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Mumsnet Discussions: Behaviour / development : DELAYED WALKING (32 messages)
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Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By emab on Sat 19-Jan-08 22:22:50
MY 2 YEAR OLD SON IS STILL OT WALKING OR WEIGHT BEARING, HE HAS BEEN SEEN BY CONSULTANTS WHO HAVE FOUND NO CAUSE FOR THIS, IS ANYONE ELSE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, CAN ANYONE GIVE ME AN ADVICE, THANKYOU
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By ElenyaTuesday on Sat 19-Jan-08 22:24:43
Not sure if this helps emab, but my nephew didn't walk until he was 3 - no physical reason for it, he just didn't do it! He is absolutely fine.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By whomovedmychocolate on Sat 19-Jan-08 22:26:38
If there is no medical cause for it, hopefully he will spontaneously start. Does he get around other ways?
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By yousaidit on Sat 19-Jan-08 22:28:39
Not sure if this helps but my 14m dd is not crawling and absolutely has no interest in bearing any weight on her legs! As asked before, does your son use any other methods of 'travel', does he bear anyweight onlegs if you hold himup, does he crawl and therefore use his legs to push himself along?
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By BITCAT on Sat 19-Jan-08 22:29:23
My ds2 was slow at everything from weening, walking sitting and talking. He was almost 22mths before he started walking and he was refered to hospital for tests, they couldn't find anything wrong with him physically. Can i ask does he have older brothers or sisters. He runs, talks, is just like any other kid now, it will come eventually!!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By HereComeTheGirls on Sun 20-Jan-08 08:11:30
My DD is 15 months, is crawling but doesn't want to weight bear or walk either. She is assessed every 2 months by a physio who has said her movements are all normal and she is just taking longer to do things. It is SUCH a worry though, every night I dream of her walking, so I feel for you!!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Feenie on Sun 20-Jan-08 08:52:37
My 2 year old ds is weightbearing but not walking. GP said he would be worried if he wasn't weightbearing - he holds onto something all the time on the rare occasions that he walks, but holding onto a wall clearly doesn't hold him up, so we think it's a confidence thing. However, we have been referred to a paediatrician to check everything out in case (ears, balance, etc). Maybe it would be worth going back to your GP?
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By emab on Tue 22-Jan-08 21:17:23
He bum shuffles very well, but doesnt weight bear at all, doesnt crawl, doesnt pull himself up, unable to sit up from lying down, having physio, and has seen Drs but not found anything which is good, but gets more of a concern the longer it goes on and he doesnt progress. thank you all for your messages.Just seems like im the only one with a 2 year old who has to be carried everywhere!!
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By vicksie on Tue 22-Jan-08 21:31:46
Hi both my dcs were bum shufflers and didn't start walking until just before they were 2, they never weight beared on legs either

I have discovered since that I was a bum shuffler and late walker also my mum was so maybe some connection.No doctor/ HV seemed too concerned and they have both gone on to develop well.

Also research I did myself indicated some connection with bum shuffling as they obviusly have hands free to do everything whereas crawlers have to use their hands so seem to want to stand up more
who knows! - got totally fed up with all the comments though and they were both so heavy to carry I truly sympathise !
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By mum2mum on Mon 28-Jan-08 11:22:10
my son is 31 mths and still not walking.. he was very late hitting all his mile stones and although his speech is getting better it's still very poor for his age... he weight bears if he's holding onto something but does not attempt to even stand unaided... he's under a pedeatric doctor and has physio therapy but all tests so far ( x rays bloods mri scans) have all come back normal... it;s such a worry but i'm keeping positive and enjoying his extended baby stage, more cuddles and an extra closeness i didn't get with my very indepentant daughter :-) will be getting the results of his latest mri scan tomorrow (spinal/lower nervous system) and if thats all clear he will be haveing tests done on his leg muscles.... i know this hasn't been much help to you but just wanted to let you know your not alone...
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Rynny on Tue 29-Jan-08 14:15:11
My DS walked at 30 months and was also late sitting etc. We had the help of a physio who said his reluctance was mainly due to a confidence issue. Within a couple of months of seeing her, he took his own steps and then there was no stopping him. They gave us lots of good exercises to encourage him and also fitted him with special little boots which probably sound horrendous but were actually really sweet and support little one's feet in the right places to give added confidence.

We too worried ourselves sick over it but knew that one day we'd look back and wonder why we worried so much. And it certainly is nice to know you're not on your own because that was how we felt and could find very little on the internet. Sometimes you just want someone who's had the same experience to reassure you.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Rynny on Tue 29-Jan-08 14:19:44
Oh, and mum2mum, I completely understand. My DS is under the watch of just about every health worker you can get (speech therapist, continence nurse etc) and I'm getting really down about because he's a beautiful, happy little boy at the end of the day and I get sick and tired of justifying his 'differences'! Hope the MRI scan went okay - we didn't get that far but had blood taken to check for Muscular Dystrophy, Fragile X and that type of thing.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By mum2mum on Wed 30-Jan-08 10:14:26
ds spinal scans normal, which is another huge relief, and the last lot of bloods were also normal... he's back at hospital next week for more blood tests and they are also going to test his spinal fluid... so i'm still in the dark as to why he doesn't walk... i know all kids develope at different stages and i hate putting him through all these tests, which hopefully in the end might turn out unneccessary, but i couldn't live with mysself if there was something i could have done and didn't... just got to keep on with his physio and prey he's up and running around this summer (grin)
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By FioFio on Wed 30-Jan-08 10:18:02
I am a bit reluctant to post on this thread as when my daughter was this age I was hoping some magic wand would be waved and everything would be 'ok'. It wasnt ok though and her delayed motor development was just an indicator of her global special needs. We had every test goind and at 8 years old she still doesnt have a diagnosis. She does walk though!

All I would suggest is that you try and enjoy your babies as much as possible, no matter how distressing it feels atm. Get all the help you can, physio/portage/sn nursery (if poss)/ot/salt and just stick at it
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Kellsie on Tue 18-Mar-08 16:22:58
I am glad to see that there are other Mum's out there with toddlers who are'nt walking yet. My DS is 22 months old and still not walking, he did'nt crawl until he was 17 months. He can pull himself up on furniture and stand OK holding on, he can climb the stairs but has'nt quite taken steps yet, I think his ankles are still weak. He tried to stand up on his own for a few seconds then fell forward. I have been in touch with the health visitor who will be doing an assessment with DS shortly and he is being referred to a physio. It is hard to see all his peers running about and they have been for some time now. I hope that DS will be OK and that its just a case of him taking his time, its been really useful reading everyone's comments!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By cory on Tue 18-Mar-08 16:39:03
My dd didn't walk until 19 months, but in her case it was because she turned out to have a joint disorder- only found that out 6 years later though. Might be worth letting somebody have a look at your ds, Kellsie, to see if he is hypermobile. If he is, then things like the right kind of shoes and simple exercises can help to strengthen his ankles.
But most likely he's just a bit slow to reach this particular stage.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By jeenz on Wed 14-May-08 22:08:00
I am so glad i found this site my daughter is 26 months old and not walking. she has had every test under the sun mri, bloods ,etc but they find nothing wrong the only thing they can say is she has poor muscle tone in her ankles and her joints are hypermobile . we had physio for a while but had to stop it because she was terrified of them!! she was late sitting alone etc she can bear weight and will stand if i stand her against something she will also walk if i hold her hands but will not stand up alone she will not pull herself up using furniture either.i am fed up of hearing the term she is a classic" bum shuffler". her speech and mental developement is fantastic but i just want her to walk its so hard explaining to people why she cant walk all the time .it kills me to see kids running aound in the park while she has to be carried and pushed everywhere.. will she ever walk?
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By cory on Thu 15-May-08 15:01:15
She may well need specialist help, Jeenz. I would push for a referral to a rheumatologist.

My dd walked at 19 months but was always very unstable. She developed ankle pains when she was about 3, got really bad at 7. Turns out she has something known as Hypermobility Syndrome, where the hypermobility of her joints leads to chronic pain and frequent small injuries (like mini-dislocations and sprains). It also affects her sense of balance, so she falls easily. (Also leads to incontinence and chronic constipation).

She has been up and down tbh. She's done ballet and danced in shows- but also been through periods when she's not been able to walk at all.

The things that have helped her are physio, input from an Occupational therapist, supportive footwear and pacing- keeping active but never doing too much on any one day. As I can't drive, that means we do use a wheelchair when she is out and about, but she walks at home and at school.

Not saying this will happen to your dd, but if it does- you really need to push for treatment.

My ds (7) has the same hypermobility, but very few symptoms as yet.

The Hypermobility Syndrome Association has a very useful website+forum.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By horseymum on Thu 15-May-08 19:53:48
my ds was about 22 months i think before he walked- hv and doctor were not concerned. i asked for a paed referal at about 21 months i think but by the time it came through he was well away. Sympathise with having to carry though they do get heavy. He now has slightly turned out foot but hv not concerned, suggested lacing shoes as they can offer more support. It is not as obvious now but i will keep an eye on it. Dh has very pronounced turned out foot so maybe inevitable. Ds was great bum shuffler and talked very early. We go to minigym now which has improved his coordination and climbing, he is no different to his peers now, even though they have been walking for nearly a year longer!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By jeenz on Sat 31-May-08 18:46:38
thanks cory
will do! am seeing consultant again in july yes they did say she has hypermobility,think i might push for another physio if they can make it more fun for dd.they were talking about more tests too but what they could be i dont know they already did every test they can think of so fingers crossed.might also ask for another opinion from another doctor dont care if i have to take her to the end of the earth and back for it anything as long as it helps her... one last thing she does this weird flapping thing with her hands?? anyone come accross this?
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By yomellamoHelly on Sat 31-May-08 19:21:41
Ds1 walked 6 weeks shy of his 2nd birthday. Sat at 8 months, crawled at 9.5 months. Would not weight-bear at all until 2 months before he walked.
Ds2 (now 17 months) is not sitting yet and won't weight-bear either but is super-chilled out. Nothing phases him he just wants to exchange smiles with anyone and everyone.
I didn't walk 'til I was 3. Nor did my husband. So they obviously take after us. (I didn't talk either 'til I was 4.5 and ds 1 was 1 month past his 3rd b'day before he started.)
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By lulurose on Sat 31-May-08 19:51:38
My dd2 walked late at 25months, she was seen by the physio and I was told she was very hypermobile, she can turn her feet thro 90 degrees so they face to the side for example.

She was referred for Piedro boots but never needed them in the end. I did buy her clarks ancle boots though which gave the joint more support than the crawler/cruiser type shoes.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By GreenElizabeth on Sat 31-May-08 19:52:38
Tiger Woods didn't walk 'til he was 2.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By asteamedpoater on Sat 31-May-08 19:58:40
Hi, Jeenz,

My son is also hypermobile and hypotonic and also detested having physio, which he had from 15 months old (when he could sit if put in that position or lie on his back, but not much else gross motor-wise, not even rolling over). He was not delayed in other areas, just gross motor.

The physio stopped when he was about 23 months, which was when we got him walking. Without the physiotherapy (and some piedro boots to support his weak ankles) there is no way he could have made so much progress so quickly (well, that and his obsessional practising, ploughing up and down with a cart until he had the strength to walk by himself). So, I would recommend finding another physio, despite the upset it causes. My son's physio was great - she couldn't get much out of him at the actual sessions, but she got to see enough to work out what he needed to be working on each month and she taught me how to do the exercises with him. So, effectively, I became his physiotherapist under the tuition of a qualified physio!!! A million times better than getting no phsyio input at all...

As for arm or hand flapping, this may just be something she has found that she can enjoy (if you can't walk, you've got to find other means of stimulation and entertainment from time to time!!!). It is sometimes commented on in children who are dyspraxic (problems with motor co-ordination), who have issues with sensory integration (over or under-reacting to certain stimuli - eg noise, heat, textures) or autistic, but is not part of the diagnosis of such conditions (ie it's not in the list of things a child must do to be dyspraxic or autistic), and can also be done by normal children as part of a phase they are going through which they grow out of, so try not to read too much into it, if that's your daughter's only odd habit!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By jeenz on Sat 31-May-08 23:21:59
thanks asteamedpoater
for your input.my dd was the same at 20 months old she couldnt even sit herself up unless we put her in that position then at 21 months she did it herself then started bum shuffling around herself and now moves pretty good ( ie hands knees etc). will get more physio for her. we were supposed to get boots for her but they never materialised,but will push for them.she too is not delayed in any other areas just gross motor. her previous physio said this was why she was finding it difficult to work with dd because she was too clever and understood she could hurt herself if she fell etc..as for the hand flapping thing friends and family have said the same as you, that she prob does it maybe because of frustation cause not walking or over excited.i did ask consultant on last visit about autism etc and hand flapping but he dismissed dd of having this because she showed no other signs or symptoms..
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By dizzysteph on Sun 01-Jun-08 20:15:36
Im glad I found this thread too. My DD is 2 in a weeks time and hasnt walked or stood on her own yet either. She had an MRI scan and xray a couple of weeks ago and we are waiting for the results now. She is weight bearing though and will walk if I hold her up. Everyone keeps telling me not to worry but you do dont you? I feel Im going to be using a pushchair forever. (good for shopping though..looking on the bright side!)
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By jeenz on Sun 01-Jun-08 20:38:57
hi steph
just wondering is she a bum shufler or crawler? as you dont say in your comment?
i know its difficult waiting on the results, but do try keep your chin up
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By dizzysteph on Tue 03-Jun-08 21:01:43
Thanks Jeenz. She is a crawler though she has recently graduated to shuffling along on her knees. The physio says its good as she is building up her core strength.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By jeenz on Thu 05-Jun-08 23:02:59
my dd is a bum shuffler, we were told she would never crawl!! however she started doing this weird bunny hopping movement on her hands and knees and has crawled but only did this a couple of times she has also started putting one of her feet flat underneath her and pushing up with her hands although not to a standing position still on all fours. we have now restarted physio and she says its all good progress towards getting up.. still waiting to see consultant again at end of month though.
please let me know the results of your dd mri steph
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Zep on Fri 27-Jun-08 15:56:04
I'm so glad I've found this site.

My son is 18 months and not standing alone or walking. He has isolated gross motor delay. The paediatrician found his lower limbs to be hypotonic and she couldn't get any knee or ankle reflexes. He will be having blood tests and is being referred for physiotherapy.

She scared me half to death though because she mentioned cerebral palsy or a muscle disease. I've since been looking up muscular dystrophy and keep reading about Duchennes which sounds terrible.

Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By dizzysteph on Fri 04-Jul-08 13:40:01
Jeenz, the results are in and its what we thought it might be. Mild celebral palsy. her cousin has the same thing and they were both born prematurely. It seems to be just affecting her right side and its a waiting game to see how its going to affect her overall. Good news though, the physio thinks she is bearing more weight on her right foot and she is getting steadier all the time.

Still no walking yet though.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By MABS on Fri 04-Jul-08 13:58:57
my ds has mild left hemiplegic cp, walked at 3,he was a 27 weeker. He's now 7 and came 3rd in a race at sports day last week,says it all really! Never give up hope x


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