My Baby's Bowed Legs Are Not Straightening
The short answer
Physiological bowing (normal bowed legs) should begin straightening after age 18-24 months. If bowing persists beyond age 2, worsens, or is asymmetric (more on one side), it may indicate Blount disease, rickets, or other conditions that benefit from treatment. Most persistent bowing is treatable when caught early.
This is one of the most common questions parents ask. Searching for answers means you care.
By Age
What to expect by age
All babies have some bowing of the legs from their curled position in the womb. This is completely normal and not a concern. The bowing will naturally begin to straighten as your baby grows.
Bowed legs are still common and expected in new walkers. The wide-based gait of new walkers can make bowing look more pronounced. Normal bowing should be symmetric (equal on both sides).
Bowing should start to improve. If legs are straightening, normal physiological bowing is resolving as expected. If bowing is worsening, especially on one side, evaluation is recommended.
By age 2, legs should be significantly straighter. If bowing persists beyond age 2 or is worsening, X-rays may be needed to evaluate for Blount disease or rickets. Both conditions are treatable, especially when caught early.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Bowing is symmetric and improving over time.
- Your child is under 2 years.
- Your child walks normally without pain.
- Bowing is mild and expected for age.
- Bowing is not improving after age 18 months.
- Bowing is worse on one side than the other.
- Bowing seems to be getting worse.
- Progressive worsening of bowing.
- Pain or difficulty walking due to bowed legs.
Sources
Related Resources
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
Worrying about your baby means you care. That is a good thing.
Related Physical Concerns
My Baby Looks Bowlegged
Almost all babies are born with bowlegs because of how they were curled up in the womb. This is completely normal and usually corrects itself by age 2-3 as your child grows and starts walking. True bowleggedness that needs treatment is rare and usually only a concern if it's severe, gets worse over time, or affects just one leg.
My Toddler Has Severe Knock Knees
Mild knock knees are a normal developmental phase that peaks around age 3-4 and typically resolves by age 7-8. However, severe knock knees (where the distance between ankles is greater than 8-10cm when knees touch), asymmetric knock knees, or knock knees that worsen after age 4 should be evaluated by a pediatric orthopedist.
My Baby Seems to Use One Side More Than the Other
Babies should use both sides of their body fairly equally during the first 18 months of life. While slight preferences can be normal, a consistent pattern of favoring one side - using one arm much more than the other, crawling with one leg dragging, or turning the head predominantly one way - should always be discussed with your pediatrician. Early identification of asymmetry leads to the best outcomes.
My Baby Only Army Crawls
Army crawling (also called commando crawling) is a completely valid and normal way for babies to move. Many babies army crawl for weeks or even months before transitioning to hands-and-knees crawling, and some skip hands-and-knees crawling entirely. What matters is that your baby is independently mobile and exploring their environment.
One Side of My Baby's Body Moves Differently
Babies should generally use both sides of their body equally. If one side consistently moves differently, is weaker, stiffer, or less coordinated, this warrants evaluation. Asymmetric movement can indicate hemiplegia (cerebral palsy affecting one side), brachial plexus injury, or other neurological conditions that benefit from early therapy.
My Baby Crawls Unevenly
While some variation in crawling patterns is normal, consistently favoring one side or dragging one limb while crawling warrants attention. Babies should use both arms and both legs relatively equally when crawling. Persistent asymmetry could indicate muscle tone differences, hip issues, or neurological concerns that benefit from early evaluation.