One of the most exciting events for parents is the first step of their baby. Seeing them walking is one of the most desirable things. So when do babies start walking? Is walking early dangerous? How long is the last walk? Yeditepe University Hospitals Pediatrics Specialist Dr. Lecturer Coşkun Saf explained.
The walking age in babies is generally between 12-18 months. However, some babies may walk at different times depending on their development. Yeditepe University Hospitals Pediatrics Specialist Dr. Lecturer  Coşkun Saf talked about walking time in babies and gait disorders in babies.

When Do Babies Start To Walk?

Walking has an important place in the developmental stages of babies. It is a complex process that reflects the baby's balance, coordination, muscle strength and brain-nerve development. The ability of the baby to stand up by holding on, sequencing and standing up without support are important indicators before starting to walk. Although pre-walking crawling is also considered as one of the important developmental stages, some babies may progress as a commando crawl by simply pushing themselves on their stomach, or start walking by skipping this step, unlike the classical crawling movement using their hands and knees. The average age at which babies begin to walk is around 12 months, but some babies may start walking earlier or later. While some babies start walking at 9 months, some babies can be expected to walk until they are 17-18 months old. Especially who do not walk after 15-16 months  and especially in the absence of gait indicator movements, It would be appropriate to consult a pediatrician.Thus, the child's muscle-bone-nerve development and mental state will be evaluated and some underlying organic or orthopedic problems will not be overlooked

Is Early Walking Dangerous for Babies?

Children can walk from 9 months of age, and there are rare cases of toddlers at 7-8 months of age. Although a child's early start of walking does not pose a problem, it has not been shown that this situation has a positive or negative relationship with cognitive functions in later childhood and adulthood.

When Does Walking Start at the Latest in Babies?

Walking in babies is expected until they are 18 months old at the latest. Being able to sit without support in the  6thor 7th months before starting to walk, crawling between 6-13 months, being able to stand up and sorting things by holding on to things between 9-12 months are important development indicators seen in the period before walking. 

How Is Gait Disorder In Babies Diagnosed?

Gait disorders in babies can be detected by the parents of the baby after the baby starts walking, that is, after the average age of 1 year, or by the pediatrician who follows up during routine controls. Deformities in the feet or legs can be detected by the baby's family or the follow-up pediatrician during the controls made before the birth, and sometimes orthopedic referral can be made before the walking age when necessary. Pressing in or out, which is mostly developmental problems, is one of the most common gait or posture abnormalities observed in this period. In these cases, it can be learned in the family history that there are often similar problems in the mother or father during childhood, so there may be a familial predisposition to these developmental problems. These problems are mostly seen in the first months and years of starting to walk, and when the child reaches 3-4 years of age, it is expected to show a great improvement and then completely disappear until the age of 7-8 years.

When and At What Age Should An Orthopedic Specialist Be Seen for Gait Disorders or In-toeing and out-toeing Problems?

Gait disorders generally tend to improve with the growth of the child, and rarely may underlie conditions that require medical, supportive or surgical treatment. There are some situations that require families to consult a pediatric or orthopedic specialist in such a situation. Pediatricians can also refer these patients to an orthopedic specialist when an orthopedic disease is considered during routine follow-ups. Situations that require families to seek the help of a doctor; At the age of 3, there is a problem of in-toeing and out-toeing that does not improve, accompanied by limping or pain, this problem is more pronounced on one side than the other, accompanied by developmental delay in areas such as speech, communication, learning or in other nerve-muscle development steps and walking. It can be summarized as the fact that the disorder tends to increase rather than decrease over months. In these cases, it would be appropriate for a pediatric and orthopedic doctor to evaluate the child without wasting time.