The Development of Walking

Seeing a child take their first step is described as one of the most memorable moments in a parent’s life. A child will begin to walk unassisted only when they are ready. This occurs between the ages of eight to eighteen months. It is extremely important not to rush the child into walking since speeding up the “internal walking clock” may actually prove detrimental to a child’s normal development.

As a child grows, parents will notice a change in the knee position. From the first steps until about the age of two, a child will appear to be bowlegged (a condition known as genu-valgum), which means that there will be a gap between the knees when the child is standing with both feet next to each other. This is normal. The child will then go through a stage of being knock-kneed (genu-valgum), where the knees angle inwards when the child attempts to place the feet together. This stage is also normal from approximately age two to six. After six, the condition typically corrects itself. If either of these stages persist or become excessive, it is a good idea to follow up with a foot specialist as soon as possible, since both of these conditions can be associated with other problems.