toddlers (aged 1 to 2)
Toddlers should be physically active every day for at least 180 minutes (3 hours). The more the better.
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.
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.
Late walking is when a child has not reached the walking milestone of development at the expected age. This will slow the development and the independence of the child and so it is a problem that needs to be addressed.
'" 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're concerned that your child is late to start walking, the first step is a medical examination, including a neurological exam and an assessment of your child's reflexes, posture, and muscle tone. The doctor will also take into account other developmental issues including language, fine motor, and social skills.
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.
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.
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.
Research suggests that toe walking can be a sign of autism, particularly when it's combined with language delays. In general, toe walking is more common in children with ASD and other neuropsychiatric conditions than in the general population.
The findings may point to a unique developmental trajectory for children who have both autism and intellectual disability. About 97 percent of children will have begun walking by 16 months of age, according to the World Health Organization2.
There is a wide range of language abilities in toddlers, and 2-year-olds' normal range is from 75-225 words. Children who are late talkers usually have an average vocabulary of 25 words.
18 month olds should use least 20 words, including different types of words, such as nouns (“baby”, “cookie”), verbs (“eat”, “go”), prepositions (“up”, “down”), adjectives (“hot”, “sleepy”), and social words (“hi”, “bye”).
Assisted Walking: Stand behind your child, place your hands around his upper arms, and pull him up to a standing position. Gently pull one arm forward and then the other. His feet will naturally follow as he rotates his hips to step. Keep practicing walking until your baby is ready to stop.