Not walking yet, age 2

[lateWalker]

Just that really, my friend has asks if I could ask on her behalf (she hasn't used MN ).
Her boy has turned 2 but isn't standing or pulling up, and no interest in walking. He shuffled on his bottom.
Physio see's nothing obvious but she is concerned.

Does anyone have experience of this?

No direct experience myself but I would be very concerned and pushing for a referral

I’d go back to the doctor....

I did this when I was little op. I walked when I was 3.

Yes I would be concerned. Get in touch with the HV or GP.

At 2, I would be very concerned and insisting on a paediatric referral.

@lateWalker

NGL, that is a concern. Not talking by 2 = OK. Not out of nappies by 2 = fine. Still got a dummy at 2 = no probs. Not WALKING = quite worrying.

Definitely needs a visit to the GP or health visitor. Good luck.

I know young adults in a work context who according to their records didn't walk until age 3, 4 or in one case 8, and all walk now - however they all have ongoing special needs and disabilities to a greater or lesser extent.

Is this the only area in which he's behind? If his language is age appropriate and he moves at speed on his bottom and has no real need to walk for this reason he may still just be late at 2, but he still needs investigation. If it's a global delay then early intervention now can make a huge difference to his lifelong potential.

Child is under physio, so if not already under a paediatrician ask them to refer

They may decide to do some routine blood tests

Was baby premature ?

No experience but as pp have said I'd be very concerned by two and would be pushing the issue with hv and/or GP

I'd be very concerned and I'm surprised there hasn't been a further referral

Yes I would be concerned. My twins are both autistic and DT1 walked just before 18 months which is when the physio said she would have started worrying. Could be all sorts of issues - muscle tone, neurological etc, I would push for a referral to a neurodevelopmental or community paediatrician.

I think the not even pulling up on stuff is the real worrying thing. I know a few kids who have been late to walk, but not that late to start even pulling up to stand.

Bum shufflers can be late walkers, I know one who only just started walking at 22 months and his brother was the same apparently, as was their mum. Not even pulling up makes it seem more of a problem though, having seen that boy not walking at 21m he was still doing lots of the early stage stuff. Does he ever try to cruise at all? Can he use a walker or baby pushchair? What happens if his favourite toy is up out of his reach?

Was physio a referral from the GP? If it were me then I'd be pushing for a second opinion if he isn't doing any pulling up at all.

Bum shufflers tend to walk later but by 2 I would be worried and insist upon a referral

My son didn't even start to walk until he was 2 and 2 months. At 2 we were referred to a lovely paediatric consultant who, while saying it could still be nothing at all, nonetheless took it very seriously and did X-rays plus physio referral, full blood screening and genetic tests.
In our case there was nothing underlying it and he did start by himself without any support. The physio discharged him after one session because he could walk by the time the referral came through. She suggested that because he had bum shuffled instead of crawling, he didn't develop the muscles needed to pull up and walk at the expected time.
So while it could well be nothing sinister, my experience was that no independent walking at age 2 is something that medics will take very seriously indeed. I would definitely encourage your friend to seek some advice and get the ball rolling.

The not pulling up is the most concerning bit. I would ask for a referral to a paediatrician to check there isn't something going on eg neurological difficulties.

If he lives in the Uk I'm surprised that this hasn't been picked up before by health visitors in their regulr milestone checks.
Does this child have a health visitor?
Might be worth asking for an assessment which will flag up whether there are other delays in his development. Also see the GP with a view to getting a referral to a childrens peadiatrician to see whether there's any pysical reasons for not walking yet.

Bum shufflers are quite often late walkers. I know a little bum shuffler who walked at just over two, he also didn't pull himself up.

Have physio given your friend advice on how to encourage walking?

Some toddlers are naturally laid back and in friendship groups this does seem to be boys but i would speak to her HV because at the least he should be able to get 16 hours free childcare as it might be a toddler play environment might encourage him.

He would qualify for the 16 hours by being developmentally delayed which for walking is after 18 months.

My colleagues twins were both bum shufflers and didn't walk until just after they were 2 - they did see a physio who didn't have any concerns at around 18 months. Once they started they had no problems at all, and they are 13 now and one of them won a ballet competition this week.

I think that varies by LA. Here to qualify for the 15 hours you’d need to be in receipt of DLA unless you qualify for other reasons. Just being delayed won’t don’t it, not sure if that’s the case elsewhere.

I didn't walk until 2 according to my mum, there are outlyers where kids have no disabilities but walk or talk late - it's best to be referred though

My son wasn't pulling up to stand at 2, he started doing that at 2.5. He was under physio, paeds, OT etc by then.