Did anyone have late walkers?

[gfy]

Inspired by another thread

My ds is almost 2 and not walking, he can crawl and pull himself up and has only started cruising.

He had an assessment with a physiotherapist and they discharged him saying they are confident he will walk in his own time but I can't but feel a bit pessimistic, we try and encourage him the best we can but he's a stubborn little thing so was just wondering if anyone else had late walkers (2 years plus) and what they did to help.

Thank you

Yep my little girl bum shuffled until 2 - didn’t even put her feet on the floor until 18 months and then very gingerly took her first steps / but didn’t confidently walk until about 2 and a half. Was assessed all was normal, has physio, special boots etc. in the end she just finally started doing it, think she was just lazy! She’s 4 now and runs about all over the shop

Hi I also had a late walker. My girl bum shuffled alot and would refuse to weight bear. She was referred to physio and they dischsrged aged 2y 2mo when she began cruising. She eventually walked alone ages 2y and 4mo. She attended playgroups at this age which helped to bring on her confidence. Her very knowledgeable and attentive nursery teacher noticed she was reluctant to climb and suggested OT. It honestly was the best thing we ever did. We learned she had balance issues and was still behind her milestones. We got her moving around doing more activities to eventually help build her confidence around climbing and by the time she was in P1 she was flying. We still reckon she will be later to ride a bike etc but we are okay with that. We now take her swimming on Saturday mornings to help maintain good muscle tone and build her confidence. If physio were happy with your child then you could always get a second opinion privately or look up some of the milestones and see where she is. My girl would have followed some baby yoga books age 2 and would now watch a YouTube video on toddler ballet or cosmic yoga.

Yes. Physio, orthotics and special boots, Occupational therapy and a fantastic group for children with delayed development.

Now 9, runs about like a mad thing and obsessed with all things sporty.

But we did have to teach him to do every little thing, over and over again. Whereas my v prem dd 2 1/2 years later just seemed to work out for herself how to do things.

Tbh, although almost 2 probably seems really late to you it's more later end of normal than late. Try to put it into perspective a bit - your ds is still 1. Sounds like he's on the way, so keep encouraging (putting toys just to one side on top of sofa worked for us) and try not to worry.

I was a late walker, as was my sister, but in the main because we were bum shufflers and therefore the motivation to stand up and free up our hands was reduced! 2 under 2 and not walking - my ma had a nightmare! Anyway, all fine now of course!

I have a friend who has a child very similar to yours. Now they are 5 you wouldn’t be able to tell that she was a late walker at all. She can do absolutely everything that the other children can.

Yes my DD was 4 (years) for first steps. If he's sitting/crawling/pulling up at not quite two he'll walk.

DD was a bum shuffler and late walker. She wasn't walking reliably until 2. We didn't do anything in particular. Lots of walking while holding our fingers. What actually did it was giving birth to her brother, she started walking everywhere from that day. No idea why, maybe she just realised there'd be a bit less attention for a while!

Thank you everyone, I guess in the grand scheme of things it's not super late as he's not two yet (until next week) but it's just really hard especially when babies I know born after him and all walking now and he isn't.

It's hard work as well because he's a big lump, he's in size 3-4 and heavy (but not overweight) which might be a factor to why he's not walking yet but I guess it's harder because there's no particular reason why he isn't walking so I don't know how to help really apart from a lot of encouragement and confidence building

Hey OP yes my daughter was two a few months ago and only just taking a few unaided steps. She has a disability but this doesn't tend to impact mobility as a whole, her physio is really pleased though and sees no reason why she won't be up and about in the coming months. Try not to worry too much if your physio is happy and he's pulling up now he'll get there.

Apparently my DH didn't walk (or talk much) until he was two. Not helped by having two older brothers who would run around after him and fetch whatever he pointed at with an "uh".

Eventually his mum left him in the garden and he just got up and ran indoors and you can't shut him up now (although he still tries the pointing and "uh" even now in his 50s 🤨).

Only one of my 5 dc walked before 2. The others all walked between aged 2 and 3.

Two of my three were bum shufflers and late walkers.

DD2 did not walk until 23 months. DD3 walked slightly earlier at 21 months.

Nothing wrong with either of them and I did nothing in particular about it. DD2 could actually stand indefinitely long before she walked, but when she wanted to get anywhere would out of habit drop down onto her bum and shuffle. She could burn through clothes like nobody's business.

Similar with DD3, but it thankfully didn't go on for quite as long.

21 months so not quite so late but on the later end. She was a bum shuffler as well. Saw a paediatrician when she was 18 months (not because of walking, hospitalised with a chest infection but we got chatting) and as soon as I mentioned bum shuffling he said he could easily expect her to be a good few months yet. They get about so fast like that.

DC1 was 16 months but he never pulled himself up on furniture. He waited till he could get to standing in the middle of the floor then he was off.

Yup. My eldest was a bum shuffler. Started that at about 14 months. Never ever learnt to crawl and couldn't confidently roll either. Didn't walk till she was 22 months. Never cruised. Didn't pull up. Wouldn't walk with a push alot toy. It was frustrating. So many clothes wrecked from the bum shuffling too. Then one day she just got up and off she went. She's always been an observer. Her Nursery said it's like she spent her time watching people, taking it all in before having a go herself. Even now at 10 year old she's a bit risk averse. She will watch, risk assess to do something first time. Which causes all manner of tears when she can't do something first time (physical or otherwise). She needs to learn some resilience when it comes to trying and failing.

My toddler however. Absolute whirlwind 🤣

Wouldn't walk with a push along toy.

Neither would mine. DD2 would shuffle up to it, reach up to the handle and then push it along by bum shuffling behind it. It really was quite a look! 🙄🤣

DD3 didn't bother at all with push along toys until she walked.