To wonder if it's my fault that DD isn't walking yet?

[LessThanGreat]

She's 14mo. She's been crawling since 6mo. So my mum kept saying 'Oh, she'll be walking by Christmas', then when that didn't happen, 'She'll be walking by her birthday'. And it's all MIL asks about now when we speak on the phone. And every other baby the same age (and some a bit younger) seems to be walking already.

I try to encourage her but she doesn't like to walk holding my hands, she just sits and crawls or cries to be picked up. She's great at cruising holding onto furniture. Maybe I'm just not trying hard enough. I feel ridiculous because I know it's still early but it's upsetting me now, I've just been having a bit of a cry about it.

Children do things in their own time...she shouldn't be under any pressure to walk.

I love the way you describe the cruising along the furniture! She is one or two steps away from walking now methinks.

All you can do is encourage her to get around herself...and it WILL happen!

I could have written your OP

Except DD is now approaching 16 months and still isn't walking unsupported.

She was always a very big, strong baby. I felt sure she would be walking by DH's birthday, and then Christmas, then her birthday, then by easter.... I have stopped trying to double guess it now

She hated being walked with us holding onto her hands for ages. All of a sudden at about fourteen months she started doing it. She has taken a couple of steps on her own, but only three times in the last two months.

She's only 14 months.

Ds1 walked at 14 months after crawling at 6 months, Ds2 walked at 16 months after crawling at 7 months. Both were big strong babies, but in my opinion, good crawlers who can pull themselves to standing often walk late, as they have no reason to walk.

DD1 took forever. Ages and ages. All the people from my antenatal group would sigh heavily in that showy-offy way about how their babies were running, while she was still sitting happily on her pretty little bottom. Others would say helpfully 'oh, she'll skip crawling and go straight to walking'...oh no she didn't. She finally evolved - honestly, it was like watching humans getting to their feet or something in real time - at about 17 months.

She is now 10 and really quite good at walking .

And when I say 'walk' at 17 months we are talking a few, seriously supported, steps.

I felt dreadful about it at the time. But, as I say, she's quite good at standing unaided now.

I'm always surprised when people have the idea that babies usually walk by a year old. I didn't give much thought to dd's walking at 14months being late, because I didn't and don't think it was, until people said things like "still" not walking just before she started.

She'll walk when she's ready and able to.

Meanwhile, just enjoy not having to zoom around after her like a Mad March Hare

Thanks again for all the replies, I feel better this morning (and just having a rant about it probably helped too). I'm not so much worried about her not walking, as I know it's still early, I think I'm just a bit sad and impatient. I know she'll get there :)

Glad you're feeling a bit better. Was just popping on to say DD didn't walk until 19mths.

It just takes time.

DD was walking at about 16/17 months. She could crawl and was an excellent cruiser/climber We had to rearrange the living room to stop her climbing the book shelves! She could get to where she wanted to be and get up to the heights she wanted so she didn't have any need to walk.

ds didn't walk unsupported until 17 or 18 months.

It is fairly miraculous how one day you put a crawling baby to bed, and the next day they start walking, though. Very strange indeed. When ds finally got going, he was so pleased with himself, it was really cute. And I love the way they suddenly sit down with perfectly straight backs - just collapsing onto the floor but in a very upright manner.

DS1 was 19 months before he walked, DS2 walked at 17 months. Both just got up & walked- totally missing the wobbly falling over stage.

Of my three, one who was commando crawling at 6 months didn't walk until 15 months, one who did nothing but sit until eleven months then bum shuffled didn't walk until 15 months and one who sat and crawled at exactly average ages didn't walk until 14 months. Your dd will get there. Please don't worry

my DS1 walked at 11 months, it was a nightmare.

my DS2 walked at 16 months. He wasn't bothered before, and neither was I (! second child alert)

Don't worry, please!

ds1 didn't walk til he was 16months, i didn't think that was late,

DD1 walked at 10 months, DD2 at 16 months. Don't worry about it.

DD is 15mo. She has just started taking 4-5 wobbly steps in the past week.

All of the other babies I see at groups/classes etc are walking and most of them were walking before a year. I do feel your pain OP. You know 15 months is well within the normal range, but you can't help worrying.

I have had to endure all sorts of ignorant comments from other parents 'is she STILL not walking yet'....'why is that then?'....'aw, she just needs to build confidence' etc.

You know what though...when she finally starts to walk properly then shen won't be a baby anymore . Why on earth would I want to wish these precious first few months away?

I say enjoy your gorgeous little crawler for as long as you can

My twins didn't walk until 17 months. They were my 5th and 6th so I was less anxious than the rest of the family. Both bright 16 year olds now, One plays hockey for the region and one runs for the region. So please don't worry. Makes no odds .