Slow to walk

[Hughfearnley]

DS is 18 months and has hit all milestones apart from the walking! He's a high speed bum shuffler so I guess has not had the urge to walk yet.
This week has seen a massive developmental leap. He's pulling to stand and just starting to cruise the furniture. (Never crawled)
I'm not concerned as I now feel he's on the cusp of doing it and will get there in his own time but the HV is really on my back about it and wants referral to a community paediatrician (which I think is a waste of time as he is so nearly there)
Question for you lovely ladies ...
Is there any one who has been in this situation? How long before pulling up/cruising to walking? Shall I tell HV to back off?
Thanks in advance.

[purplemurple1]

Mine started pulling up at 11 months and walked on hos own around 15 months.

[Mrscog]

I didn't think you got referred now until they were 2. It sounds like he's close and doing all the right things. See if you can find a NICE guideline to back you up.

[Hughfearnley]

I am really hoping that cos he's so old (relatively) a penny will drop quickly and he'll start running around
(Not to mention that we are going through trouser bottoms at a rate of knots....)

[ConcreteElephant]

If he's pulling to stand, and cruising, weight-bearing without problems, then I'd give him a little longer. It sounds like he's almost there.

DD was about 18-19 months before she walked all energy put into talking ; it is late but not outwith the 'normal' range I don't think. DD was weight-bearing, cruising - HV not worried on that basis. My DB never crawled, he was a bum shuffler too, then straight to walking.

I understand the HV's slight concern but he seems to be heading in the right direction so I'd personally give him a bit longer. Presumably he sits ok? Can get from lying down to sitting himself up ok?

[Hughfearnley]

Can't get from lying to sitting yet, but looks like he could if he actually had the urge to do so! He sits fantastically (will tear around on his scuttlebug)
Am blessed with the most laid back little chap ever! But as a consequence is perfectly happy lying on his back in the cot chatting away to himself! He's never bothered to sit up! (Much like my husband.......)

[bruffin]

Bum shufflers are notoriously late walkers. However she could want a referral now because of waiting lists. When ds was little his speech wasn't that bad but she said there was a long waiting list and if his speach didnt improve at least he was already in the system.
FWIW ds walked at 10 months but couldnt get into the sitting position from the floor, but could pull himself to standing to cruise and walk , he never crawled either

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

DD was 17 months and I didn't even bother consulting a HV about it. I knew it'd happen someday even if it was her 18th birthday

[islandmummy]

My ds (now 6) didn't walk til 20 months x

[stressbucket1]

My DD was much the same just started cruising at 18 months walked at 21 months. Didn't get referred anywhere no one seemed too concerned as all other aspects of her development were on track. She is fine although still a bit behind her peers with physical development jumping running etc but making progress all the time so she will catch up eventually

[BadFam1]

Another late one here. My ds is 19 months and only started walking whilst we were on holiday last month. If you aren't concerned then I would tell HV that you don't think a referral is necessary. Like other posters have said my ds also seemed more concerned with his communication that getting around on his feet! it sounds like your child is on the right track so I wouldn't worry

[EatDessertFirst]

I myself was a turbo-bum shuffler. Didn't walk till 19 months. Sounds like he is doing all the right things, right on time. I wouldn't worry.

[Doilooklikeatourist]

DS was a commando crawler , didnt crawl on hands and knees til about 14 months , and would then happily crawl over gravel , mud , grass , road etc
Could walk with a little trolley to push , so I didn't worry even though he's my PFB
Walked at about 19 months .
He's 20 now and fine

[madwomanbackintheattic]

He is 18 months and can't get to sitting position from lying down?

I would probably take the HVs advice and get a paed referral started. Maybe some low tone issues? Possibly core tone?

Maybe nothing at all - and if not, then no harm done, and it isn't going to stop development in the meantime. But I'd be tempted to have the referral started and keep my fingers crossed that he suddenly learns to sit up by himself. I would be less worried by the not walking tbh. 18 mos isn't that late for walking, but usually they have mastered getting to sitting.

There's nothing wrong with a paed referral. And giving him a good once over and a bit of physio if needed might help him catch up.

[madwomanbackintheattic]

[foolonthehill]

Bum shuffling is well known as a marker for late walking...there are even Lancashire families with the family name "Shufflebotham" anecdotally because of their tendency to shuffle. It tends to run in families.

bottom shufflers tend to walk 3-5 months later than crawlers . Most health care professionals won't investigate until 20 months at the earliest if all other milestones are normal.

[schokolade]

Probably no need to be concerned, but there's no harm in the referral if he does start walking.

[madwomanbackintheattic]

Do they count the same milestone for lying to sitting though? Is the inability to get from lying to sitting at 18mos also normal for bum shufflers?

That's my concern really - the walking doesn't bother me so much, but as I said, I have never had a bum shuffler, just two that crawled and one that needed a good five or six years of physio to walk (this isn't the case with the op)

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

I think if be a bit concerned about the not getting from lying to sitting too. I don't think there's any harm in a referral. If he walks in the meantime then fab, you can cancel. If not then they can help if needed. I imagine the waiting lists are pretty long and I'm sure he'll master it while you're waiting as he's so close.

[castlesintheair]

I had a bum shuffler who didn't walk until 29 months. He couldn't move from lying to sitting up and certainly wasn't cruising at 18 months. He's had no problems since he's been on his feet. In fact these days he wins awards for his athletic prowess: secondary school middle/long distance running champion amongst them. I did have him checked by a paed to rule out any problems prior to this, which is a good thing imo.

[BleachEverything]

My son was terribly slow. He was talking very early and crawling early but didn't start walking until 19 months. I know it must seem like everyone else's child is doing it before yours but it will come. Very soon I expect. Then it's pain in the arse I enjoyed not having to literally run after a toddler all day!

[miniHovis]

Ds2 was a bum shuffler, he didn't walk until he was he was 22 months, now he never sits down and he is 9

[2boysnamedR]

Maybe ask how the waiting list is? It's currently 18 weeks for a pead here - but Ocupational therapy is 1.5 years and physio is six months! If it's a very ling wait you could agree then cancel it when walking?

[Hestheone]

My Dd2 didn't walk until she was 19 months,stressed me out at the time but I knew she would get there and once she did she was off like a bullet from the start

[Letmegetanamechange]

My DD was 22.5mo when she started walking properly (she'd done a few steps on a few occasions before then). She'd been cruising since about 18mo and I must admit I was worried as it took her so long.

Our HV told us not to worry if she wasn't walking until she was 2 so we just kept practising and letting her walk EVERYWHERE using her walker. She got there in the end

The thing that worried me was what other people were saying: "is she STILL not walking?" "You should take her to the doctor" "her foot looks turned out!"

I think they just learn things at different paces, you can't force them to walk. If seeing a paediatrician would give you peace of mind then maybe ask for the referral. But everyone learns to walk eventually, as one lovely mumsnet poster reminded me

[Letmegetanamechange]

Also, within a few days of doing more than a few steps she was off walking down the street by herself, pulling herself up when she fell and now we absolutely MUST go on a walk 2 times a day because she loves doing it so much!