# Signs of motor delay in an 18-to-24-month-old

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-signs-of-motor-delay-in-a-18-to-24-month-old
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

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.

*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.*

## In short
By 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.

## What to watch at 18–24 months
Children grow at their own pace, and one slightly later skill is rarely cause for worry. These are gentle flags worth a clinician's eye:

- **Not walking independently by 18 months** — this is a key milestone and deserves a review.
- **Persistent tiptoe walking** — occasional toe-walking is common, but constant tiptoeing that doesn't settle is worth checking.
- **Frequent falls or marked clumsiness** — much more wobbling, stumbling or unsteadiness than peers of the same age.
- **Not climbing, squatting to play, or kicking a ball by ~24 months** — these show developing strength and coordination.
- **A strong, consistent hand preference before 18 months** — favouring one hand very early can sometimes signal that the other side needs a look.
- **Stiffness or floppiness** — limbs that feel unusually tight or unusually loose when you lift or dress your child.
- **Loss of a skill once had** — any going-backwards in movement always deserves prompt review.

The aim isn't alarm — it's that a calm, early observation turns small questions into early opportunities.

## When to act
If 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.

## The Pinnacle way
A 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](/).

## Trusted sources
CDC 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.

**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.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

## Sources
- CDC developmental milestones — movement at 18 and 24 months: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development
- AAP healthychildren.org — toddler motor development: https://www.healthychildren.org
- WHO early childhood development framework: https://www.who.int

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Ages & Stages: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/ages
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Toddler-18-24: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/age/toddler-18-24
- Motor: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/motor
- Concern: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/concern
- Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/screen
- Occupational Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/occupational-therapy
- Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity

## Related question paths

### Recognise signs & concerns
- Signs of motor delay in a 12-to-18-month-old: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-signs-of-motor-delay-in-a-12-to-18-month-old
- Motor Development at 18–24 Months: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-motor
- When should I worry about Gross Motor Delay at 18–24 months?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-should-i-worry-that-my-18-to-24-month-old-might-have-gross-motor-delay
- Is my 12-to-18-month-old developing normally in motor?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-12-to-18-month-old-developing-normally-in-motor
- What motor milestones should a 18-to-24-month-old reach?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-motor-milestones-should-a-18-to-24-month-old-reach
- Is My 18-to-24-Month-Old Developing Normally in Adaptive Skills?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-adaptive
- Is My 18–24 Month Old Developing Normally in Thinking?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-cognitive
- 18–24 Month Communication Development: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-communication
- Is My 18-to-24-Month-Old Developing Normally in Emotion?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-emotional
- Sensory Development at 18–24 Months: Is It Normal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-sensory
- Is My 18-to-24-Month-Old Developing Normally in Social Skills?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-social
- Is my 18-to-24-month-old on track developmentally?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-on-track-developmentally

### Explore therapy & support
- 18–24 Month Movement & Walking Milestones: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-moving-and-walking-as-expected-for-their-age
- How can I support motor development in my 18-to-24-month-old?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-motor-development-in-my-18-to-24-month-old
- How can I support adaptive development in my 18-to-24-month-old?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-adaptive-development-in-my-18-to-24-month-old
- Supporting cognitive development at 18–24 months: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-cognitive-development-in-my-18-to-24-month-old
- How can I support communication development in my 18-to-24-month-old?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-communication-development-in-my-18-to-24-month-old
- How can I support emotional development in my 18-to-24-month-old?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-emotional-development-in-my-18-to-24-month-old
- How can I support sensory development in my 18-to-24-month-old?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-sensory-development-in-my-18-to-24-month-old
- How can I support social development in my 18-to-24-month-old?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-social-development-in-my-18-to-24-month-old
- How much screen time is safe for a 18-to-24-month-old?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-much-screen-time-is-safe-for-a-18-to-24-month-old
- Is my 18-to-24-month-old talking as expected for their age?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-my-18-to-24-month-old-talking-as-expected-for-their-age
- Should I get my 18-to-24-month-old assessed for development?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/should-i-get-my-18-to-24-month-old-assessed-for-development
- What activities support a 18-to-24-month-old's development?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-activities-support-a-18-to-24-month-old-s-development