{"h1":"Is my 18–24-month-old moving and walking as expected?","faq":[{"a":"Not walking independently by 18 months is one of the points where a gentle developmental check is worthwhile — not as a cause for alarm, but to get clear answers. Many children catch up quickly, especially if they were born early (use corrected age). A clinician can map your child's movement and reassure you or offer simple support if needed.","q":"My 18-month-old isn't walking yet — should I worry?"},{"a":"Occasional tiptoe walking is common as toddlers experiment with movement. It's worth a check if your child walks on tiptoes most of the time, can't put their heels down flat, or seems stiff in the legs — a quick professional look will tell you whether it's just a phase.","q":"Is tiptoe walking at this age normal?"},{"a":"Early running is naturally stiff and a little clumsy, so occasional falls are expected between 18 and 24 months. If falls are very frequent, seem unexplained, or your child tires very quickly compared with peers, a developmental check can offer reassurance.","q":"My toddler runs but falls a lot — is that okay?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-18-to-24-month-old-moving-and-walking-as-expected-for-their-age","title":"18–24 Month Movement & Walking Milestones","entity":{"key":"toddler-18-24","kind":"age_band","name":"18-to-24-month-old","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"age","label":"Toddler-18-24","value":"toddler-18-24"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Support","value":"support"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Book-Assessment","value":"book-assessment"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"ages","label":"Ages & Stages"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-signs-of-motor-delay-in-a-18-to-24-month-old","title":"Signs of motor delay in an 18-to-24-month-old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-12-to-18-month-old-moving-and-walking-as-expected-for-their-age","title":"Is my 12-to-18-month-old moving and walking as expected?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-isn-t-walking-yet","title":"What does it mean if my child isn't walking yet?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-motor-milestones-should-a-18-to-24-month-old-reach","title":"What motor milestones should a 18-to-24-month-old reach?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-motor","title":"Motor Development at 18–24 Months"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-should-i-do-if-my-child-isn-t-walking-yet","title":"What should I do if my child isn't walking yet?"}],"summary":"Most 18-to-24-month-olds walk independently and are steadily adding skills like running, climbing, squatting and kicking a ball, with small differences in pace being completely normal. The key reassurance is whether movement is steadily building month on month. A check is worth it if a child is not walking by 18 months, walks only with help by 24 months, walks persistently on tiptoes, or loses a skill. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*By this age, those wobbly first steps are turning into confident toddling — and a few stumbles along the way are completely normal.*\n\n## In short\nMost children between **18 and 24 months** are walking well, getting steadier by the week, and beginning to add new skills like climbing, squatting to pick up a toy, and trying to run. Every toddler finds their own pace, so small differences are usually nothing to worry about. The most helpful check is simply: *is your child building on what they could do last month?* If movement is steadily growing, that is a reassuring sign.\n\n## What's typical at 18–24 months\n- **Around 18 months** — walks well independently, may walk up steps with a hand held, can pull or carry a toy while walking, climbs onto furniture, and begins to stoop and stand back up.\n- **Around 20–22 months** — walks more smoothly, starts to run (still a little stiff), kicks a ball forward, and squats easily to play on the floor.\n- **By 24 months** — runs fairly well, climbs up and down low furniture, walks up and down steps holding on, kicks a ball and may throw one overhand.\n\nRemember that children who started walking a little later, or who were born early (use corrected age), may reach these a touch later — and that is still within the normal range of healthy development.\n\n## When a check is worth it\nA developmental check is a good idea if, by **18 months**, your child is **not yet walking at all**, or by **24 months** still walks only with help. Also worth a look: walking persistently on tiptoes, a clear limp, frequent unexplained falls, marked stiffness or floppiness in the legs, or a loss of a movement skill your child once had. These don't mean something is wrong — they simply mean a quick professional look will give you clear answers and peace of mind.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed **only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care**. If you'd like reassurance, a clinician can map your child's movement against age-appropriate milestones through a [clinician-administered AbilityScore® assessment](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), and gentle [paediatric physiotherapy](/physiotherapy) can strengthen any skills that need a little support. You can also explore [how we support children and families](/) at every stage.\n\n## Trusted sources\nCDC Developmental Milestones (movement, 18 and 24 months); American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) gross-motor guidance for toddlers; WHO motor development milestones.\n\n**Next step —** Want clear answers about your toddler's movement? [Book a developmental check with a Pinnacle clinician](/physiotherapy).","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-moving-and-walking-as-expected-for-their-age","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-moving-and-walking-as-expected-for-their-age","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"ages","label":"Ages & Stages"}],"meta_title":"18–24 Month Walking & Movement Milestones","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Give your toddler safe, open floor space to practise — let them push a sturdy toy, climb low cushions and squat to pick up toys, as this everyday play builds balance, strength and confidence.","published_at":"2026-06-10T14:24:00.087063+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-signs-of-motor-delay-in-a-18-to-24-month-old","title":"Signs of motor delay in an 18-to-24-month-old","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-motor","title":"Motor Development at 18–24 Months","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-motor-milestones-should-a-18-to-24-month-old-reach","title":"What motor milestones should a 18-to-24-month-old reach?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-adaptive","title":"Is My 18-to-24-Month-Old Developing Normally in Adaptive Skills?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-cognitive","title":"Is My 18–24 Month Old Developing Normally in Thinking?","reason":"Same 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months)"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/default.aspx","label":"AAP HealthyChildren.org — toddler development"},{"url":"https://www.who.int/tools/child-growth-standards/standards/motor-development-milestones","label":"WHO motor development milestones"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T14:24:00.087063+00:00","meta_description":"Is your 18-to-24-month-old walking as expected? Warm, clear milestones for movement, running and climbing — and when a gentle check is worth it.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}