{"h1":"Signs of motor delay in an 18-to-24-month-old","faq":[{"a":"Walking independently by 18 months is a key milestone, so it's worth a calm developmental check rather than waiting. Many children who are a little later catch up well, but an early review lets a clinician reassure you or begin gentle support if helpful.","q":"My 18-month-old isn't walking yet — should I worry?"},{"a":"Occasional tiptoe walking is very common in toddlers and usually settles. Persistent, constant toe-walking that doesn't ease, or that comes with stiffness, is worth a clinician's look — not a diagnosis, just a sensible check.","q":"Is tiptoe walking a sign of motor delay?"},{"a":"Toddlers tumble often as they learn to run and climb — that's expected. Seek a check if your child falls far more than peers, seems very unsteady, or struggles to climb, squat or kick by around 24 months.","q":"How much falling is normal at this age?"}],"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","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":"domain","label":"Motor","value":"motor"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Concern","value":"concern"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Occupational-Therapy","value":"occupational-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"ages","label":"Ages & Stages"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-12-to-18-month-old-developing-normally-in-motor","title":"Is my 12-to-18-month-old developing normally in motor?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-18-to-24-month-old-might-have-gross-motor-delay","title":"When should I worry about Gross Motor Delay at 18–24 months?"},{"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"},{"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":"what-are-the-signs-of-motor-delay-in-a-12-to-18-month-old","title":"Signs of motor delay in a 12-to-18-month-old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-motor","title":"Motor Development at 18–24 Months"}],"summary":"By 18 months most toddlers walk well alone, and by 24 months many run and climb. Seek a developmental check if your child isn't walking by 18 months, walks only on tiptoe persistently, falls or wobbles far more than peers, isn't climbing or kicking a ball by 24 months, shows a strong hand preference before 18 months, or has lost a movement skill once gained. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.","answer_md":"*By 18 to 24 months, most toddlers are busily walking, climbing and exploring — and noticing how your little one moves is a loving, watchful kind of parenting.*\n\n## In short\nBy 18 months most toddlers walk well alone, and by 24 months many run, climb onto furniture and walk up steps with help. Gentle reasons to seek a developmental check include **not yet walking at 18 months, walking only on tiptoe persistently, frequent falling or great unsteadiness, not climbing or kicking a ball by 24 months, or losing a movement skill once gained.** None of this is a diagnosis — it simply means a clinician's calm look is wise now, because early support works beautifully at this age.\n\n## What to watch at 18–24 months\nChildren grow at their own pace, and one slightly later skill is rarely cause for worry. These are gentle flags worth a clinician's eye:\n\n- **Not walking independently by 18 months** — this is a key milestone and deserves a review.\n- **Persistent tiptoe walking** — occasional toe-walking is common, but constant tiptoeing that doesn't settle is worth checking.\n- **Frequent falls or marked clumsiness** — much more wobbling, stumbling or unsteadiness than peers of the same age.\n- **Not climbing, squatting to play, or kicking a ball by ~24 months** — these show developing strength and coordination.\n- **A strong, consistent hand preference before 18 months** — favouring one hand very early can sometimes signal that the other side needs a look.\n- **Stiffness or floppiness** — limbs that feel unusually tight or unusually loose when you lift or dress your child.\n- **Loss of a skill once had** — any going-backwards in movement always deserves prompt review.\n\nThe aim isn't alarm — it's that a calm, early observation turns small questions into early opportunities.\n\n## When to act\nIf your child isn't walking by 18 months, walks only on tiptoe, falls far more than peers, isn't climbing or kicking by 24 months, or has lost a movement skill, arrange a developmental check now rather than waiting. Trust your instinct — what you see every day is valuable information for a clinician.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nA clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online list. Our clinicians watch how your child moves, balances and plays, and shape support around joyful, everyday activity. Our [physiotherapy](/physiotherapy) and [occupational therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) teams build strength, balance and coordination through play, and you can begin anytime from our [home page](/).\n\n## Trusted sources\nCDC developmental milestones and “Learn the Signs, Act Early” resources for movement at 18 and 24 months; American Academy of Pediatrics guidance (healthychildren.org) on gross-motor development and developmental monitoring in toddlers; WHO milestone framework for early childhood motor development.\n\n**Next step —** Trust what you've noticed. [Book a developmental assessment](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/enroll-autism-speech-aba-therapies-india) with a Pinnacle clinician for a warm, clear review of your toddler's movement and milestones.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-signs-of-motor-delay-in-a-18-to-24-month-old","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/what-are-the-signs-of-motor-delay-in-a-18-to-24-month-old","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-signs-of-motor-delay-in-a-18-to-24-month-old-te","lang":"te","indexable":false}],"dimensions":[{"key":"ages","label":"Ages & Stages"}],"meta_title":"Motor Delay Signs at 18–24 Months","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Make movement playful — set out cushions to climb, balls to kick and low steps to practise on. A short phone note of which skills you see (walking, climbing, kicking) gives a clinician a clear, useful picture.","published_at":"2026-06-10T11:36:00.209871+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-signs-of-motor-delay-in-a-12-to-18-month-old","title":"Signs of motor delay in a 12-to-18-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":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-18-to-24-month-old-might-have-gross-motor-delay","title":"When should I worry about Gross Motor Delay at 18–24 months?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-12-to-18-month-old-developing-normally-in-motor","title":"Is my 12-to-18-month-old developing normally in motor?","reason":"Linked from this 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Normal?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-social","title":"Is My 18-to-24-Month-Old Developing Normally in Social Skills?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-18-to-24-month-old-on-track-developmentally","title":"Is my 18-to-24-month-old on track developmentally?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Recognise signs & concerns","total":26},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"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","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-motor-development-in-my-18-to-24-month-old","title":"How can I support motor development in my 18-to-24-month-old?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-adaptive-development-in-my-18-to-24-month-old","title":"How can I support adaptive development in my 18-to-24-month-old?","reason":"Same 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floppy, or has lost a movement skill once gained.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC developmental milestones — movement at 18 and 24 months"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP healthychildren.org — toddler motor development"},{"url":"https://www.who.int","label":"WHO early childhood development framework"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T11:36:00.209871+00:00","meta_description":"Gentle signs of motor delay in 18-to-24-month-olds — not walking by 18 months, tiptoe walking, frequent falls — and when to seek a developmental check.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}