When should a baby start walking?

Most babies take their first steps between 9 and 15 months, with 12 months being average. Some babies don't walk until 18 months, which is still within the normal range. If your child isn't walking by 18 months, talk to your GP or child health nurse.

When should a baby start talking?

Babies typically say their first words around 12 months (mama, dada). By 18 months they usually have 5-20 words, and by 2 years they should be putting two words together. If your child has fewer than 50 words by 2 years or isn't combining words, discuss it with your GP.

What are the signs of developmental delay in babies?

Key signs include: not meeting milestones significantly later than expected, losing skills they previously had, not making eye contact, not responding to their name by 12 months, no words by 16 months, and no two-word phrases by 2 years. If you have concerns, speak to your GP or child health nurse early — early intervention makes a big difference.

baby milestones month by month

by william samuels·9 april 2026

reviewed against the CDC developmental milestones and Raising Children Network guidelines. this is general information, not medical advice.

every child develops at their own pace. these milestones are general guides based on what most children can do by a certain age. if you have concerns about your child's development, talk to your GP or child and family health nurse.

tap an age below for the full breakdown — physical, cognitive, social, and language milestones, plus red flags to watch for.

choose an age

3 mo

3 months

6 mo

6 months

9 mo

9 months

12 mo

12 months

18 mo

18 months

2 yr

2 years

3 yr

3 years

4 yr

4 years

5 yr

5 years

milestone overview

age	key physical	key language
3 months	lifts head and chest when lying on tummy	makes cooing and gurgling sounds
6 months	rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front)	responds to own name
9 months	crawls (or finds another way to move — bottom shuffling, commando crawling)	understands 'no'
12 months	pulls to stand and may stand alone	says 1–3 words (mama, dada, and possibly one other)
18 months	walks alone (may still be unsteady)	says several single words (typically 5–20 words)
2 years	runs reasonably well	puts 2 words together ('more milk', 'daddy go')
3 years	climbs well (stairs, playground equipment)	follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps
4 years	hops and stands on one foot for up to 2 seconds	knows some basic rules of grammar (correctly uses 'he' and 'she')
5 years	stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer	speaks very clearly

when to seek help

trust your instincts — you know your child best. speak to your GP or child and family health nurse if:

• your child is significantly behind on milestones for their age
• your child has lost skills they previously had
• you have any concerns about their development, behaviour, or learning

early intervention makes a real difference. don't wait.

related guides

immunisation schedule

which vaccines are due and when.

this information is based on general developmental guidelines and is not medical advice. every child develops differently. if you have concerns, consult your GP or child health professional.