Gross Motor Delays in Children: A Parent's Guide

Q: At what age should I be concerned about gross motor delays?

It depends on the specific skill. General guidelines: if your child is not sitting by 9 months, not walking by 15–18 months, or has lost skills they previously had, contact your pediatrician. The CDC and AAP recommend screening at 9, 18, and 30 months — and any time a parent has a concern.

Q: How long does physical therapy for gross motor delays usually take?

It depends on the child and how significant the delay is. Some children meet their goals in a few months. Others benefit from ongoing PT for a year or longer. Your child's PT will reassess progress regularly and adjust the plan as your child grows and changes.

By FKT Editorial Team · 2026-05-16 · 2,401 words

Watching your child grow is one of the most rewarding parts of parenting. But when your baby isn't rolling over yet, or your toddler still isn't walking, worry can take over fast. You start asking: Is this normal? Should I be doing something?

This guide answers those questions. You'll learn which gross motor milestones to expect at each age, which warning signs to take seriously, and when it's time to ask about physical therapy. For the full picture of what pediatric PTs do and how the process works, start with our Pediatric Physical Therapy: A Complete Parent's Guide.

FindKidTherapy is a directory that connects families with pediatric therapists. We don't diagnose or treat — we help you find the right professional.

Key Takeaways

Gross motor skills are the large-movement abilities your child needs to sit, crawl, walk, and run.
Every child develops at their own pace, but there are clear windows when a delay becomes a concern.
Missing multiple milestones — or losing skills your child already had — is a key red flag.
A pediatric physical therapist (PT) can evaluate your child and create a personalized plan.
Early intervention before age 3 generally leads to better outcomes.

What Are Gross Motor Skills?

Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body. These are the skills your child uses to hold their head up, roll over, sit, crawl, stand, walk, run, jump, and climb.

They're different from fine motor skills, which involve small movements — like picking up a cheerio or holding a crayon.

Gross motor development follows a general sequence. Children almost always gain head control before sitting, and sit before walking. But the timing can vary quite a bit from child to child.

Gross Motor Milestones by Age

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes research-backed developmental milestone checklists used by pediatricians across the country. Here's a plain-language summary:

By 2 months:

Holds head up briefly during tummy time
Moves both arms and legs

By 4 months:

Pushes up on forearms during tummy time
Rolls from tummy to back

By 6 months:

Rolls both ways
Sits with some support
Bears weight on legs when held standing

By 9 months:

Sits without support
Gets into a sitting position on their own
Crawls or scoots to move around

By 12 months:

Pulls up to stand
Walks along furniture ("cruising")
May take a few independent steps

By 18 months:

Walks independently
Climbs onto and off low furniture
Runs, though a bit stiffly

By 2 years:

Runs more smoothly
Kicks a ball
Walks up stairs with support

By 3 years:

Climbs stairs alternating feet
Jumps with both feet
Pedals a tricycle

By 4 years:

Hops on one foot
Catches a bounced ball
Moves with noticeably better coordination

By 5 years:

Skips
Balances on one foot for a few seconds
Runs and plays with agility

Source: CDC Milestone Moments

What Is a Gross Motor Delay?

A gross motor delay means a child is not meeting expected milestones within the typical age range. Delays can be mild or significant. They can be temporary or long-lasting.

Delays don't always mean something is seriously wrong. Premature babies, for example, often hit milestones later — and that's expected based on their adjusted age. But a delay that persists, or involves several skills at once, deserves a closer look.

Gross motor delays can have many different causes:

Low muscle tone (hypotonia)
Neurological differences
Conditions such as cerebral palsy or Down syndrome
Orthopedic issues, including torticollis — a tightening of the neck muscles that affects movement (see our article on Physical Therapy for Torticollis and Plagiocephaly in Infants)
Too little tummy time in infancy
Prematurity

Only a qualified professional can determine the cause. That's why an evaluation matters.

Red Flags to Watch For

Some delays are obvious. Others are subtle. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends developmental surveillance at every well-child visit, with formal screening at 9, 18, and 30 months — and any time a parent raises a concern. (AAP Developmental Surveillance and Screening)

Call your pediatrician if you notice:

In infants (0–12 months):

Cannot hold their head steady by 4 months
Does not roll either direction by 6 months
Cannot sit unsupported by 9 months
Does not bear weight on legs when held upright by 9 months

In toddlers (12–24 months):

Not walking by 15–18 months
Consistently walking on their toes (our guide on Toe Walking in Kids: When to Worry and What PT Can Do explains when this is a concern)
Falling constantly or very unsteady
Consistently avoiding one side of the body

In preschoolers (2–5 years):

Cannot run by age 2
Cannot jump with both feet by age 3
Not climbing stairs by age 3
Tripping and falling significantly more than same-age peers

Regression — losing skills your child already had — is always worth a call to your pediatrician, regardless of age. This is one of the clearest signals that something needs attention.

When to See a Pediatric Physical Therapist

You don't need a diagnosis to seek a PT evaluation. If something feels off, trust your instincts.

According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), pediatric physical therapists work with children from birth through adolescence to improve movement, strength, balance, and coordination. (APTA Pediatric Physical Therapy)

Seek a PT evaluation if:

Your child is missing multiple milestones
Development has slowed or reversed
Your child has a diagnosis that often affects movement — such as cerebral palsy (see Physical Therapy for Children with Cerebral Palsy)
Your gut says something isn't right

For children under age 3, ask your pediatrician about Early Intervention. This federally funded program, under IDEA Part C, provides free developmental evaluations and services to eligible children. Your child does not need a diagnosis to qualify. Contact your state's Early Intervention program or ask your child's doctor for a referral.

What Happens During a PT Evaluation

A PT evaluation is not an intimidating test. It's usually a play-based session where the therapist watches your child move, tries activities with them, and talks with you about what you've observed at home.

The PT will look at:

Muscle strength and tone
Range of motion in joints
Balance and coordination
How your child moves between positions — sitting to standing, for example
Reflexes and neurological signs
Posture and alignment

You'll have time to share what you've noticed. Parents often catch things in daily life that don't show up in a 30-minute session, so your observations are valuable.

After the evaluation, the PT will explain their findings and, if appropriate, recommend a treatment plan tailored to your child. Most plans include exercises and activities you can do at home between sessions.

How Physical Therapy Helps

PT for gross motor delays typically involves targeted movement exercises, play-based activities, and hands-on techniques to build strength, coordination, and confidence.

Goals might include:

Building core strength for sitting or walking
Improving balance so your child can keep up at the playground
Teaching movement sequences step by step
Reducing asymmetry if one side of the body is weaker
Coaching parents on how to support development at home

Progress varies. Some children respond quickly. Others need longer-term support. Either way, early PT gives kids the best chance to build skills before compensating patterns become harder to change.

If your child has concerns in multiple areas — motor skills plus behavioral challenges, for example — a team approach often works best. Our ABA Therapy Guide explains how applied behavior analysis fits alongside other therapies. Our guide to Finding the Right Pediatric Therapist can help you build that team.

Finding a Pediatric PT for Your Child

Start with your child's pediatrician. They can refer you to a pediatric PT and help with insurance questions.

You can also search FindKidTherapy to find pediatric physical therapists in your area. Our directory is organized by location, specialty, and age group — so you can find someone who specifically works with young children and gross motor development.

When you call to schedule, ask:

Do you specialize in pediatric gross motor delays?
What ages do you typically work with?
Do you accept our insurance?
What does a first appointment look like?

For everything else you need to know about pediatric physical therapy — from what conditions PTs treat to how to prepare for a first visit — see our Pediatric Physical Therapy: A Complete Parent's Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: At what age should I be concerned about gross motor delays? It depends on the specific skill. In general, if your child is not sitting by 9 months, not walking by 15–18 months, or has lost skills they already had, contact your pediatrician. The CDC and AAP recommend screening at 9, 18, and 30 months — and any time a parent raises a concern.

Q: Can gross motor delays be a sign of autism? Some children on the autism spectrum experience gross motor delays, but motor delays alone are not a sign of autism. Many children with motor delays have no autism diagnosis, and many autistic children have typical motor development. A developmental pediatrician can evaluate the full picture.

Q: Does my child need a doctor's referral to see a pediatric PT? In many U.S. states, you can see a physical therapist without a referral — this is called direct access. However, some insurance plans require a referral for coverage. Check with your insurer before scheduling. For children under 3, Early Intervention services are accessed through your pediatrician or your state's program directly.

Q: What is Early Intervention and how do I access it? Early Intervention is a federally funded program under IDEA Part C that serves children under age 3 with developmental delays or disabilities. Services can include physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and more — often at no cost to families. Ask your pediatrician for a referral, or contact your state's Early Intervention program directly. Your child does not need a formal diagnosis to qualify.

Q: How long does physical therapy for gross motor delays usually take? It depends on the child and the degree of the delay. Some children meet their goals in a few months. Others benefit from ongoing PT for a year or more. Your child's PT will reassess progress regularly and adjust the plan as your child grows.

Q: What can I do at home to support my child's gross motor development? Tummy time from the earliest weeks builds the neck and shoulder strength that leads to crawling and walking. Floor play without bouncy seats and infant gear gives children freedom to move and explore positions. Your child's PT can also give you specific exercises tailored to what your child needs most.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. For diagnosis, treatment, or individualized recommendations, consult your pediatrician or a licensed therapist. FindKidTherapy is a directory of independent pediatric therapy providers; we are not a medical provider and do not provide therapy services.

Authored by the FKT Editorial Team.

Continue reading

Part of our Pediatric Physical Therapy: A Complete Parent's Guide guide.