When do babies start walking?

The average baby begins walking between the ages of 9 and 12 months and is walking consistently well by 14 or 15 months. However, some children don't begin walking until they are as old as 17 months.

Newborns often begin testing their legs by pushing their feet against hard surfaces. By the time a baby is 6 months old, his or her leg muscles have developed somewhat, and the baby is capable of bouncing as long as there someone to steady him or her. By the age of 9 months, many babies are pulling themselves up from the floor, and by 9 or 10 months they are beginning to understand how to bend their knees.