Late walkers: when is late too late?

The (very wide) range of normal

Children walk anywhere between about ten and eighteen months, and the late end of that range is still normal. Walking age tells you almost nothing about how sporty, clever or coordinated a child will be later. Some of the most determined walkers were 'late'.

What we look for instead of a date

More useful than the calendar is the pattern. Is your child moving somehow: rolling, crawling, bottom-shuffling, cruising the furniture? Are they pulling up to stand? Do both legs work the same way? Are they progressing month on month, even slowly? A child who is on the move and progressing is usually simply on their own timetable.

Bottom-shufflers deserve a special mention: they often walk later (sometimes closer to two) and most are entirely fine. Shuffling is a legitimate way to travel.

When to seek help

We'd suggest an assessment if your child isn't walking by eighteen months, isn't pulling up to stand by around fourteen months, seems stiff or very floppy, uses one side of the body noticeably more than the other, or has stopped doing things they used to do. That last one, losing skills, always deserves a prompt GP visit.

And if the dates are fine but your gut says something is different about how your child moves, that's reason enough to ask. We will always tell you honestly if everything looks typical.