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Home › Articles › Milestones › Walking the Walk

Walking the Walk

When Babies Start Discovering the World on Two Legs

By Sue Marquette Poremba

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The Pathways Awareness Foundation, a national nonprofit organization in Chicago, Ill., that is dedicated to raising awareness about the benefit of early detection and early therapy of movement differences in children, says that at 12 months, typical physical development includes the child pulling herself to a stand and taking a few independent steps. If the child isn't walking at that age but isn't showing any signs of other delays, the parents' best reaction is to be patient. However, if parents note any of the following, they are advised to tell their pediatrician:

  • Difficulty getting to stand because of stiff legs and pointed toes
  • Only uses arms to pull up to standing
  • Sits with weight to one side
  • Strongly flexed or stiffly extended arms
  • Needs to use hand to maintain sitting

These signs generally point to low muscle tone or delayed development, and these issues can almost always be corrected with physical therapy.

Plenty of children are physically ready but not showing much initiative to take that first step. Dr. Morse says it is OK to encourage the child to walk. "Getting down on the floor and playing with your child will encourage them," she says, not only to walk, but in every other phase of their development.

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