When Babies Look Between Their Legs: A Developmental Milestone?
When toddlers bend forward and peek between their legs, it's a completely normal and healthy behavior. It signals growing curiosity, spatial awareness, and strong motor development. This playful movement reflects milestones like balance, core strength, and visual exploration, and is nothing to worry about.


Updated July 8, 2025

As a parent, you often observe fascinating behaviors in your little one. One common sight is your toddler bending over and peeking between their legs with an amused giggle at the upside-down view.
The good news is, when babies look between their legs, it's typically a positive sign. This playful posture indicates healthy development and growing motor skills. It shows your child's advancing coordination and spatial awareness. Below, you'll understand how this is one of the activities that align with babies' foot development milestones.
What Motor Skills Help When Babies Look Between Their Legs?
When babies look between their legs, this seemingly simple action actually requires sophisticated motor skills, including core muscle strength, balance, and coordination [1].
For a toddler to successfully bend forward and peek through their legs without toppling over, they've already mastered foundational gross motor skills such as:
- Sitting upright without support (typically by 7 months).
- Pulling to stand (around 9 months).
- Walking independently (between 12-15 months).
This playful action shows how toddlers enhance their gross motor skills through active exploration.
When Do Babies Start Looking Between Their Legs?
You should expect to see this milestone between 15 to 18 months. The coordination and balance needed when babies look between their legs develop alongside other complex motor skills. This behavior often becomes a delightful "social game" when it elicits reactions from you.
Why Babies Look Between Their Legs During Development
From a developmental standpoint, when babies look between their legs, it's a powerful indicator of their developing spatial orientation. They're actively learning how their body relates to the surrounding world.
This seemingly simple act helps hone their visual skills and fosters understanding that objects appear different when viewed from various angles.
Understanding Why Babies Look Between Their Legs
In conclusion, when babies look between their legs, you can celebrate this as a sign of healthy motor development and spatial awareness. This playful milestone demonstrates your child's advancing coordination, balance, and cognitive growth.
Should you observe your toddler peeking between their legs with delight, you're witnessing an important developmental achievement that signals their growing physical confidence and behavior that requires sophisticated motor skills and represents normal exploratory development.
References
Thurman, S. L., & Corbetta, D. (2019). Changes in posture and interactive behaviors as infants progress from sitting to walking: a longitudinal study. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00822
Disclaimer: First Walkers' information is intended for educational and informational purposes related to toddler footwear and feet. We encourage you to consider individual circumstances and consult qualified orthopaedists about specific conditions.
Commonly Asked Questions
Should I encourage my toddler to look between their legs, or let them discover it naturally?
Let your toddler discover this behavior naturally. It's not a milestone that needs to be taught or encouraged. When they're developmentally ready with sufficient balance and coordination, they'll likely explore this position on their own during play. Focus on providing safe spaces for exploration instead.
My toddler looks between their legs constantly throughout the day. Is this excessive?
Occasional repetition is normal as toddlers enjoy the different perspective and social reactions they get. However, if this behavior dominates their play time or interferes with other activities, it's worth discussing with your pediatrician to rule out any underlying sensory or developmental concerns.
Is it normal for my 12-month-old to try looking between their legs but fall over?
Yes, this is completely normal. At 12 months, most toddlers haven't yet developed the core strength and balance needed for this movement. The ability to successfully look between legs without falling typically emerges between 15-18 months when coordination and motor skills are more mature.
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