Walking Milestone
Being a parent is one of the most rewarding experiences in life, but it can also be
one of the most overwhelming, confusing, and challenging times as well.
For new and experienced parents alike, you expect your child to begin taking their first
wobbly steps at 12 months, but Little Suzie still won’t move her feet! You wonder
“Should I be concerned?” “What can I do?” Luckily, it is perfectly normal for some
children to not begin taking steps until 14 months. Milestones are very important
in the development of a child, and there are a lot of them. The good news is that
milestones have a normal age range of when certain milestones should be
reached. For walking, a normal time frame for a child to begin taking steps is
around 11-14 months. So, don’t be alarmed if your child is 13 months old and
hasn’t taken steps yet. A good indication that your child may soon be taking
steps is pulling up to stand at furniture. This typically happens between 8-11
months. If your child is 12 months old and is not pulling up on furniture, or is
older than 14 months and still is not taking steps, talk with your pediatrician
about getting a referral for pediatric physical therapy. Physical therapists and
physical therapist assistants can work with your child to help them catch up to
age appropriate abilities. They can also educate parents on things to work on at
home to help carryover the work from therapy sessions in order to maximize your
child’s potential.
Will Lusk, LPTA
Owens Crossroads
Madison
