Your baby pulls up on the couch, bounces, and shuffles sideways. Maybe they let go for a second, then plop down. You start to wonder: when do babies start walking, really? And what comes next?
Walking is the last big step in a long chain of baby gross motor skills, from tummy time to sitting, crawling and standing. Each skill builds strength and balance for the next one.
This guide shows the usual path to walking by age, using wording from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). For the bigger picture, see our hub on baby development and milestones.
Quick answer: when do babies start walking?
The AAP says many babies take their first steps around their first birthday, and that it is normal to start earlier or later. The CDC lists “takes a few steps on his own” at 15 months and “walks without holding on to anyone or anything” at 18 months. A WHO study found a wide healthy range for walking alone.
- Walking with support: often comes first, holding your hands or the furniture.
- Walking on their own: the first few wobbly steps alone.
- Walking confidently: walking without holding on, which the CDC lists by 18 months.
In the WHO Motor Development Study, which followed healthy children in five countries, the window for walking alone ran from about 8 to 18 months (the 1st to 99th percentile: 8.2 to 17.6 months). That wide range is why comparing your baby with a cousin or a playmate often says very little.
The steps to walking, by age
Most babies move through these stages in order. The ages are the checkpoints the CDC and AAP use, not deadlines.
| Stage | What it looks like | Official checkpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Pulling up | Pulls to stand on furniture or your legs | CDC, 12 months: “Pulls up to stand” |
| Cruising | Shuffles along the couch or coffee table | CDC, 12 months: “Walks, holding on to furniture” |
| Standing alone | Lets go and stands for a moment | AAP, 12 months: “Stands momentarily without support” |
| First steps alone | A few wobbly steps, then a sit-down | AAP, 12 months: “May walk two or three steps without support”; CDC, 15 months: “Takes a few steps on his own” |
| Walking well | Walks across the room without holding on | CDC, 18 months: “Walks without holding on to anyone or anything” |
Walking is one part of the first-birthday season. Our guide to 12-month milestones covers first words, play and feeding too.
What helps your baby learn to walk
Babies learn to walk by practicing, falling and trying again. You do not need special gear. A few simple things help:
- Floor time in a safe space. Clear a path, block stairs, and give sturdy furniture to pull up on. The AAP suggests play yards as a safe zone while babies learn to crawl and walk.
- Bare feet indoors. An NHS children’s service advises skipping shoes while babies learn to walk, because bare feet help them feel the floor and keep their balance.
- Hold hands low. NHS physiotherapists suggest holding your baby’s hands between waist and chest height, not above their head, so they carry weight through their feet.
- Push toys, with you nearby. The AAP suggests a sturdy, weighted push toy that will not tip. Stay close, and watch out for smooth floors and steps.
- Skip the baby walker. The AAP strongly urges parents not to use wheeled baby walkers. A stationary activity center with no wheels is a safer choice.
Not walking yet?
Lots of healthy babies are still cruising or crawling after their first birthday. If your little one is past 12 months and not walking yet, our guide on a 13-month-old who is not walking walks you through what is typical and what to watch.
When to talk to your doctor
Trust your instincts. The CDC and AAP suggest checking in with your pediatrician if:
- Your baby cannot stand when supported by the end of the first year (AAP).
- Your child cannot walk by 18 months (AAP).
- After several months of walking, they walk only on their toes or do not develop a heel-to-toe pattern (AAP).
- Your child loses a skill they once had (CDC).
- You feel your child is not moving normally (AAP).
If your child is under 3, you can also contact your state’s early intervention program. The CDC says you do not need to wait for a doctor’s referral or a medical diagnosis to make that call.
Frequently asked questions
Do baby walkers help babies walk sooner?
No. The AAP says walkers do not help babies learn to walk and may even delay walking. They also let babies roll down stairs or reach hot and dangerous things. The AAP has called for a ban on the sale of wheeled baby walkers.
Do babies need shoes to learn to walk?
Not indoors. Bare feet are fine on safe surfaces at home. Once your child walks outside, the AAP suggests closed-toe, comfortable, flexible shoes with nonskid soles and room to grow. Special arches or reinforced heels are not needed for most children.
Do babies need to crawl before they walk?
Not always. The AAP notes that a few children never crawl and instead scoot on their bottoms or slither on their tummies. What matters more is that your baby uses both sides of the body and each arm and leg equally. If you are unsure, ask your pediatrician.
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Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Movement: Babies 8 to 12 Months
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Developmental Milestones: 12 Months
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Developmental Milestones: 2 Year Olds
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Baby Walkers: A Dangerous Choice
- CDC: Important Milestones: Your Baby By One Year
- CDC: Important Milestones: Your Child By 15 Months
- CDC: Important Milestones: Your Child By 18 Months
- CDC: What to Do If You’re Concerned About Your Child’s Development
- NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Children’s Health: Learning to walk
- WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group: WHO Motor Development Study: windows of achievement for six gross motor development milestones (Acta Paediatrica, 2006)
This article is for general information and does not replace advice from your pediatrician.