Should I be worried...? Question re: walking (or not!)

[GruffaloShoes]

Hi there...

Up to now I haven't been too concerned about my son's lack of walking but the look of shock on a nurse's face at a recent A & E visit for him kind of got me a bit worried and it's been playing on my mind.

DS is 17 months old. He's starting to talk, into everything, tormenting his big sister/the cat, cheeky, etc. So all pretty normal (I think!) He pulls up on things and walks along furniture. He will walk if someone is holding both his hands. Will occasionally stand unassisted when he forgets but mostly finds falling down on his bum hilarious . But he isn't walking yet....

Should I be worried?? I also don't have access to a health visitor as we have just moved abroad where they don't have the equivalent. We are also required to use travel insurance for the next two months until eligible for public health care (similar to nhs).

He has been slightly slow in other areas like crawling... At his 12 month review he was still doing a commando crawl...

[beckslovestimmy]

I wouldn't worry just yet. My husband didn't walk until he was 17-18 months. He's very tall and was a very long baby. Is your DS long/tall? I've heard it takes long/big babies longer. If he's walking along furniture ect then maybe its just a confidence thing? You could get him checked by the GP if your really worried?

[Bubbless]

I have no medical insight, however, I think taking into account that if at 12 months the crawling was only just starting, 5 months later sounds about right to be doing what he's doing?
My dd crawled at 9 months and has just started walking at 11, no health visitor believes me until they see her do it because 'it's too soon', some babes just take their time.. I THINK 19 months is the 'maybe see a doctor' stage with regards to not walking.. It will come, but I know It can be worrying so didn't want to read and run!!

[drspouse]

18 months is the "see a doctor" stage, which we know because we checked this out when DS wasn't walking at 17 months (though a week later he did... first steps into the arms of his nursery carer... though she turned him straight round and he walked back to me).

Babies with heavy legs also tend to walk a bit later because they struggle to lift them... no seriously they do!

[drspouse]

PS but DS's new childminder was slightly shocked that it was this late, and asked if he was under a physio, even though I happen to know that the son of a friend who used the same CM also walked at 17 months - I think the CM just has a short memory! Well, unless the friend's son was under a physio, for a separate reason, and she hasn't told me.

So what I'm trying to say there is that even people who should be moderately well informed might act a bit shocked.

[AugustRose]

I wouldn't be too worried especially as he can stand up and hold his weight. My children were all late walkers: DS1 17 months, DD1 19 months and DD2/DS2 both 16 months.

We did get a referral for DD1 but only because she wouldn't put her feet down when you tried to stand her up, turns out she was just lazy and she walked just before the appointment!

It can be annoying when people make a thing of it though.

[spanky2]

My friend's dd didn't walk until she was 18 months . In her year 6 sats she got a level 6 in maths . A level 5 in literacy . Level 4 is average . She is really brainy . Try not to worry . So many mums round my way judge walking on intelligence . It sounds like your lo is on their way .

[justsodamntired]

Two of the seven babies in my DS's NCT group started walking at 18 months. I think it's definitely in the normal range.

[minimuffin]

Don't worry but you may need to get him checked out after 18 months. DS1 wasn't walking by 18 months and was referred to a physio and paediatrician. It turned out he has hyper mobile joints and he wasn't ready to bear his weight as his joints weren't stable enough. He was/is also incredibly cautious so he hadn't done much pulling up or other stuff to help him build strength. He was v content to sit and play. He finally walked at 2 yrs 2 months…! DS2 walked just before 18 months but doesn't have hyper mobile joints! HTH

[inadreamworld]

My DD didn't walk on her own until 4 days after her 2nd birthday. She is now 2.8 and running around fine. The doctor did say she was slightly hypermobile (very bendy flexible joints) and these children do walk a bit later. However many top athletes, gymnasts and ballet dancers are hypermobile too. I wouldn't worry.

[inadreamworld]

Just saw your post minimuffin - snap!!

[schmalex]

It sounds like he is just about to start! My DS crawled at 11 months and walked at 16 months. But once he got going he mastered it very rapidly and could walk quite far.

[GreenSunrise]

DS took his first step the day before he was 18 months and HV had previously said that if he wasn't walking by 18 months they would be keeping a closer eye on him just in case there were any issues but they weren't overly concerned. After that first step he then decided that if wouldn't start walking properly until 20 months! He didn't say his first word until then. He is completely fine but I think that if is just a child who takes his time and likes to observe and think rather than rush in and try things out straight away

In my NCT group the age ranges of starting to walk were 9 months to 22 months.

I don't think you need to worry, it sounds like he is almost there

[OatcakeCravings]

My DS was nearly 2 before he walked. Around my way you wouldn't get referred until you child was 2 for non walking

[SpanielFace]

DS is 16 months and has just taken his first steps. I didn't walk until 18 months, and my DF was apparently over two. We are all fit, healthy, active adults, and academically successful (DF is a Cambridge-educated GP), so please try not to worry! I was told that as long as they were progressing, it was nothing to be concerned about until at least 18 months, and even then it is almost certainly normal but worth checking, iyswim. Also, apparently there is a definite family link to walking late. (Not sure if that applies in your case?)

[IHeardMummyDissingParcelforce]

I would be wondering about hypermobility. It doesn't sound as though there are any other concerns that might indicate a more developmental sort of problem iyswim

So I'd go and get it logged with the HV at a clinic, and then keep on keeping on. He's on the right track!

[lolalotta]

My DD Didn't walk until 18months, ages fine!

[Bouncey]

Mine walked at a week before 18 months. Didn't crawl until 13 months or pull up until 17 months (but went from that to walking very quickly). We got a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon but that was because of the weight bearing issue and also uneven creases on back of legs (can be sign of hip problems). Turned out she was just lazy. I did get a bit paranoid about it but there are more late walkers out there than you might think - and it runs in families (turns out DH was the culprit!)

[maillotjaune]

My 3 walked at 14m, 20m and 22m I think. The younger 2 had done the pulling up and cruising for ages so there were no indications that they wouldn't be able to.

And I was told that referrals are no longer done at 18m unless there are other concerns e.g. no sign of weight bearing. They wait until 2, otherwise you just get lots of children being referred and walking without intervention anyway.

[PJ67]

My son didn't walk until 19 months. He never crawled either, just bum shuffled. I left him at my mums one day to go to work and when I came home he was walking around the house like he had been doing it for months, not a bit unsteady. I was totally shocked!

[stressbucket1]

My lo walked at 21 months near enough didn't crawl until 14 months. We saw a paediatric consultant about reflux when she was 18 months and mentioned that she wasn't walking and they were not concerned at all.

[Beamur]

My DD was barely crawling at 12 months and doing similar to yours at the same age. She was also very cautious generally and a bit chunky! She'll never win a gold medal for her athleticism but is perfectly healthy.

[GruffaloShoes]

Thanks for all your replies!

DS is quite large... 91st percentile for weight and height. I suspect it can't be easy to keep that belly and massive head (99th percentile at birth - took the edge off of my disappointment at having to have a cs) from throwing his balance off .

I do also get the feeling that it's not fast enough for him when he knows he can get where he wants really quickly by crawling. There is nothing cautious about him and his impatience turns him into a little bulldozer.

I forgot to mention in my original post (sorry!) that I have taken him to our GP in the past as his feet turn out. The doc was so completely unconcerned that I rarely even think about it. Basically told me that babie's/toddler's feet can point in all sorts of directions before settling down by age three... So maybe that is something to have another look at...

I'll leave him for another 4-6 weeks and see how he gets on. If there is no progress I will take him to a gp for a little looky. Glad to see that there is nothing really unusual about late(r) walking. I also long suspected that the link to intelligence is about the same as with the appearance of teeth .

Thanks again

[Ferguson]

Our DS was tall and didn't walk until 18 months, so don't worry about it. He never went through a 'falling down or bumping into things' phase, and we liked to imagine he had waited until he knew he could do it properly!

He's now aged 30, and well over 6ft.

[TheUnstoppableWindmill]

Sounds fine to me if he's pulling up / cruising / walking holding hands- he's nearly there! My 18 mo took his first unsupported steps today; I know a lot of late walkers so have never been worried. The milestones at his nursery give them until 20 months to be within normal range, and I know of 4 perfectly confident walkers who didn't walk until 20+ months. As long as he is cruising, I wouldn't worry!