Late walker

[whatsoever]

Did you have a late walking toddler? How old were they when they first walked?

My DS is nearly 16 months. He cruises around furniture and walks (well runs) everywhere with his pushalong walker but has no interest in trying to walk on his own. He's gone off walking holding my hands too, and will just make his legs go floppy and hang in the air if I try.

I was a late walker - 17 months - and it didn't seem to be problematic for me in the long run but I just wondered if I should be trying other stuff to encourage him, or just chill out & leave him be?

TIA

[mawbroon]

Just leave him be!!

DS1 didn't pull up until 15months and didn't ever really cruise.

He took his first steps at 20 months and was not very interested in physical stuff for ages after that. Soft play or the park were a waste of time because he wouldn't climb etc.

He's 8yo now and has completely caught up with the others and is very aware of risk when it comes to physical activity, more so that his friends I reckon. I think the risk factor was part of the reason that he didn't want to walk sooner.

[LucyLasticBand]

perhaps you shoudl speak to your HV?
does he botton shuffle?

[vladthedisorganised]

Honestly, don't worry. DD never crawled, didn't really cruise and took her first tentative steps at 15 months. At 3 she walks, scoots and rides her bike everywhere and can run for ages, so it does even out. I tried encouraging her to crawl but she was never really interested in it, so I just left her to her own devices in the end and it clicked eventually.

Interesting about the risk factor - DD will always take a minute or two to assess anything physical before going ahead with it (especially if it's something she hasn't done before); I think she did much the same when learning to walk.

[siblingrevelry]

All three of mine were great crawlers and cruisers but all three were 16 mths by the time they walked unaided.

No physical drawbacks now they're 6, 5 & 2 (that are apparent anyway; they play footie, run, climb etc).

They are naturally cautious kids when it comes to physical stuff, which might explain the late walking?

[neversleepagain]

My twins were 6 weeks premature, one took first steps at 13 months and in 5 weeks was walking well enough for shoes and can walk pretty much anywhere now.

The other one took her first steps at 15 months and even now (at nearly 17 months) is still not taking more than 5 steps at a time. All babies are so different. I personally wouldn't worry.

[schmalex]

My DS started at 16 months. I had been getting worried but HV was not concerned as he was cruising. Once he got going he picked it up very quickly.
If they can cruise and walk holding onto a walker then it's clearly not a physical problem, probably just confidence.

[HabitualLurker]

My DS is nearly 17 months and only just started walking in the last few weeks. He'd been cruising for about 7 months, but didn't want to walk on his own - would just drop to his knees and zoom off at a crawl.

I think if your DS is happily weight-bearing then he's probably alright. Don't 'they' say see a doctor if they're not weight-bearing by 18 months. Not sure at what point lack of independent walking is supposed to be a 'problem'.

[Dulra]

My dd3 is 19months and only just started walking by herself in the past couple of weeks. My other 2 daughters were only 12 months when they started to walk so I couldn't believe dd3 was so slow to get going. She is flying around now and way steadier on her feet then the other 2 were at this stage. So don't worry he will get there when he is ready

[whatsoever]

Thank you all. Interesting what many of you have said about your late(ish) walkers being cautious children - DS is definitely like that. He likes to figure out toys and situations rather than just ploughing right in with anything. He's been cruising & walking with a walker for ages so I'm not worried about weight-bearing.

I guess he'll get there in his own time. Good to hear of children who walked as late as 20+ months and are absolutely fine too.

I'll stop being ridiculous now!

[MoonHare]

Was just going to pop on this thread to offer reassurance and see you don't really need it now - but I'll do it anyway!

My three were 18mo, 17mo and the youngest has just started at 15mo - so to me she's an early walker!

The fact he can do it pushing his walker shows there's nothing physically wrong. Once he starts you'll forget there was ever a time when you wondered if he ever would.

[jaybirdsinginginthedeadofnight]

DD was 171/2months when she walked for the first time, I worried but looking back now there was no need! Although I worry about everything and much more so since having LO's, drives DH insane

[GlitzAndGiggles]

DD didn't walk alone until 17 months. She literally just went at it while I was stood in the kitchen. Then my possibly ott over excited reaction encouraged her to keep doing it and she hasn't stopped since. She didn't crawl properly until 9 months

[SimLondon]

It wouldn't be considered worringly late right now, the average is 14 months so some are sooner and some are later, i think taking the walker away would do the trick.

[naty1]

When did they crawl?
Mine cawled for 5 months before walking.
I lurred her from table to table with her favourite snack-raisins.
She started walking a week after getting first shoes and visiting the park more(too uncomfortable crawling)

[sittingbythepoolwithenzo]

Ds2 was 3 days short of 18 months. He was happy just sitting and chatting away - rolled at 10 months, crawled at 12 months.

He's 7 years now, runs, plays tennis, climbs trees, swam at 3 years.

[mistermakersgloopyglue]

My ds was a few days shy of 19 months when he took his first independent steps. He has also been quite cautious about things since, compared to others, but is much more confident now at 2 and a half.