My Baby Looks Bowlegged
The short answer
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.
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By Age
What to expect by age
0-6 months
All babies have bowlegs at this age - it's the natural result of being curled up in a tight space for nine months. Your baby's legs will look curved outward when you hold them upright or during diaper changes. This is expected and nothing to worry about. As your baby grows and their bones develop, the legs will gradually begin to straighten.
7-18 months
Bowlegs are still very common and normal at this age, even after your baby starts standing and walking. The weight-bearing that comes with walking actually helps the legs straighten over time. You might notice the bowing more once your baby is upright, but as long as both legs are equally bowed and your baby walks without pain or limping, this is typical development.
19 months - 3 years
Most children's legs straighten out by age 2-3. In fact, many kids go through a phase of being slightly knock-kneed (knees touch when standing) around age 3-4 before their legs finally align normally. If your toddler's bowlegs seem severe, are getting worse instead of better, or only affect one leg, mention it to your pediatrician.
3+ years
If your child is over 3 and still has pronounced bowlegs, especially if they're asymmetric (one leg more bowed than the other) or seem to be worsening, it's worth having your pediatrician evaluate them. In rare cases, persistent bowlegs can be related to conditions like rickets or Blount's disease, both of which are treatable.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby is under 2 years old and both legs are equally bowed.
- The bowing is gradually improving as your child grows and becomes more active.
- Your child walks comfortably without limping, pain, or favoring one side.
- The bowlegs were present from birth and haven't gotten noticeably worse.
- Your child is over 2½ years old and still has very pronounced bowlegs.
- One leg is significantly more bowed than the other.
- The bowing seems to be getting worse as your child grows, rather than improving.
- Your child limps, complains of leg pain, or seems reluctant to walk or run.
- Sudden onset of bowlegs in a child who previously had straight legs - this is unusual and needs evaluation.
- Bowlegs accompanied by bone pain, inability to bear weight, or signs of illness (fever, fatigue, poor growth).
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 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.
My Baby Still Has the Fencing Reflex (Persistent ATNR)
The asymmetric tonic neck reflex (ATNR, also called the fencing reflex) causes your baby to extend the arm on the side they are looking toward. It should integrate between 4-6 months. If the ATNR persists strongly beyond 6 months, it can interfere with bringing hands to midline, bilateral hand use, and rolling. Evaluation is recommended.
Signs of Ataxia in Babies and Toddlers
Ataxia refers to wobbly, uncoordinated movements that result from problems with the cerebellum (the brain's coordination center). Signs include an unsteady, wide-based gait, difficulty with precise hand movements, and intention tremor (shaking that worsens when reaching for something). If you notice these signs, evaluation by a pediatric neurologist is important.