Your Baby Isn’t Walking Yet: Milestones and Warning Signs

Babies aren’t expected to walk yet: independent steps usually come later, and children reach this milestone at different times. What matters more is that your baby gradually develops movement and new skills.

Before taking their first steps, babies learn to hold their head up, roll over, sit, and move around—and they may reach these milestones at different rates. This article explains how to assess development and which signs to discuss with a doctor. For a general overview of when children start walking, see “When Do Babies Start Walking? Timing, Milestones, and Reasons to Seek Advice.”

• 9 months a point at which to seek advice if your baby can’t sit without support and isn’t trying to sit up
• 10 months by this age, a lack of interest in moving around is worth discussing with a neurologist
• 18 months by this age, the absence of independent steps calls for a consultation with an orthopedist and a neurologist
• 45–55 см range of newborn body length
• 2,5 см в месяц increase in body length from the third to the sixth month

Which movement skills come before the first steps?

Before taking their first independent steps, babies usually learn to roll over, support themselves on their arms, sit without support, and try to move around. These skills develop gradually: a baby may first roll, then crawl or move in another way—there is no single required sequence.

When assessing how a baby gets around, it’s important to look not only at the method but also at how both sides of the body work: watch whether your baby uses their arms and legs equally. If by 10 months they aren’t trying to move around at all or their movements are noticeably asymmetrical, consult a neurologist. Later, holding on to furniture or pushing an object in front of them helps babies learn to stand and move along a support.

When to expect independent steps

Walking without support is a milestone in its own right, not the only measure of motor development. Many children first become confident moving around furniture and only then let go of their support. If your child hasn’t taken any independent steps by 18 months, discuss their development with an orthopedist and a neurologist. At an earlier age, it’s helpful to assess the full sequence of skills, including sitting and attempts to move around.

When should you discuss a lack of mobility with a doctor?

Consult a neurologist if by 10 months your baby has no interest in moving around at all—doesn’t roll over or try to crawl—moves only with their arms while their legs remain almost motionless, or moves in a clearly asymmetrical way. Not walking at this age does not in itself mean that motor development is absent: what matters is how your baby moves around and uses their body.

If you notice asymmetry, tell the doctor which movements your baby makes with one side of their body—for example, whether they rely mostly on one arm or push off with one leg. Also note how they get around: rolling, crawling, or using only their arms. These specific observations will help you describe the situation during the appointment.

What a doctor can assess

A neurological assessment can help determine whether movement differences may be related to muscle tone or coordination. If your baby is already 10 months old and shows no interest in any way of moving around, don’t put off discussing this with a doctor. You can also book a consultation if you’re concerned about their development.

What should you do if your baby can’t sit without support by 9 months?

If by 9 months your baby can’t sit without support or isn’t trying to sit up, book an appointment with a neurologist. A noticeably rounded back when sitting is another reason to discuss their development with a doctor.

What to tell the doctor

Describe specifically whether your baby tries to get into a sitting position independently and how they hold it: can they sit without support, do they topple over, or do they noticeably round their back? These observations will help the doctor assess the specific skills you’re concerned about.

Don’t try to replace a neurological examination with exercises you do on your own, and don’t draw conclusions about development based on a single skill. If your baby is already 9 months old and can’t sit without support, seeing a doctor is the next step; the specialist will decide how to assess and support them further.

When does a lack of independent steps call for a consultation?

Consult an orthopedist and a neurologist if your child hasn’t taken a single independent step by 18 months. You should also seek advice if, at a year and a half, your child can’t get up, stand, or move around while holding on to furniture or pushing objects in front of them.

At the appointment, the specialists will assess what may be interfering with learning to walk: they’ll check the feet and rule out hip dysplasia and neurological disorders. These signs aren’t enough to determine the cause of a delay on your own, so an in-person assessment by doctors is important.

If your child has started walking but you’re concerned about the timing or sequence of this milestone, look not only at whether they can take a step but also at how they get up and move with support. Read “When Do Babies Start Walking? Timing, Milestones, and Reasons to Seek Advice” for more on timing, milestones, and other reasons to seek advice.

How to consider your child’s growth without linking it to walking

A child’s growth is considered as a measure of physical development, while readiness to walk is assessed by motor skills: body length alone does not determine when a baby will take their first steps. Newborn body length normally ranges from 45 to 55 cm, but this range does not indicate readiness to walk.

In the first months of life, the rate of growth gradually changes: from the third to the sixth month, babies gain 2,5 см each month. From the sixth to the ninth month, they gain 1,5–2 см per month, and from the ninth to the twelfth month, 1 см per month.

Growth and walking are different measures

Body length reflects physical growth, while walking is a motor skill; you shouldn’t assess when a baby will take their first steps based on growth alone. Focus on how your child is developing movement skills, not on centimeters: growth and motor development reflect different aspects of a baby’s development.

Why shouldn’t you assess development based on just one milestone?

You can’t assess walking development based on a single milestone: what matters is how your child is developing movement overall, not just whether they’ve taken an independent step. A single skill that appears late doesn’t tell the whole story. Consider whether your baby can sit, tries to move around in any way, and stands while holding on to something.

When is the pace of development a reason to talk to a doctor?

Milestones help distinguish an individual pace from a situation that needs attention. If by 10 months your baby shows no interest in moving around—for example, they don’t try to roll or crawl—it’s worth seeking advice. Clearly asymmetrical movements or nearly motionless legs are also reasons to consult a doctor. Not taking an independent step by 18 months is another milestone to keep in mind and a reason to discuss development with a doctor.

Don’t wait while comparing your baby with other children if their movements are noticeably asymmetrical, their legs remain motionless, or they haven’t acquired the relevant skill by the age mentioned. The doctor will assess not just one instance but the sequence of motor development—for example, whether your child can sit, move around, and stand while holding on to something. This helps ensure that an individual pace doesn’t lead you to miss a reason to seek advice.

Frequently asked questions