Walking on their own: how the skill grows from 12 to 24 months
Walking on their own means going from pulling up and cruising along furniture to steady walking without holding on. Walking frees the hands for carrying and exploring and is the base for running, kicking and climbing.
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Walking on their own: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Stands alone briefly. Lets go for a moment while holding a toy, then sits down with a bump.
Activities that fit this step
- Walk-to-Me Hallway Steps · 12–16 months · 3–8 min
- Push-the-Box Train · 12–20 months · 5–10 min
- Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk · 13–20 months · 5–10 min
Next step: First steps. Takes two or three steps between furniture or into your arms.
Activities that fit this step
- Walk-to-Me Hallway Steps · 12–16 months · 3–8 min
- Push-the-Box Train · 12–20 months · 5–10 min
- Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk · 13–20 months · 5–10 min
Next step: Crosses the room. Walks with arms raised and feet wide, falls, and gets up to try again.
Activities that fit this step
- Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk · 13–20 months · 5–10 min
- Towel Speed-Bump Walk · 14–22 months · 4–10 min
- Sticky Note Peel-and-Collect · 15–24 months · 3–8 min
Next step: Walks while carrying. Walks steadily holding a toy, turns and stops without toppling.
Activities that fit this step
- Towel Speed-Bump Walk · 14–22 months · 4–10 min
- Sticky Note Peel-and-Collect · 15–24 months · 3–8 min
- Nature Tote Treasure Walk · 16–28 months · 10–20 min
Next step: Walks on uneven ground. Walks over grass, slopes and door thresholds with arms down.
Activities that fit this step
- Nature Tote Treasure Walk · 16–28 months · 10–20 min
- Hoop Bus Walk · 18–28 months · 5–12 min
- Tape-Line Tightrope Walk · 20–30 months · 3–8 min
Top of the ladder (walks on uneven ground). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Nature Tote Treasure Walk · 16–28 months · 10–20 min
- Hoop Bus Walk · 18–28 months · 5–12 min
- Tape-Line Tightrope Walk · 20–30 months · 3–8 min
The walking on their own ladder
6 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 12 to 24 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Pulls up and cruises
Stands at the sofa and side-steps along it, both hands on the cushions.
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Stands alone briefly
Lets go for a moment while holding a toy, then sits down with a bump.
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First steps
Takes two or three steps between furniture or into your arms.
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Crosses the room
Walks with arms raised and feet wide, falls, and gets up to try again.
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Walks while carrying
Walks steadily holding a toy, turns and stops without toppling.
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Walks on uneven ground
Walks over grass, slopes and door thresholds with arms down.
When walking on their own usually shows up
Pulling up to stand and walking while holding furniture are CDC 12-month milestones; taking a few steps alone is a 15-month milestone, and walking without holding on to anyone or anything is an 18-month milestone. The range in between is wide.
This page follows walking on their own from 12 to 24 months, a window that spans the 12-month, 15-month, 18-month and 24-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 8 activities practise walking on their own (3 as their main skill), for ages 12 to 30 months. 2 of them need no prep and take 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the 6-step ladder.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 12 months, 15 months and 18 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve walking on their own. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 12 months | Walks along while holding on to furniture. |
| 12 months | Pulls up to a standing position. |
| 15 months | Takes a few steps without holding on. |
| 18 months | Walks without holding on to a person or furniture. |
Activities that practise walking on their own
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 6 gross motor, 1 fine motor and 1 language. Quickest to start: Sticky Note Peel-and-Collect (3–8 minutes).
Step 1: Pulls up and cruises
Step 2: Stands alone briefly
Step 3: First steps
Step 4: Crosses the room
Step 5: Walks while carrying
Step 6: Walks on uneven ground
Skills practised alongside
The activities for walking on their own most often also work on balancing (2), following directions with gestures (1), following one-step directions (1), naming things (1) and pointing to show (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Let your child go barefoot on safe indoor floors so they can feel the ground.
- Put a favorite toy at the far end of the sofa to cruise toward.
- Offer something sturdy to push, such as an empty laundry basket on a smooth floor.
- Hold one hand at your child's shoulder height rather than both arms high above the head, so balance stays with them.
What to avoid
- Long stretches in seats, jumpers or wheeled baby walkers; floor time builds walking, and wheeled walkers cause falls.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
Tell the pediatrician if your child is not walking without holding on by 18 months (corrected age if born early), walks mostly on tiptoes, or stops walking after having walked. A lost skill is worth a call rather than a wait.
Worried about walking on their own between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start walking on their own?
Pulling up to stand and walking while holding furniture are CDC 12-month milestones; taking a few steps alone is a 15-month milestone, and walking without holding on to anyone or anything is an 18-month milestone. The range in between is wide. The first step to look for: stands at the sofa and side-steps along it, both hands on the cushions.
How can I help my toddler with walking on their own?
Let your child go barefoot on safe indoor floors so they can feel the ground. Put a favorite toy at the far end of the sofa to cruise toward. A good first activity is Walk-to-Me Hallway Steps (12–16 months).
What should I avoid when practising walking on their own?
Long stretches in seats, jumpers or wheeled baby walkers; floor time builds walking, and wheeled walkers cause falls.
When should I mention walking on their own to the pediatrician?
Tell the pediatrician if your child is not walking without holding on by 18 months (corrected age if born early), walks mostly on tiptoes, or stops walking after having walked. A lost skill is worth a call rather than a wait. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.