"Probably a medical issue" AIBU to not agree

[Schlecky]

My 18 month old DD is not walking. She Is well ahead on all other measures and crawls and cruises around really well but will not walk without holding onto something and won't walk confidently. There doesn't appear to be a medical issue but her child minder insists it probably is and wants me to take her to the doctor. I went to the doctor with her recently about myself and mentioned the walking issue whilst I was there and he said no she's fine it's just she's not ready yet don't worry. However doctors have our old address (don't want to change it as will be forced to change surgery and they're brilliant) and he said I could go for support via the health visitor. But I don't know how to access a health visitor, she hasn't seen a health visitor since she was probably 3 months old? I just had no reason to take her for the weigh ins etc so I just didn't.

I'm now also worried she's not "in the system" or they've written to the old address because a friend mentioned a 1 year old questionnaire and check up via the health visitor. I think I might have to change our address now to get access to the health visitor etc but I have no idea how to go about it and I'm worried they'll all judge me for not seeing a HV enough and for not getting my daughter support if there is a physical reason why she doesn't want to walk yet. I'm a bit lost now and not sure what my AIBU is but any words of advice much appreciated.

Have you got any children's centres near you? They generally have a health visitor drop in session, you can go and explain. I wouldn't worry about being judged, the checks are all optional and loads of people don't bother with them.

You need to get her properly registered at a doctors who can actually contact you as annoying as the potential of having to move is.

Personally by 18 months I would be starting to ask questions and want checks especially as it can often take a while to get these things sorted!

you can directly contact the HV in your area to do the 1 year check. I don't think they will judge you, if you are really afraid of that just say that you have recently moved and didn't know you were entitled to a 1 year check (it's not mandatory).
Good luck OP, I don't think they will be concerned before she is 2 but best check with the HV.

You need to update your address details.
People like you who believe you are more important than NHS residency criterior are one of the reasons why so many people are struggling to find a local surgery that has space for them or any available appointments.

What does the 1 year check involve? Also I've had a Google and no idea how to find and access the local health visitors. Not sure if I'm being thick.

Google is your friend to find the HV team in your area, then you just give them a call.

User - my doctors surgeries and all the ones locally to my old and new address are currently taking on new patients so that's not an issue. Also I've only moved 3 miles so it's not as if it's causing an issue. Points noted though!!

Sorry cross posted, any children center near by? You could ask them.

At 18 months I'd be asking questions tbh. Dts didn't walk until 17 months but they were 30 weekers.

My husband says he was two before he was walking. There was nothing wrong with him at all, just a late walker.

yes you need to register with a GP surgery that serves your current address. Are your dd's vaccinations up to date? they have some at 16 weeks and some around 13 months

i personally thought 18 months was the age at which they did start to investigate why a child is not walking. You saying it doesn't appear to be medical means nothing.

YABVU to continue to attend a GP in a different area to the place you live. You are booking appointments that are intended for the local community and GPs are already stretched.

They're obviously going to be writing to the old address if you haven't told them your new address. You'll have missed vaccination reminders as well, surely?

How are they sending you reminders for vaccinations or for your smear tests etc?

I'd also be mindful when it comes to applying for a school place too - I know it's a little way off yet - but they are very hot on checking here and they cross reference details that various people hold on you.

You may still be able to stay with your surgery if you ask.

If she’s cruising and can walk holding onto something or holding your hands I really wouldn’t be worried. The things they check at one year check are in the red book (one of mine wasn’t even crawling at 1 year and they weren’t concerned). Don’t worry about missing it .... my HV says they’re being stopped now anyway. As for contacting your HV the GP receptionist should know or else google your county or borough and HV and there should be a starting point. Or a children’s centre as pp mentioned. HV services have been centralised in most areas so are definitely harder to contact than they were!

Google ASQ 18 months old and it will show you the developmental check questionnaire they would be matching your child against.

ASQ = Ages and Stages.

Sorry, I wouldn't be massively worried about her not walking yet if you can see she could do it and it's just a confidence issue. But I do think your doctor should be able to contact you.

a quick google has told me rhat since 2015 gp practices can register people kutside their "catchment" so i would go in and ask asap also find out from GP receptionist how to contact health vistor they wrote it in my daughters red book so check through that. if its changed now you have moved the new HV will probably contact you.

My DD didn't walk until she was a week away from her 2nd birthday. I remember bringing it up with my HV who said to come back if she still wasn't walking by the time she was 2.

She was a very late crawler though (13 months) so I just attributed it to her being a lazy baby!

How long ago did you move? You really need to change surgery as there could be multiple things you’ve missed.

Have you kept up with her vaccinations if they haven't been able to contact you ?
You really need to get in contact with your health visitor.
Ring your surgery and ask for the tel number for the HV

Vaccinations and smears etc all up to date my doctors sends emails and texts not letters but I'm savvy enough to know what's due when in terms of compulsory stuff and I haven't missed anything like that. I don't even know what a children's centre is though! Must Google.

@MrsScamander same as my DD. She was a very late very weighty baby and was a late crawler. Seems to be a laziness issue but I feel like I should check with a HV just in case!

At med school you’re taught that 2 years is when girls should be walking and 18m is when boys should be walking by

I've moved 3 miles away a few months ago but they won't keep me under their surgery because there's so many local surgeries in this city that the catchment areas are small and as all the GP surgeries are also all taking on new patients I can't argue to stay with them on the basis they're an amazing surgery. Doesn't work like that apparently!

So basically change address, change surgery, Google children's centre (I work full time long hours is this somewhere I can go on a weekend or how does it work?) And probably get told to come back if she's not walking by 2? I supposed just being "in the system" with the correct details can't be a bad thing for the future though anyway.