I still remember the first night I started Googling “Gross motor delay Signs” at 1 a.m.
My toddler was finally asleep, the house was quiet, and instead of resting, I was deep in a rabbit hole of milestone charts. My friend’s baby was already running and climbing everything in sight… and my child was still toddling carefully and tripping over thin air.
So, My mind wouldn’t stop :
- “She’s not jumping yet… should she be ?”
- “Why does he still fall so much when he runs ?”
- “Is this just their personality, or is something wrong ?”
I zoomed in on every little wobble at the playground and mentally compared my child to every kid on the slide. The more I read, the more overwhelmed I felt.
If you’re here, you might be feeling that same mix of worry, confusion, and guilt. First, deep breath, mama. 💛 You are not alone, and you’re not a “bad mom” for wondering about this. I’ve been there too.
In this post, we’ll walk through Gross motor delay Signs in a calm, mom-friendly way—what’s considered “typical,” what might be a red flag, and when it’s a good idea to talk with your pediatrician. We’ll also talk about early support, what you can do at home, and how to handle the emotional side of all this without drowning in mom-guilt.
This is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis—but it can help you feel more prepared when you do talk with your child’s healthcare provider.
1. First Things First : What Are Gross Motor Skills and What Is a “Delay”?
Gross motor skills are the big movements that use your child’s large muscles—things like :
- Holding up their head
- Sitting without support
- Crawling
- Standing and walking
- Running, jumping, and climbing
A gross motor delay means a child is taking significantly longer than most children their age to reach these big movement skills, or they’ve stopped doing something they could do before.
Health organizations like the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) use developmental milestones as guides for what most children can do by certain ages. They’re not meant to be a test or a way to “grade” your child, but they are a helpful way to spot when extra support might be needed.
A delay might look like :
- Not sitting without support by around 9 months
- Not walking by around 18 months
- Trouble running, jumping, or climbing like other kids their age
- Very floppy or very stiff muscles
- Favoring one side of the body
One late skill doesn’t automatically mean something is seriously wrong. But patterns over time—or several missed milestones together—are a good reason to check in with your pediatrician.
2. Age-by-Age : Common Milestones and Possible Red Flags
Every child is unique, and there’s always a range of “normal,” but here are some general guidelines many pediatric professionals use when watching gross motor development.
0–6 Months
Typical skills might include :
- Holding head steady when supported
- Pushing up on arms during tummy time
- Kicking legs actively
- Rolling from tummy to back or back to tummy (closer to 4–6 months)
- Bringing feet up toward their mouth
Possible red flags in this window :
- Very little movement in arms or legs
- Very floppy (low tone) or very stiff (high tone) body
- Not lifting head at all during tummy time
- Always looking or rolling to one side, ignoring the other
6–12 Months
Typical skills might include :
- Sitting without support
- Rolling both ways
- Pushing up to hands and knees
- Crawling or scooting
- Pulling to stand using furniture
- Standing for a few seconds with support
Possible red flags to discuss with your doctor :
- Not sitting unassisted by around 9 months
- No attempt to get into a sitting or crawling position
- Not trying to bear weight on legs when held upright
- No interest in moving to explore (even rolling or scooting)
12–18 Months
Typical skills might include :
- Walking independently (somewhere between 9–18 months is still considered a wide normal range)
- Changing direction while walking
- Squatting down to pick up objects and standing back up
- Climbing onto low furniture
- Starting to run (with wobbles and falls)
Possible red flags :
- Not walking at all by 18 months
- Very stiff or very floppy when trying to stand or walk
- Only using one side of the body (like dragging one leg)
- Still unable to stand while holding onto furniture
2–3 Years
Typical skills might include :
- Running more smoothly
- Walking up and down stairs with or without help
- Jumping in place with both feet off the ground
- Kicking a ball forward
- Beginning to balance on one foot for a moment
Possible red flags :
- Very clumsy or falling a lot, even on flat ground
- Avoiding physical play (running, climbing, jumping) almost all the time
- Unable to climb stairs even with a railing
- Seems weaker or less coordinated than peers
4–5 Years
Typical skills might include :
- Hopping on one foot
- Starting to skip
- Catching a ball more reliably
- Running and climbing with good control
- Doing simple somersaults or rolls
Possible red flags :
- Unable to hop on one foot at all by around 5
- Very uncoordinated movements or unusual patterns (for example, very stiff, or toe-walking all the time)
- Avoids playground equipment or group games because moving is too hard
3. Big Picture : Key Gross Motor Delay Signs to Watch For
Instead of memorizing every milestone, it can help to think in terms of big picture signs that it’s time to talk with your child’s doctor. Here are some important ones :
- Not hitting major milestones within reasonable timeframes Examples to mention to your pediatrician:
- Not sitting without support by around 9 months
- Not standing while holding onto something by around 12 months
- Not walking independently by around 18 months
- Very floppy or very stiff body
- Floppy = feels like a “rag doll,” hard to hold upright, doesn’t resist gravity.
- Stiff = very rigid muscles, back arching a lot, legs that scissor or cross tightly.
- Favoring one side of the body
- Always using one hand, arm, or leg, while the other seems “ignored.”
- Dragging one side or leaning heavily to one side.
- Loss of skills
- Your child could sit, stand, or walk—and then stops being able to do it.
- This is always a sign to seek medical attention quickly.
- Avoiding movement
- Your child rarely wants to run, jump, or play actively.
- They might seem fearful or unusually tired with physical activity.
If any of these sound like your child, it doesn’t mean you failed or that something is guaranteed to be “wrong”—but it is worth bringing up right away with your pediatrician.
4. When (and How) to Talk to Your Pediatrician
Here’s something reassuring: the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children get standardized developmental screenings at 9, 18, and 30 months, in addition to regular developmental check-ins at every well-child visit. The CDC also highlights that if a child is not meeting milestones, parents should speak up and ask for further evaluation.
So you are not being overdramatic by sharing your concerns. You’re doing exactly what the experts hope parents will do.
How to bring it up :
- Be specific :
- “My child is 18 months and still isn’t walking independently.”
- “I’ve noticed she only uses her right hand to reach, and her left arm just hangs there.”
- “He used to pull to stand, but he doesn’t anymore.”
- Bring examples or videos :
- Short clips of your child trying to crawl, walk, climb, or play on the floor can really help your doctor see what you mean.Parents
- Ask clear questions :
- “Is this within the range of normal?”
- “Do you recommend a developmental screening or evaluation?”
- “Should we consider early intervention or physical therapy?”
A gross motor delay is not something you diagnose yourself from the internet (no matter how tempting late-night Google is). Your job is to notice and speak up. The doctor’s job is to evaluate and guide you to the right next steps.
5. Why Early Support Matters (Expert Insight)
This part is really important—and honestly, really hopeful.
The AAP has a clinical report specifically on motor delays that emphasizes how early identification allows children to get timely evaluations and early therapies, which can improve outcomes.
The CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program also explains that acting early can change a child’s developmental path, and early intervention services are known to improve skills and support families.
In simple mom language :
- The earlier you notice a concern…
- The earlier your child can be evaluated…
- The earlier they can get help (if needed)…
- The better the chances of building skills and confidence over time.
Early intervention doesn’t mean your child is “labeled for life.” It means you’re giving them extra support during the years when their brain and body are growing the fastest.
You are not making a problem by asking for help—you’re giving your child a chance to get what they need sooner instead of later.
6. Gentle Ways to Support Your Child at Home (While You Seek Answers)
Home activities can never replace a professional evaluation or therapy, but they can help your child practice movement in a fun, low-pressure way.
Here are a few gentle ideas :
- Build in more floor time
- For babies : tummy time, rolling practice, reaching for toys.
- For toddlers : crawling through tunnels (blankets over chairs), climbing over pillows, pushing toy carts.
- Use play to encourage movement
- Put favorite toys just out of reach to encourage crawling or cruising.
- Play “come get me!” games where you scoot a few steps away and encourage them to follow.
- Create simple “movement invitations”
- A few cushions to step over.
- A tape line on the floor to walk on.
- A low step to climb up and down with your hand for support.
- Cheer for effort, not perfection
- “You tried so hard to stand up—that was amazing!”
- “I saw you take two big steps! I’m so proud of you.”
- Follow your child’s pace
- If they’re tired or frustrated, it’s okay to take a break.
- Your job is to offer opportunities, not to drill them like PT bootcamp at home.
Important :
If a doctor or therapist gives you specific exercises, follow their lead—they know your child’s situation best. The ideas above are just general, play-based ways to encourage movement.
7. Handling the Guilt and the Comparison Trap
Let’s be real : the emotional side of this can be hard.
You might catch yourself thinking :
- “Did I not do enough tummy time?”
- “Did I put them in the stroller too much?”
- “Everyone else’s kid is already running/climbing/jumping…”
Here’s what I wish someone had told me sooner :
- There are many reasons a child might have a gross motor delay—some are medical, some are genetic, some we never fully understand. It’s almost never about one thing you “did” or “didn’t do.”
- Studies have shown that genetics account for a real portion of variation in when children hit milestones like walking—there is a wide range of normal.Parents
- Early support and intervention can make a big difference, even if you don’t know the exact cause of the delay.
You are allowed to :
- Feel worried and still be a good mom.
- Ask questions and still be a good mom.
- Cry in the car after the appointment and still be a good mom.
Your child doesn’t need you to be perfect. They need you to be present, loving, and willing to advocate for them—and you’re already doing that by reading about this and paying attention.
8. A Quick Reminder About What This Post Is (and Isn’t)
This guide is :
- A general, mom-friendly overview of Gross motor delay Signs.
- A starting point to help you notice patterns and feel more confident bringing concerns to your pediatrician.
This guide is not :
- A diagnosis
- A replacement for professional medical advice or evaluation
If anything you read here is making your “mom radar” light up, that’s your sign to reach out to your child’s healthcare provider and say, “I’ve noticed some things I’d like to talk about.”
You’re not overreacting but you’re parenting.
You’re Doing Your Best, Mama
Mama, I know this topic can feel heavy. When you love a tiny human with your whole heart, the idea that something might be “off” in their development can feel like a punch in the gut.
But here’s what I want you to hold onto :
- Noticing possible Gross motor delay Signs doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re paying attention.
- Asking questions and seeking support is one of the most loving things you can do.
- Early help (if needed) can be powerful, and you don’t have to walk that road alone.
Celebrate what your child can do right now—whether it’s rolling halfway to a toy, pulling to stand, or taking those wobbly first steps. And be kind to yourself in the process. You are learning right alongside them.
You’ve got this. Truly. 💛
Let’s Talk About It
I’d love to hear from you :
👉 Have you ever worried about your child’s motor development or milestones?
Share your experience or questions in the comments—your honesty might be exactly what another mama needs to feel less alone.
If this post on Gross motor delay Signs helped you feel a little more informed (and a little less panicked), feel free to share it with a friend or save it for your next well-child visit.
And if you’d like more cozy, judgment-free support on development, routines, and mom life, you’re always welcome to join my email list for gentle, practical tips straight to your inbox. 💌