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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

17mo not walking. AIBU to be getting worried?

22 replies

CatsRidingRollercoasters · 05/07/2017 00:06

I posted this in parenting but didn't get any replies so have copied it over to here for traffic.

I might be over thinking this but would really appreciate hearing about your experiences. My son is 17 months old tomorrow. He's been cruising since 9 months. He's a very fast crawler and climbs the stairs, onto the sofa etc.

A few months ago we noticed that he didn't like having his left leg pulled straight during nappy changes etc. He seemed to be in pain. A few weeks ago he had an ultrasound and they said that the bones looked normal but there was more fluid than usual in his joints.

He still isn't walking. He's not even close. When he cruises along the edge of furniture he doesn't put his left foot flat - he sort of drags it on its side sometimes, but doesn't seem to be in pain.

Tomorrow we're seeing our GP to go through the ultrasound pictures. Should I push them to investigate the not walking or is it still not that late? Does it sound like he might have a disability or does this sound fairly normal for a non walker?

He is very tall for his age so it might just be a balance thing. Am I worrying over nothing? My daughter walked at 11 months but I know it's pointless to compare! Even so, she was saying several words and phrases by now and ds isn't saying much at all.

He is a lovely, happy, friendly and affectionate little chap. He was born at full term, still breastfeeding, good eater etc. No obvious problems apart from this.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

OP posts:

Queenofthestress · 05/07/2017 00:15

More than likely normal, probably just a balance thing but if anything is wrong it'll just be physio at this age

gluteustothemaximus · 05/07/2017 00:29

Mine only just walking at 17 months. Says 'car' and that's about it!

Other 2 walked much earlier and spoke earlier too. All different.

However, it won't hurt to ask GP.

Hope all is well x

TynesideBlonde · 05/07/2017 00:43

Age wise, normal. Intuition wise - something to explore. You know your child best. I'd explore it. I'd maybe even take some little videos on my phone to illustrate concerns as they are always so different at docs. All the best

MistressDeeCee · 05/07/2017 00:44

DD2 didnt walk until 18 months. After she was 12 months or so I had to put up with know it alls with no medical qualifications at that, who said I should take her to GP. I was never worried as she developed fine in other ways. DD1 walked at 11 months. All children are different

OrlandaFuriosa · 05/07/2017 01:00

I agree Tyneside. Your instinct is a good guide.

Mind you, DS didn't walk until then. But he was an entitled sausage even then, would sit on backside, point and say ""Bwing!" ! Or "Fetch!" Commandingly. He hasn't changed.

notanevilstepmother · 05/07/2017 01:01

I think it's worth asking the doctor as 8 months cruising seems long to me and as you said he may have trouble with his leg.

KC225 · 05/07/2017 01:09

My twins were about 18 months before they started walking. They were super fast crawlers and I think they felt walking slowed them down.

I think you should mention it when you discuss the x-rays It sounds as if you are doing everything you should be doing.

Good luck OP

TenForward82 · 05/07/2017 05:58

My DD has only just started walking comfortably at 16m. She is also a fast crawler so I think was lacking motivation to walk. They'll give your DS physio if he's not walking by 18m which I'm sure will help.

MadeForThis · 05/07/2017 06:07

I took my DD to the gp at 18 months as she wasn't walking. Had been pulling up and cruising for months. Would walk holding your hand.
Gp advised we see a private physio as NHS wait as 3+ months. Physio say she has loose ligaments in one hip but that they wouldn't intervene for another year or so. Said it would correct itself. This was backed up by the pediatric orthopaedics doctor.
We were happy with this and left her to it. She started walking by herself at 21 months. Just took off one day.
For your own piece of mind I would speak to your gp. But be prepared to be told to just wait and see.

RodeoDriveBaby · 05/07/2017 06:14

WRT speaking just want to say my 16mo still doesn't really say anything besides "ta" and "hiya"

There's a huuuuge range of "normal". I was speaking in full sentences aged one. My brother said literally nothing til he was 2.

RemoveAllPicturesOfRon · 05/07/2017 06:16

My DD was a late walker and we noticed that she was tiptoeing on one foot; this was also picked up by her keyworker at nursery who was insistent that one foot toe walking wasn't right. We pushed for an X-ray and it turned out she had hip dysplasia - she'd been walking around with a dislocated hip since the beginning. She's had surgery and spent three months in plaster, and now is walking properly and well. I don't want to scare you but the not putting the foot flat leapt out at me in your post. Do make a fuss if you think that something is not right - lots of lovely, well-meaning people told us that our DD was fine again and again, but she wasnt. She is now, though. Best of luck to you, and hopefully it is nothing.

SofiaAmes · 05/07/2017 06:17

My dd didn't walk until 19 months (she was talking in full sentences at 12 months). But when she got up and walked, it was a mature walk with no toddle. She was just not wanting to do something before she had it perfected. She's now 14 and still approaches tasks in the same way. However, my dd did not have any obvious physical issues that kept her from walking. I would definitely take a little video of your ds dragging his left foot and ask for a referral to a specialist if he doesn't have a really good explanation for it.

Original poster

CatsRidingRollercoasters · 05/07/2017 21:34

Thank you everyone for your replies! I really appreciate it.

We saw the doctor and basically he said that ds's hip bones definitely looked normal in the ultrasound. There is too much fluid in the joints which is just about within the normal range but still unusual and needs investigating.

He's referred him on to a physiologist as he thinks whatever is wrong could be delaying walking, especially as ds drags his left foot a bit.

My poor little boy

OP posts:

isaulte · 05/07/2017 21:40

Another one here who's child sat on his backside until 18 months (but also talked in sentences). Was barely interested in crawling, he would just stay where you put him. He just got up and walked one day.

16 years on, he's active and sporty, there is no difference between him and his friends who walked at 9 months +.

isaulte · 05/07/2017 21:42

Sorry, have just seen your post above mine OP, glad it is being checked out and hope he is Ok.

OrlandaFuriosa · 05/07/2017 21:55

Op, poor him but don't overthink.

One of my cousins' baby had such a bad entrance into the world they were told it would never be physically or mentally normal. With masses of care and patterning they decided to take on the received wisdom. Said child was slow to begin with but fully caught up later on, rowed for college, good degree from RG HEI, wonderful young person.

Two of my neighbours have had boys with club feet. One, now 11, plays rugby for a good team; the other, 10, is an outstanding footballer.

At this age, you can really improve things. And funnily enough you will bond even more. It's tough on you, though, in some ways harder for you.

Look after yourself.

OrlandaFuriosa · 05/07/2017 21:56

And well done for spotting it and not being fobbed off.

strawberrypenguin · 05/07/2017 22:07

I think you should go with your instinct and push for investigation.

butterfly990 · 05/07/2017 22:33

My little boy didn't walk until he was 23 months. He was a bum shuffler. He was only saying the odd word at 18 months. It was handy as I knew roughly where he was when I was chasing around his sisters.

His sisters were walking at 9 months and talking at 12 months.

They are all different. One of my daughter's had turned in feet which over the years corrected itself. The orthopedic surgeon said quite often top athletes will share this same trait. Still waiting on that one :)

Good luck

fabulous01 · 05/07/2017 22:38

I have twins. One walked at 11 months and the other 18 months. If you are worried speak to health visitor.
Strangely I found the trampoline which they hold on to a bar really good for balance .. which helped with the walking
But always trust your instincts

user1494237944 · 05/07/2017 22:51

My Db walked on his tip toes on and off during his early years - I sat on my bottom and suffled around for 18 months or so. Hopefully they will sort your ds out - my elder dc walked at 8.5 months and was always on 97 centile - now 6ft5!!

justilou · 05/07/2017 23:06

Good for you for trusting your instincts! You know your baby best! I have b/g twins (now nearly 11). The boy was walking and climbing at 9.5 months (nobody's ready for that!!!) and the girl didn't walk until 16 months. She was saying "I feel sad!" at 12 months, (still is a drama queen) and her brother was largely silent until nearly three. People put all this down to boy/girl stereotypical differences. Turns out the girl had been doing baby sit-ups and had rippling abs, but needed intensive physio to strengthen her back. The boy needed speech therapy as he had weak muscles in his mouth from not chewing properly and not speaking. I would never have known this had I not fought for help for them, and they would probably have had long-term issues that would have affected their schooling and social lives if I hadn't put the effort into getting the intensive physio and speech help they needed.
So glad you're pushing for an explanation!

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