How can I help my baby to walk independently?

[sha160528]

Hi,

my DD is 16 months (will be 17 months in a week) and she can cruise whilst holding on to furniture and can use her walker (was the one you sit in but I’ve stopped using it for two weeks now to see if it helps) and can use the push walker when she’s in the mood.

However, she doesn’t show much of an interest in walking unaided and although she can manage a few seconds of standing with no support - she’d rather go on the floor and crawl to her toys.

Is there anything I can do to help?

Thanka

Learn patience

Give her time, give her opportunities to stand and build strength

And permanently remove the sit-in walker!

All babies develop different skills at different times. As long as she is weight baring and otherwise healthy then you don't need to worry. DS1 didn't walk until 18 months. But he was using quite a lot of words by then so it seemed the language area of his brain was developing first. DS2 walked before 9months but had about 3 words at 2 years old. You can't tell the difference now.

Have a bit of patience. She is so young still!

Get ride of the sit in walker and give her lots of opportunities to crawl and cruise.

My DS walked quite early but seemed to go from cruising to walking so quickly. It sounds like she's testing it out. I think it's quite common for little ones to crawl and cruise for a while. I'm sure she will be walking really soon!

It's such a lovely age!

As @andtheworldrollson said, honestly one day she'll just do it when she feels happy to

We lived in the ME when DS was a toddler. We didn't do that much walking outside because, quite honestly, it was far too hot to be sodding about walking somewhere that should only take 5 mins, but would take 30 mins toddling. DS was regularly in his pushchair until he was 4. Doesn't seem to have done him any harm!

She will do it when she is ready.

If she’s cruising and otherwise weight bearing, I wouldn’t be concerned just yet.

My daughter could do that, and walk holding hands for quite long distances, at a similar age but absolutely would not walk independently. She didn’t do so until she was a month shy of her 2nd birthday. I was so worried at the time, everyone told me she was fine and would do it in her own time. They were right.

She’s a pretty decent distance runner these days!

I had two DDs. DD1 walked at 15 months. DD2 was over 16 months. She didn’t crawl until 11 mths. She was a bum shuffler so the need to walk wasn’t there as she could carry things and shuffle. She started to walk holding my hand but would drop if I let go but then just went . She’s 21 now and is fully fit gym bunny/ hockey player so don’t worry
Just remembered DD1 would do one step and drop. One day she saw my purse in my hand. She always wanted to get hold of it and I wouldn’t let her so I held it out to her and she took 3 steps to get it! 😂😂