If you have ever changed diapers or held a baby (which obviously every one of us had done), you might have enjoyed touching those chubby, soft little knees. They feel so smooth that you might have wondered, "Do babies have knee caps?"
It's a strange thought, but one that parents (and even doctors) get asked often. Spoiler alert: yes, babies do have kneecaps—but not in the way you think.
So now, if you are interested in knowing if newborns have kneecaps, let's dig deep and explore it further!
Do babies have kneecaps at Birth?
Yes, babies are born with kneecaps. But they're not the hard-bone kind that adults have. At birth, a baby's kneecap is made of cartilage. That's the same bendy material you feel in your ears or nose. It's soft, flexible, and not easily visible on an X-ray. Babies need to grow and develop at their own pace. Starting with bone everywhere could make delivery more difficult and increase injury risk during birth. That's why many parts of a baby's body—like the skull and knees—are soft in the beginning.
So, technically, do babies have kneecaps? Yes—but they're made of cartilage, not bone.
That's why if you try to feel around a baby's knee, you won't feel a hard bump like you do on your leg. You'll feel a soft area instead. It's there—it's just squishy! This cartilage works just fine for newborns. It allows them to bend and move their legs without much restriction. And since they're not walking yet, they don't need the support that adult bones provide.
When Do Babies' Kneecaps Become Firmer?
The process is called Ossification—that's the fancy word for turning cartilage into bone. It doesn't happen overnight. It takes years. Usually, the kneecaps start to harden somewhere between 2 to 6 years old. But every child is different. Some kids develop bony kneecaps a little earlier, and some take longer. It's all perfectly normal.
So, when babies' kneecaps become firmer?—the answer is Gradually, during toddlerhood and early childhood. Here is a timeline breakdown to help you better understand it:
At birth, babies have cartilage kneecaps only
By age 2–3, Ossification slowly begins
By age 6–7, most children have fully formed bony kneecaps.
Again, this varies from child to child. But the main takeaway is that if your child's knees still feel soft after their second birthday, don't panic. That's how nature intended it. It is completely normal, and you don't have to worry about anything.
If you're ever worried about your baby's knees, hips, or leg movements, talk to your pediatrician. But in most cases, soft knees are just a sign that your baby's developing on schedule.
Do you know what the coolest part about it is?
If you took an X-ray of a newborn's legs, you probably wouldn't see the kneecaps. That's because cartilage doesn't show up well on X-rays. Doctors know this, so they don't rely on X-rays to check for kneecaps in babies. They feel around the area and monitor movement and development instead.
