to wonder why she's obsessed with the fact my DS isn't walking yet

[BlackMaryJanes]

My DS is 14 months old and not walking unaided yet. He's my youngest and last child so it doesn't bother me that he wants to remain a 'baby' for a little longer.

However a woman I know at the local playgroup, whose son is 16 months old and has just started walking, seems obsessed with my DS's progress. She makes comments literally every 10 minutes (I counted 7 comments today in the space on an hour). Examples include:

"It's great when they start walking - much easier"

"Has he started yet?"

"I can't call my DS a baby any more, he's a toddler because he's walking"

"It's easy to get them to walk, just crouch and encourage them to come to you"

"So speaking to my son are you going to be walking when I see you next week?"

"speaking to my son Stop being lazy and walk to mammy"

and so on, and so on.

Maybe I'm very naive but I can't see why she's so bothered?

cut reallyyummy a bit of slack, I think she just meant in general being slightly slower learner won't affect adult life. Didn't seem malicious just not completely thought out.

To OP, maybe the woman was really fretting about her DS walking (is it her PFB?) and is assuming that you are worried about it like she was so is trying in a badly put way to reassure you that he will learn with the "encouragements" to your son and the tips with the crouching comment. Maybe mention next time she says something "Oh well I'm not really worried if he's happy just crawling for now, my other DC took "however long each did" to walk so they're all different"

My ds is 21 months and not walking yet,he climbs walks around furniture just
wont walk on his own.

TastyTurnip Yes her DS is a PFB and an only child.

I'd just ask her. Smile and say "he'll walk when he's ready. Why does it bother you?"

I would be tempted to ask her why she is so anxious over YOUR child

I thought the average age for walking was 15 months? So 14 months isn't late.

My 18 month old DD still isn't walking and I get comments like this all the time. Just smile and ignore.

My ds didn't start walking until he was 15months and my dd 10 months.They will walk when they're ready silly woman

I think she is just anxious.

I think I would just say well there's time

By the way as the mother of a child who cannot walk due to cerebral palsy, if reallymummy said that to a parent in my earshot I would either laugh it off, or explain. I certainly knew there was a problem by 12 months and so wouldn't fret as such though.

I also don't think I would take offence. I didn't when I just read that comment. Just thought it a little naive and felt quite envious that someone can really think that.

By the way people stop asking by the time they get to about 2 and then do nice sympathetic face which is far worse.

What a weird woman. Ignore, ignore, ignore

My stock answer was "I'm sure he'll do it before leaving for college" to be repeated when being questioned why my 9 month old was not walking/only drinking from a sippy/not talking or anything else.

Maybe she was subconsciously worried that her own child had Muscular Dystrophy and now that she no longer has to worry about her child she has transferred her concerns to your child. Some people have to worry about something!

I thought the average was 15/16 months too.

My DD did not walk until she was 16 months. PIL went on and on from when she was a year and saying there was something wrong with her because cousin so and so's kids walked at 10 months. They still say now (2 years later) that DD was very late in walking.

Lots of parents/grandparents are very competitive and talk negatively about your child's development to make themselves feel better about their child.