Tell me about your late walkers please!

[Whyismycatanasshat]

I’ve just had DD to the health visitor clinic to get her weighed and it wasn’t our usual HV, it was an older, much more abrupt lady who told me DD was a concern as at 14 months she isn’t standing by herself unsupported or making any progress to walking independently.

I assumed DD wasn’t ready yet as she cruises on furniture and will occasionally walk a step or two if you hold her hands, otherwise she sinks to her knees.

She’s not that far behind is she?

New HV made it out to be a massive deal.

Thank you.

One of mine was 22 months before she walked. Up until then she had basically sat, she didn't really even crawl, but in the end she cut out all the intermediated stages and just got up and walked.

My dd didn't walk until 16 months, and that was only because we went in holiday to Spain in an apartment and crawling on the tiled floor was uncomfortable! She just did not want to stop cruising and crawling even though she could.
Her brother walked at 12 months so I was very concerned, but after holiday she stopped cruising and crawling as she got used to walking. She is now 11 and excels at school and has no problems physically or mentally whatsoever. I think she just didn't want to walk, she's always been clever and stubborn.
Maybe try helium balloons attached to dd's hands? I have heard that encourages walking as it feels like they are still cruising.

Mine was 15 months and it happened really suddenly. I know two people who's concern didn't walk until just before they were two and neither have any problems or delays of any kind now because of it.

At 14 months my daughter wasn’t even bum shuffling or crawling let alone holding her own weight cruising.

She’s more a very active 10 year old!

DS2 is 24 now so my memory is hazy but I know that he wasn't even crawling on his first birthday. When he did start crawling a couple of months later he moved on to walking in a very short time. Only a few weeks.

He was a very laid back child who has turned into a very laid back young man. He's totally normal physically.

I really wouldn't worry. Your DD is doing better than my DS did.

Mine started at 17 months but then had a minor foot injury so lost confidence and didn’t properly walk again until 22 months.

I know it's easy for me to say op , but try not to worry. Often the reason a concern is raised early is due to physio appointments being in short supply.

My son has only just started to walk independently at 2 years and 5 months. He went along on his knees until then. Without derailing your thread , he looks to have two developmental delays , walking and talking.

What I will say is that at this stage you might want to wait and see. You might also wish to get her checked over by a physiotherapist. She may even be walking by the time your appointment arrives though.

Right now , it's about whether you think it's time to intervene. What's your feeling op?

My DS wasnt crawling until he was 15 months old, started walking around 19 months old,

Hes 3 now and doesnt sit still

I was really worried about him too, DD started walking at 11 months so in comparision he seemed really far behind

Both of mine started to walk when they were 16 months. My eldest crawled until then, but only ever backwards. My youngest did crawl forwards. They were later than average to sit, stand and crawl too. MIL used to frequently tell me that SIL walked at six months. Thanks for that!!

My daughter couldn't even crawl at 14 months! She couldn't hold herself up, or cruise. She was a quick learner though and was walking by 19 months.

My DS walked at 17 months, he now has dyspraxia, DD walked at 16 months and is also struggling with motor skills, so do keep an eye out when they are older.

I had no real concerns until the health visitor today; most, if not all, of the toddlers who are her age at the baby club we go to are walking but I try not to compare; comparison being the thief of joy and all that.

She has been crawling since 10 months; climbs on to her toy box and the foot stool, she can go up and down stairs using her hands and knees (with me right behind her) and will use walls for cruising support; so she’s physically capable of a lot.

I just assumed she wasn’t ready for the whole standing and walking yet.

The HV did not say about making a referral. I asked what we should do next/now for DD. She just repeated it was a concern.

I walked at 12 months and talked about then too, my MIL is adamant her children all walked at or before 11 months and were speaking 5 word sentences by 18 months... helpful!

And the rest of her development is 'normal' op?

They won't refer till 18 months; I was quite pleased when DS walked at 17 months, just in time!

@ForeverRedSkinhead - Yes, as far as I’m aware.

@drspouse it's 15 months in this area. It's funny how it varies.

My DD didn't walk till 22 months. Never crawled. Never pulled up n cruised. She seemed to skip all that and went to walking. It's like she was sat there watching everyone else and perfecting her skill (8 years later she still is like that. Very visual learner and doesn't do something until its perfect and gets really frustrated if it's below that standard)

My other DD is 13 months and can't stand. Not even propped up at the sofa. She does crawl though. HV said she wouldnt be concerned unless she was still non standing(even with support) by 18 month

@Whyismycatanasshat then I'd be tempted to wait and see.

Our circumstances are/were different in that two areas of development are in question , if it was only one , and at such an early stage I would wait.

What we did at your dd's age was decide on a cut off , ie if he's not walking confidently by 19 months (when my eldest walked) then we'll seek help.

So what did the health visitor suggest, a referral?

My DD is 13mo and none of the babies in our antenatal group are walking yet! They are all cruising and one is standing unsupported, but none are taking steps unaided yet. My DD cruises and pulls up on anything but she was a fairly late crawler (early sitter) so I'm expecting her to be a bit later to walking anyway. She seems content to just be able to reach things and can crawl really fast!

I have photos of my little chap in a bumbo chair at his first birthday for support. When he was about 18 months old, during a check up for something else, it was picked up that he was sitting in a "classic W" position, and he used to crumple his legs up when I tried to encourage him to stand. Hypermobility was diagnosed.

He had a physio appointment, issued a pair of Pedro boots and within two weeks of wearing those, he was walking.

He is a real high-flier with sports now so it is strange to think that such a slow walker would become such a fast runner.

She sounds like my daughter - didn t crawl properly until 10 months. At 14 months was only just standing on her own, by 15 months she was walking. She has not been early with any physical milestones but seems entirely normaI. Also seems to be a confidence/personality thing and not wanting to perform for others.

Re talking, she didnt get going really until 13/14 months but now talks more or less like an adult at 2 years and 10 months. I didn't speak until 2 but then spoke in perfect sentences. I think there is a very wide range of normal.

Mine was 18 months and it was frustrating for us all. He even failed his ten month HV check.

Now he's 2 and running around causing all sorts of troubles, and he's passed a development check with flying colours.

Also we had a physio appt at 15 months where he had a tantrum and we had to reschedule.. when we came back for that he walked into the physio office 😂