19 month old not walking

[LadyDowagerHatt]

My DD is 19 months at the end of this month and isn't walking. She can pull herself up to stand against something (has been doing since she was about a year) and can cruise along the sofa in a fashion but she can't stand on her own and won't take any steps holding our hands (she just cries and goes down to the floor). She has crawled since she was 12 months. The HV and 2 doctors don't seem concerned and said just to wait. She has always been a very clingy baby and loves been picked up and carried so I wonder whether this has meant she hasn't had the chance to strengthen her muscles.

Just wondering if anyone has had a 'late' walker and did they just 'catch up' when they did start to walk or was there always a physical delay?

Also, is there anything more you would suggest doing to encourage her? We are trying to get her to cruise across the sofa etc but she won't walk holding hands and she won't use her push along walker. I was thinking of getting one on wheels where they sit in the middle but my HV told me not to use them with my DS.

Any advice or experience greatly appreciated - I don't know anyone in RL with such a late walker!

[perfectlybroken]

Hi, I think ds1 was about 2 when he finally started walking, he's now nearly 4 and absolutely fine. There is a huge range within normal so I think if doc and hv not worried you can prob just relax about it. Ds1 has also been young for his age, but that gap is closing the older he gets iyswim. Try not to worry.

[TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos]

One of mine was 20 months. Tbh, she had no need to walk, with older siblings and a smile that got.all the little boys to bring her toys at Playgroup. One day, DH was chatting to her and said "Would you like to have shoes like ?". Cue nodding. "Well, you need to walk..." She got up and walked!!

More seriously, the HV was never worried and, in fact, kept trying to reassure us (I wasn't worried, either) and I am sure we were told they wouldn't even be referred till they were two.

[AlwaysDancing1234]

It could be that she sees no need for her to walk, she probably knows you'll carry her to where she wants to be! (DS1 was a bit like this). Try going to soft play which may encourage climbing and walking in a safe soft environment or holding/putting interesting things just out of reach to encourage her to step and reach.

[LongDivision]

Mine didn't walk until 2, and is still behind on physical milestones at 3. But he was definitely not pulling up/cruising as early as your dd.
Our big breakthrough came when we visited family who had two sofas - they were close enough together that he had the courage to stumble the few steps between them.
Have you tried putting an interesting toy/book on a coffee table behind her when she's cruising the sofa, so that she tries to turn around to have a look. Once she gets the hang of turning around, you can move the table a little bit further away so that she has to take a step to reach it.
She's pulling up and cruising, so I'm sure she will get there - but I know how disheartening it is when all of their peers are already running around...