no motivation to walk at 15 months. Anyone else with a crawling addict?!

[bakeacake]

I'm not that worried but it's getting a bit frustrating now!! DS is almost 15 mths. He crawled at 9 months, been weight bearing since 14 weeks but only consistently pulling up since 12 mths. At 13.5 mths he was occasionally standing alone for 5-10 seconds. Now he won't do it at all and just crawls speedily away. He refuses to walk holding hands!

I was a very late walker myself so I guess that's a real factor. Just wondered if anyone's dc was similar- i.e. crawling for 6 months and not really making progress with walking!

[staceym11]

my dd crawled at 9 months too and she started walking at the later end of 16 months, but took a lot of coaching! she quite good now, and has to walk as im pg and have told her she cant be picked up all the time! lol

if you want to get him started try making it fun! if he likes books give him a book to hold while you stand him up and tell him to take it to dad/grandad/nanny/big bro and they'll read it to him. then once its read they send him back to do it again. and do lots of cheering and clapping, they think its great.

dd got the hang of it but she only walks without holding onto anything inside, outside she has to hold a hand/be pushing her toy buggy etc.

dont worry he'll get there and you'll wish he didnt! lol

[bakeacake]

Thanks staceym. We do all the encouraging things and cheering/clapping etc but he is pretty stubborn and if he doesn't want to do it, he won't!

I think it is a confidence thing. He will only cruise holding on with both hands etc and if in doubt will get down and crawl. He is just at a standstill with thewhole process tbh. x

[staceym11]

dd was like that, dont worry it doesnt go on forever, you jsut have to wait, it is a pain tho! i understand that! good luck with him!

[geogteach]

DS2 is 17 months and still like this, he can stand if he needs to hold an olive in each hand but otherwise isn't bothered!

[fairyjay]

My ds was 17 mths before he walked - he was a bum shuffler - it was pretty difficult at dd arrived when he was 15 mths old, so I'd got two to carry.

I have heard it said that sometimes larger babies - which he was - do take longer to walk.

They all get there though...........

[futurity]

DS1 crawled at 10 1/2 months and walked at 16 1/2 months where as DS2 crawled at 8 months and has just started to try and walk at 13 months so that came as a shock to me!

[bakeacake]

Thanks for all the reassurance everyone. I have always thought he will be late to walk but I think the fact he can't/ won't stand alone anymore has freaked me out a little! He has had a pretty bad ear infection. Could that be affecting his balance?

[Kidstrack2]

my nephew commando crawled till he was 17m then got up one day and walked across the living area, a freinds dd was a bum shuffler till 19m then leaned gainst the couch pulled herself up and off she went!

[littlerach]

At M and T we have a boy who is 19 months and still crawls. He can walk but won't.

And my friends little girl is 18 months and doesn't walk. She has crawled since 9 months.

[yomellamoHelly]

Ds started crawling at 9 1/2 months and finally walked at 22 1/2 months. HVs got their knickers in a twist about it and finally offered physio for him (about 2 weeks before he decided to walk). I ignored them - all kids are different. A week after he started walking you couldn't distinguish him from his peers.
Both dh and I were late walkers.

[LilMissHappy]

My 13-month old dd started crawling at 6 months and she has no interested in walking now. I think she'll be a late walker. I guess when babies have crawled for ages, they think it is a much faster and efficient way to get around.

I would really like her to walk though as she is getting too heavy to carry!

[mckenzie]

this is probably word for word a message that I typed about 3 years ago when DS was not walking at 15 months. And no matter how many people tell you not to worry, you do! It's only natural but really not necessary. Take comfort from the fact that when your DS does walk, he'll probably be like my DS and just walk, and walk, and walk. The very first time DS walked on his own was at the local park and he took over 50 steps! We had no accidents, no bumped heads etc. My 12 month old DD is walking by herself now across the lounge etc and I find myself wishing she wasn't as I'm pretty certain there are going to be some accidetns in the days ahead

[lazycow]

Ha - MN is great - I was just considering checking my ds with the doctor again (probably too much of a first tiem mum worrier).

DS was pulling up and standing while holding on at 8 months. He finally took his first unaided steps about a 6 weeks ago (he's now 16 months) and since then has done it very occasionally since. He doesn't crawl anymore he walks around on his knees. Quite hilarious in the park actually.

I was getting a bit concerned as he is still so wobbly after more than 6 weeks but he doesn't really practise much so I think after reading this thread I'll just be a bit more patient.

If I try and get him to stand he just bends his legs and refuses to put his feet on the ground - stubborn or what?

[sunnydelight]

My 3 walked at 16,18 and 17 months respectively. The "latest" walker was the fastest crawler I ever saw - clearly he saw no reason to bother walking. He'll walk soon enough and then there will be no more cute crawling baby!

[eidsvold]

my dd2 is 16 months and reluctant walk - has done a few steps pushing a trolley - can stand un aided for quite some time, cruises everywhere around the house, furniture - uses the walls to cruise, but she is also happy to do a little walking holding hands - when she is in the mood....

she is a very speedy crawler and I suspect she thinks she is faster doing that than walking. I also suspect that she will just take off one day.

My eldest has down syndrome and so was a late walker - almost three BUT once she started - she just took off too - very steady walker now - really no difference between her and a lot of her peers.

[raggedyanna]

Ds was cruising at 10 mths and stood independently for a few seconds at about the same time. He refused to walk by himself or holding our hands until taking his first steps recently at 18mths. He now does about 50/50 as crawling is still faster and he hasnt sussed out how to keep his balance while holding onto things when he is walking.

[oliveoil]

dd2 is still not walking and is now 19 months. I am trying not to worry.

She walks tentatively round furniture but doesn't stand up for more than 2 seconds.

Very late crawler as well.

[robin3]

I wouldn't worry at all.

We bought a walker and took off the wheels. This supported DS in an upright position and seemed to help him build his leg muscles. DS refused to try crawling and wanted to stand regardless of the consequences, so a different issue, but a walker might help you too.

[bakeacake]

loads of reassuring stories- thanks all :)

It's amazing how different they all are. DS has started to stand for a bit longer periods over the weekend (30-40 secs) and at least now he knows he's doing it and doesn't get down straight away.

robin3- we have a brick trolley walker thing which DS has crossed the room with since his birthday. He looks a bit odd with it though as he doesn't really bend his knees and the trolley just drags him across the room iykwim! lol

[mumsy1234]

i have 3 girls my first walked at thirteen months but both my other two did not walk until they where nineteen months.i think they do it when they are ready so i wasn't worried at all.but with my second the health visitor said they really should be walking by eighteen months.she made me feel bad.she was a snotty cow.i don't think u should rush them.i encouraged them but never tried to force it now they all run around driveing me nuts.:)

[edam]

ds was a knee shuffler - used to walk around on his knees which looked very funny. Didn't walk until 17 months although had been occasionally standing unaided for a while at that point. Wouldn't worry at all. Why hurry them?

[mokola]

Ds1 walked at 16 months (was happy sped crawling everywhere), I myself didnt walk until 18 months. Ds2 however has walked since his first birthday and has had far more bumps etc (has chipped his front teeth).