From first wobbly steps to full speed: your toddler on the move
How walking usually develops between one and two years, active play ideas, shoes, the new safety risks of a toddler on the move, and when to ask for a check.
By PreggieLover 4 min read
Three steps, then a bump onto a nappied bottom. A pause, a grin, and up again. Somewhere between cruising along the sofa and racing across the park, your toddler is learning one of the biggest skills of early childhood. Here is what to expect as your little one moves from wobbly steps to full speed, and how to keep them safe along the way.
The walking timeline
Many children take their first independent steps around their first birthday, but anywhere from about nine to eighteen months is normal. Early walkers are not more gifted, and later walkers are not behind if they are developing well in other ways. Children born early may walk closer to their corrected age.
After the first steps, you will usually see a sequence like this:
- The wide, wobbly stance, arms up for balance, with frequent sit-down landings
- Walking confidently, carrying toys and turning to look around
- Squatting to pick things up and standing again without help
- Climbing onto sofas, chairs and anything else they can reach
- Running (more of a fast toddle at first), often around eighteen months to two years
- Kicking a ball and climbing stairs with help, usually towards the second birthday
Active play that helps
Toddlers learn through moving. Aim for plenty of active play spread through the day, indoors and out:
- Push-along toys, such as a sturdy walker trolley or a toy pram, for early walkers.
- Cushion obstacle courses to crawl over, climb and tumble on.
- Ball games: rolling, throwing and, eventually, kicking.
- Dancing to music in the kitchen, with silly moves to copy.
- Outdoor time on grass, sand and gentle slopes, which build balance on uneven ground.
- Park play on toddler swings, low slides and climbing frames, always with you close by.
Try not to let long periods of sitting in buggies, car seats or in front of screens crowd out time to move.
Do toddlers need shoes?
Bare feet are best indoors, as they help balance and strengthen the feet. Once your toddler is walking outside, they need well-fitting, flexible shoes to protect their feet. Have their feet measured if you can, and check the fit regularly, as toddler feet grow quickly. Flat feet and slightly bowed legs or in-toeing are common at this age, and usually improve as children grow. Mention them to your doctor if they are severe, one-sided, painful or getting worse.
New safety for a toddler on the move
A walking, climbing toddler can reach far more than a crawling baby. Review your home again:
- Water: toddlers can drown in a few centimetres of water, quickly and silently. Never leave them alone in the bath, and fence, cover or empty ponds, paddling pools, buckets and wells.
- Windows and balconies: fit window restrictors and move furniture away from windows so your child cannot climb up.
- Stairs: keep safety gates in place, and teach your toddler to come down backwards on their tummy.
- Furniture: anchor bookcases, drawers and TVs to the wall.
- Roads and driveways: hold hands near traffic, and always check where your child is before any vehicle moves.
- Medicines and chemicals: lock them away up high. Toddlers can open bottles and climb to reach shelves.
- Car seats: use the right seat for your child's weight and height every journey. Rear-facing for as long as the seat allows is safest.
When to ask for advice
Talk to your health visitor or doctor if your child:
- Is not walking by around eighteen months
- Walks only on their tiptoes most of the time
- Has a limp, or seems to favour one side
- Seems to have stiff or very floppy muscles
- Loses skills they used to have, at any age
Seek urgent medical help after a fall if your toddler is unusually sleepy, vomits repeatedly, has a seizure, cannot use an arm or leg normally, or is not acting like themselves.
Held up while learning to stand
There is something deeply moving about holding out your hands as your child staggers towards you. You are not doing the walking for them, but you are there, ready to catch. God speaks to His people in very similar terms:
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10, KJV)
As you steady your toddler, remember that you, too, are upheld.
A prayer for small, brave steps
Lord, thank You for every wobbly step my child takes. Strengthen their little legs and keep them safe as they explore. Help me let them try, and stay close enough to catch them. Uphold us both with Your hand. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
When should my toddler be walking?
Most children walk independently somewhere between nine and eighteen months. Talk to your health visitor or doctor if your child is not walking by around eighteen months.
Should my toddler wear shoes indoors?
Bare feet are best indoors to help balance and foot strength. Well-fitting, flexible shoes are needed once your toddler walks outside.
This article is for general information and encouragement, not medical advice. Please talk to your doctor or midwife about your own health and your baby's.
