Like most skills children develop in the first 3 years, the “normal” time to begin walking can vary widely depending on the child.  On average, children take their first step sometime between 11 and 14 months, but anytime between 9 and 18 months is still within the norm. 

There are many factors that influence when children learn to walk, from the physical—such as a child’s muscle tone, balance, and coordination—to temperament, as some children are more driven to explore using their bodies than others.  There is also an important cultural influence.  Some cultures value keeping young children close and thus tend to hold and carry them more.  While this may lead to children learning to walk later than “average,” once they start, their physical development progresses normally.