How late is too late to be walking?

Asked by: Rae Hodkiewicz | Last update: February 13, 2026

Score: 4.2/5 (18 votes)

There's no single "too late" time, as it depends on personal safety, location, and goals, but generally after 10 PM or midnight becomes riskier due to reduced visibility, fewer people around, and increased potential for criminal activity, making reflective gear and walking with a friend crucial if you go out late. While walking at night offers benefits like de-stressing, safety concerns (drivers not seeing you) and potential sleep disruption from intense exercise close to bedtime are factors.

How late is too late for walking?

Anything up to 18 months is considered normal range for walking.

What is the latest time a baby should walk?

Key facts. Babies usually start walking sometime between about 10 and 18 months of age. Activities such as crawling and pulling themselves up to stand help your baby develop muscle strength and balance for walking.

What is considered late for learning to walk?

Developmental delays with walking

The average age for walking independently is 12 to 15 months. If your baby isn't taking a few steps on their own by 15 months or isn't walking independently by 18 months of age, talk with your pediatrician.

Should I be worried if my 17 month old isn't walking?

When is delayed walking a problem? If your child reaches 17 months and isn't walking, whether they're not interested or it is a struggle to do so, it is best to have your child assessed. This will help you understand why there may be a delay and what should be done to help.

Delayed Walking in Children: How to Treat? | Late Walking in Children | Dr Ruchi Jain

32 related questions found

What is the red flag for delayed walking?

Red flag features. Delayed walking after 15 months of age for girls or 18 months for boys. Waddling gait, enlarged muscle bulk, or proximal muscle weakness (consider muscular dystrophies). Frequent falls or clumsiness.

What causes delayed walking in babies?

Conditions associated with global developmental delay such as Down syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders can also be associated with walking delays. This is also true of babies with fragile X syndrome — a genetic condition that causes learning disabilities and developmental delays.

Is late walking autism?

Delayed walking has also been reported in other specific developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

What is the 5 8 5 rule for babies?

The "5-8-5 rule" for babies refers to a scientific method to calm crying infants: walk with the baby for 5 minutes, then hold them while sitting still for 8 minutes, and then gently lay them down to sleep. This 13-minute routine, developed from research in Japan, helps lower the baby's heart rate and calm their fear response, promoting sleep.

At what age do most people lose the ability to walk?

Nonperformance on Walking Tasks

Of subjects younger than 65, 3.2% (9/277) were unable to perform one or more of the CWTs, compared with 15.6% (86/553) of those aged 65 to 74, 42.7% (126/295) of those aged 75 to 84, and 77.5% (79/102) of those aged 85 and older.

Is delayed walking genetic?

"Parents might often worry that walking early or late is a bad sign or that they have done something wrong. We see that genetics play a considerable role in influencing the timing of this milestone."

What are red flags in development?

Developmental red flags are signs that a child may not be reaching milestones at the expected pace, indicating potential delays in areas like speech, motor skills, social-emotional growth, or cognitive ability, prompting early evaluation, such as not babbling by 12 months, avoiding eye contact, significant tantrums, difficulty with fine motor tasks like holding crayons, or losing previously learned skills.

Do girls walk earlier than boys?

No, research shows no significant difference in walking milestones between baby girls and boys; while some parents think boys walk earlier due to being bigger, studies find most children walk around 12-15 months, with individual development, culture, and environment being bigger factors than gender.

Do smart kids walk late?

In fact, by the time young children start school, those who started walking later are just as well-coordinated and intelligent as those who pushed off early. The bottom line is that the average infant starts toddling at around 12 months, but anywhere from nine to 20 months is possible.

Do heavier babies take longer to walk?

Indeed, overweight infants tend to begin walking at older ages than slimmer infants (Slining, Adair, Goldman, Borja, & Bentley, 2010).

Is walking a developmental delay?

Symptoms of developmental delays vary depending on the type. Symptoms may include: Delays in rolling over, sitting up, crawling and walking. Trouble with fine motor skills.

At what age is SIDS no longer a risk?

The peak incidence of SIDS occurs between 1 – 4 months of age; 90% of cases occur before 6 months of age. Babies continue to be at risk for SIDS up to 12 months.

What is the hardest month for a baby?

The first three months with your baby often seem the hardest. Sleep-deprived parents can feel overwhelmed, but that is normal and you will quickly learn how to read your baby's cues and personality. Don't worry about “spoiling” your baby at this stage. The more responsive you are, the more secure your baby will feel.

What is the 9 minute rule for babies?

Depending on age, children need at least 9 total minutes of eye-to-eye “face time.” It may be 9 minutes straight, or a minute here and there. Babies need a lot of contact with their parents—look at them and talk with them often (it doesn't matter what you say).

What is 90% of autism caused by?

Around 90% of the risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is attributed to genetic factors, meaning inherited variations in DNA significantly influence its development, though the cause is complex, involving multiple genes interacting with various environmental factors like parental age, prenatal exposures (pollution, toxins), and birth complications, rather than one single cause.

What does a delay in walking mean?

Walking is generally considered delayed if a child isn't walking independently by 18 months of age, prompting a consultation with a pediatrician for further evaluation, though most late walkers catch up, and signs like toe-walking or speech delays warrant earlier checks. While normal walking can range from 9 to 18 months, persistent issues or delays in other motor skills alongside walking should prompt medical advice.

What is the biggest red flag for autism?

Red Flags for Autism

By 12 months, there is no babbling or “baby talk.”
By 16 months, your baby has not spoken a word.
By age 2, there have been no meaningful two-word phrases.
Your child is displaying jargon speech (made-up language), or is imitating what caregivers say, and repeating it over and over.

What is the red flag for not walking?

Red flags for not walking in toddlers include not walking by 18 months, persistent toe walking, poor balance/frequent falls, difficulty with other motor skills like running or climbing stairs, stiffness or floppiness, and lack of interest in weight-bearing, which warrant a pediatrician check-up for potential underlying issues like muscle weakness or neurological delays.

Does being a late walker mean anything?

If your child is happy, developing normally, but simply hasn't started walking by 18 months, there may be no need for concern - some kids do just start walking at a later age such as around 2 years old, much like how some children take a little longer to start talking and forming sentences.

How can I strengthen my baby's legs to walk?

Here are some simple things to help increase your baby's leg strength:

Kneel on the floor with your baby sitting on your knees in front of a piece of furniture. ...
When your child is standing whilst holding onto furniture, place toys in a box next to them so that they have to bend their knees slightly to reach.