The relationship between nutritional status and motor development was investigated in a cross-sectional study of 457 0-2 year old children in Madang, Papua New Guinea. The median ages at which the major motor developmental milestones are attained are almost comparable to western populations up to 6 months of age. However, crawling and independent walking are slower to develop. At any given age children of higher nutritional status by weight for age (W/A), length for age (L/A) or weight for length (W/L) are more likely to have attained a given developmental stage than children of lower nutritional status.