Toddler Tripping Frequently
The short answer
Frequent tripping is very common in toddlers, especially in the first 6 to 12 months after learning to walk. Toddlers have a high center of gravity, still-developing balance, and limited experience navigating different surfaces and obstacles. Most toddlers trip and fall many times a day, and this gradually decreases as their coordination and balance improve. Frequent falling is usually nothing to worry about, but there are a few signs that warrant a conversation with your pediatrician.
Parents everywhere have the same worry. You are doing the right thing by looking into it.
By Age
What to expect by age
12-18 months
New walkers trip and fall frequently - this is one of the hallmarks of early walking. Their walking base is wide, their steps are short and irregular, and they have not yet developed the reflexes to catch themselves when they stumble. Some toddlers fall dozens of times a day when they first start walking, and this is perfectly normal. The best thing you can do is make sure their environment is safe for falling and let them practice.
18-24 months
Tripping decreases as walking becomes more practiced, but falls are still very common, especially on uneven surfaces, when carrying objects, or when moving quickly. Toddlers at this age are often in such a hurry to explore that they move faster than their coordination allows. You may notice your toddler trips more when tired, which is expected. Steady improvement over time is the key thing to look for.
2-3 years
By age 2, most toddlers are walking with more confidence and falling less frequently, though occasional trips are still normal. Running introduces a new set of coordination challenges, so falls during running are expected. If your child is still tripping and falling as frequently as they did when they first started walking, and their peers seem much more stable, it may be worth discussing with your pediatrician.
3+ years
Children over 3 should have fairly steady walking and running with occasional falls during active play. If your child trips and falls significantly more than their peers during routine walking, or if the frequency of falls is not improving over time, a gross motor evaluation can check for any underlying balance, vision, or coordination concerns that may benefit from intervention.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your toddler has been walking for less than 6 months and falls frequently, as this is a normal part of learning to walk.
- Your toddler trips more often on uneven surfaces, when carrying toys, or when moving quickly.
- Your toddler falls more when they are tired, which is common because coordination requires effort and energy.
- Your toddler trips occasionally but is generally improving over time and walking more steadily than they were a month ago.
- Your toddler trips while wearing new shoes or shoes that are too big, which affects their balance.
- Your child has been walking for 6 or more months and is not showing any improvement in their stability.
- Your child trips and falls significantly more than same-age peers during routine walking on flat surfaces.
- Your child seems to trip or stumble more on one side, or their walking pattern looks asymmetric.
- Your child suddenly starts tripping and falling much more than usual after a period of walking well, as a sudden change can indicate a neurological or orthopedic issue.
- Your child's frequent falls are accompanied by other new symptoms like headaches, vision changes, or loss of other skills.
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.