Gross Motor Skills To Expect

Walking.

Expected Age Range: 11-15 months, or so. Average age is 12 months.

This is what you can expect from the moments of your baby’s first steps through the first few months of experienced walking.

• Your baby takes their first independent steps forward before falling back down to the floor. Their arms are held up high and out to the sides, and their stance is wide. 

• They are taking more consecutive steps forward, their stance is still wide, and they are able to change directions. 

• They are able to walk while holding onto a toy.

• They are able to walk around obstacles. 

• They are able to walk forward, stop to squat down and pick up a toy, return to standing and continue walking, all without sitting on the floor. 

• Your baby will be able to start learning how to walk on uneven surfaces such as grass. 

• After a few months of independent walking, your baby’s stance will narrow, their arms will come down to their sides, they will have a symmetrical walking pattern (one leg is not turning out more than the other), and they won’t be walking on their toes. You may even notice them take some backward steps.