Getting my son to walk - any ideas

[mamaqueen]

My son is now over 15 months and wants to walk/run everywhere however here is the problem he always wants my finger to do so, he will not walk by himself even although he is perfectly capable of it. I have tried putting him in reins - he has a tantrum!! He stands on his own for a couple of seconds and then falls back thinking it is a game - any suggestions as he is driving my crazy.
He is also very clingy and won't let me out of his sight and if it happens he sobs heard until his face is red - is this just a phase??

[Biglips]

thats all normal.... it just all about his confidence. Can u try and bribe him with a sweet and see if he walk?

[Rantmum]

Well, all children are different, of course. If your ds in happier holding hands then why not do that rather than use reins, or you can get those reins that go around your wrist and his wrist, so that you know that he is secure if you let go of his hand. I would work with his personality and nature - if he is a bit shy and clingy and needs to know you are nearby, then as long as you are not forcing independence on him that he is simply not ready for, his confidence will grow with time. And don't worry, all children go through phases. And 15 months is really just a baby still!

[Scoobyc]

Hi MQ
I was so frustrated with ds as it seemed to take him ages to go from standing to walking and then ages from walking/crawling to just walking, but when I actually look back and quantify it he went from taking 4 steps and falling over to walking really well most of the time in about 5 weeks.

In other words I think we just need patience!! they improve a bit every day and one day soon he will just walk without your finger and you'll look back and think "oh yes he used to do that!!"

Re is clingyness a phase - I have decided that if I regard everything as just a phase life is much less stressful!!

[deaconblue]

WE got past the finger holding stage by getting him to walk between me and dh (just a pace apart at first then as far as 5 or 6 steps), accompanied by enormous round of applause and whoops. The show off in him couldn't resist.

[JazzyGsMummy]

Hiya, My daughter was 16-17 months when she decided to finally go it alone, she was fine up until just before her 1st birthday when she fell using one of those push along walkers. she would walk holding fingers or one hand as long as she had something in the other hand. from her falling she wouldn't walk even holding hands and chose instead to "walk" on her knees. she did this for months and even kicked a ball with her knees and ran (I was convinced her kneecaps would shatter some days) but it's funny now looking back. Anyway the point is it's all about confidence. has your son ever fell that you know of? it could be something this simple. My dd eventually got her confidence back and at first walked a few steps between me & her daddy she went from walking to running within a few weeks now she never sits down and I have trouble keeping up with her it does seem like forever waiting for them to walk but believe me they make up for it in their own time.
don't worry too much yet.

[gegs73]

DS1 was exactly the same. He didn't walk until 15 months and was capable of doing it before then I'm sure, but always wanted to hold your finger.

In the end he walked between a coffee table and a settee by himself just about 3 small steps. From that point there was no stopping him. You could try sitting close to a table with him and putting something on there he really likes and see if he goes for it. If he is like my ds though he will just do it when he fancies and hopefully before your back gives up.

[mamaqueen]

Thank you everyone who replied to my pleas of help. I think i will have to wait until he is ready himself. He had a fall at nursery after a couple of steps but I will ask the nursery to keep encouraging him. I have tried the sweets and toys and the whoops so will have to be patient until he is ready.
Thanks again folks.