What age should my child start walking?

What the evidence says

There's a big normal range for walking. According to the World Health Organization's international infant data, babies typically start walking with support somewhere between 7 and 12 months, most often around 9 months, and by 13 months the large majority of babies are walking on their own. Other pediatric sources describe an even wider normal window, noting some children take their first steps as early as 8 months while others don't walk independently until 18 months, and both extremes can be entirely normal.

Babies born prematurely are usually judged against their corrected age (their age counted from their original due date, not their birth date), and as a group they tend to reach independent walking a bit later than full-term babies. Walking isn't a race, and there's no need for special shoes, walkers, or exercises to speed it up. If your child isn't attempting to pull to stand, cruise along furniture, or bear weight on their legs by around 12 to 15 months, or isn't walking independently by 18 months, it's a good idea to mention this at a well-child visit so gross motor development can be checked more closely.