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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

How long between 1st steps and walking confidently?

15 replies

TabithaTwitchet · 05/08/2009 14:46

DD is 19 months old. She has been happy to walk holding an adult's hand for probably about 2 or 3 months.
However she totally refused to take any unaided steps.

A few weeks ago she took 2 unaided steps. Since then she has taken a few more with lots of encouragement from me, probably the most has been about 6 steps to an adult or a chair, with another adult "gettting her started" and then letting go. But most of the time she will determinedly sit down and refuse to walk at all.

When she does walk, she is obviously very proud of herself, but she has yet to try and do it off her own bat, as it were.

I was assuming that once she realised she could walk (as I feel it is mainly a confidence thing), then she'd be away. But basically she has made no progress in 3 weeks.

Has anyone else had this? I don't know whether to keep encouraging her to try to walk, or whether I should just leave it and assume that at some point she will want to try it herself.

My impression is that it is unusual for children to progress quickly to walking alone once they have managed their first steps, but she just doesn't seem to want to walk at all

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TabithaTwitchet · 05/08/2009 14:48

unusual for children not to progress quickly to walking alone...

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Phish · 05/08/2009 16:13

TabithaTwitchet, sorry I cant offer a solution only empathise with you. I could have written your post myself as we're in exactly the same position with our 19 month old DD so I'll watch with interest to see if anyone offers any great insights.

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screamingabdab · 05/08/2009 18:48

As I recall, it took both my DSs around a month for this process, in both my DSs.

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Georgelassosthemoon · 05/08/2009 18:56

DD took 2 or 3 weeks, DS took 3.5 months. Hope this helps.

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allaboutme · 05/08/2009 18:57

DS1 took 2 days, DS2 took over 2 months!

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CarGirl · 05/08/2009 18:57

dd2 walked around pushing one of those flimsy dolly buggies that offer no support for 2 whole months!!!!

Again she is that kind of personality that isn't very confident and likes to get things right.

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jeee · 05/08/2009 18:59

DD1 - 1 week, but DS took 6 months (he took his first few steps at 9 months, and did not walk until 15 months). The next 2 took about a month. It does vary.

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tryingtobemarypoppins · 05/08/2009 19:15

They are all different. I wouldn't worry. Does her walk appear comfortable, are her feet and hips well positioned etc? You could try a tiny baby toy pushchair, my DS loves them!

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Acinonyx · 05/08/2009 19:22

DD took 6 weeks - I remember being surprised that she wasn't more confident.

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Horton · 05/08/2009 21:56

My DD was walking confidently holding an adult's hand (with no real need for it) at 9 months and took her first steps at about 8 months. It took her FIVE BLOODY MONTHS to progress to unaided walking. My back nearly broke. I think mine was pretty unusually cautious, though.

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TabithaTwitchet · 07/08/2009 10:17

Ooh, good idea about the toy pushchair, just the sort of thing DD would love.

I feel a bit more reassured now, I had never heard of anyone taking so long between first steps and walking.

tryingtobemarypoppins what should I be looking for in the position of hips and feet? She does walk a bit like a penguin but I thought all toddlers did.

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girlsyearapart · 07/08/2009 10:23

yes my dd1 could take a few steps at 11 mo and was cruising with one hand for support at 9mo. She didn't walk confidently till about 13 and a half months. Dd2 nealy 11 months can't even crawl yet! they're all so different!!

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weegiemum · 07/08/2009 10:30

Our older 2 were like this - dd1 started walking holding hands at about 15 months, with an occasional step or two on her own but she was 20 months when one day she picked up a beachball and just walked right accross the room!

Ds was 18 months - an excellent crawler! - when he took his first very wobbly steps and it was another couple of months until he was confident - but he would not hold hands - and as I was ill and pg with dd2, I was desperate not to have to lift him all the time as he was always very large!

Dd2 took her first steps at 13 months on Christmas Eve and was walking confidently by New Year. In fact, she never walked, she just ran on her tippy toes!

All kids are different. My older ones just didn't want to walk. I remember getting very upset when an old lady said to me one day "why does a child of that age not have shoes on?" about ds. Cos he can't walk, you old git!

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sooey76 · 11/08/2009 18:45

Have you spoken to your health visitor? a little girl I know at toddler group got to 18 months and wasn't walking, she was refererred to physio, but got up and walked at 19 months just before appointment. Probably nothing to worry about, but you'll feel better knowing theres nothing wrong. I know how frustrating it is though, my little girl has just turned 14 months, can walk barely holding one of my hands, but as soon as I let go she's back on the floor!Also ignore other people, I get funny looks from people all the time, as she's the height of at least an 18 month old. She will walk

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TabithaTwitchet · 12/08/2009 18:44

Woo hoo, she just started walking properly this morning! and has been at it all day looking as pleased as punch (relieved smiley)
Now can't wait for DH to get home so he can see it, the race is on for him to get home before bedtime!