To be impatient with my baby?

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My baby is 15 months and 1 week old (born three weeks early if that's relevant?) and still not walking.

I'm getting worried and impatient about it!

We're going on holiday at the end of the month with a baby the same age (actually a month younger) who's been walking since he was 11 months old. Makes me feel even more worried.

Please be kind, I have a tendency to worry a lot.

AIBU to worry yet?

My eldest didn’t walk until she was 17.5 months old. (He was an overdue baby, not sure this is relevant but you mention yours was early).
He is now a happy healthy 6 year old who plays football, tap dances and runs junior park run every week in a really good time, so it hasn’t hindered him whatsoever.
I know it’s really hard waiting for them to meet milestones when other around seem to be hitting theirs earlier. One of his close friends was waking at 9 months so it was really like chalk and cheese. Your child will get there.
On a good note, one of the best family holidays we’ve had was when he was about 15 months old. He literally sat by the pool playing with his toys and dancing to the music and we were able to relax which was awesome as I was 20 weeks pregnant with my second at the time. Your friend will be running around after their baby and you will be able to chill out. 😂

I honestly wouldn't worry. I really do think they choose walking or talking and the other one gets left behind for a bit. In a year or two you'll be wishing he would sit still 😅

I don't know how scientific this is but there's a phrase "theyre either a walker or a talker" ie. the brain concentrates on mastering one area at a time.

Also if your child has taken a few steps independently then technically they are walking!

He sounds just like the son of one of my NCT friends. Born 3 weeks early, he started walking at nearly 16 months (was crawling, cruising, taking steps with hands etc before then so no other cause for concern). However he’s a really advanced talker, I distinctly remember him saying “goodbye <DH’s name>, have a good Christmas!” quite clearly when he was 17 months old, and DD, who was a 6.5 month crawler and an early walker) could barely say “bye” at the time so maybe there is something in that sometimes kids focus on one skill or another 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'll try not to worry so much, thanks all

My son walked at 17 months - last of his peers by a long stretch! It was tough because I have a tendency to worry, and it felt hard to keep him entertained (going to the park to run around wasn't an option as he would still be on his hands and knees, for example). However when he started walking he was extremely confident within a few weeks, and was running at just shy of 20 months.
My son has always hit his milestones on the late end of what is considered "normal" (as per NHS terms) and I've just accepted that is how he is. Made for some slightly irritating but well meant comments from NCt and playgroup mums but I increasingly feel this comes with the territory...

I get it, I also have a second hold who is hitting gross motor milestones on a completely different timeline to my first (who was super fast). I keep telling myself they all do things in their own time, and actually, I think second baby is more advanced on communication side of things than first baby was at this age... but it's so hard not to worry! I just keep thinking to myself I need to enjoy this because once they're fully mobile, life is so much more hectic - try to see it as a positive and enjoy your baby as they are.

Mine only just started at 14 months and it’s amazing how much they’ve progressed in only 1-2 weeks. Don’t worry, it will happen suddenly, probably soon, and then they’ll just take off.

There’s always something to worry about isn’t there? Now that ours is walking I’m worrying about the lack of speech!

YABU buuuuut I understand!

Eldest at 14m
Youngest at 10m

I did nothing different! They will do it when they are ready 😘

Hey Op. I could have written your post, I have DS2 who is 15 Months & 6 days and I am desperate for him to start walking!

Not because I think there is a problem but because it'll make days out so much easier when he can toddle around. He's got so much energy and hates being confined to buggies, high chairs, etc. when we're out and about.

My older DS walked at 17 months and has always been on lower end of normal for gross motor skills, but his fine motor skills have always been great. I suspect my younger one is following a similar path.

Anyway, I just wanted to say I am in the same boat, hopefully both our boys will figure it out soon.

They are all different and that is completely within the range of normal. Just make sure you provide plenty of opportunities for crawling and physical play so your baby can develop their core strength and gross motor skills at every opportunity and avoid "containering" them too much in buggies and high chairs. But they all do different things at different times.

Both of my, now adult kids, walked at 7 months. Both are also dydpraxic, having real issues with fine motor skills. I don't know if there is any direct relationship between those 2 factors but I'd be interested in finding out. Your LO is just fine OP. Well within normal parameters. I often think if we aren't worrying about 1 thing then we find another thing to worry about.

My DD didn't walk till 21 months I think, we were getting to healthy visitors just starting to worry and then she did it. At 15 months it isn't a concern it's within the normal range.
DD is now 4, she's a bit clumsy but she can walk and run and jump

Dyspraxic obviously! Clumsy fingers!

Mine didn’t walk till 19 months. I must be weird as I didn’t worry. She ‘walked’ on her knees and talked non-stop. She got there in the end!

In our house, my younger son was the ‘early’ walker. At 16 months ;-)

Mine was a talker, not a walker - he was an incredibly fast crawler, took two steps at 13 months, and then didn't bother again for absolutely weeks. I was starting to get worried but he was fine.

Still has time. My sister and I started to talk earlier than walk. My cousins were opposite. Every child is different. Don't worry.

Both mine were 16 months. Youngest started to walk the day before our flight, which then turned into an absolute nightmare as she wouldn't sit still on the and wanted to be walking everywhere...leading me to be one of those parents with a screaming child on the plane

My first walked at 10 months, but didn't speak properly until over 2. My second is now 15 months and not walking. She crawls, climbs, cruises, stands independently and dances, but won't walk without holding both hands. She is trying though so I've no concerns at all. She's also a big talker! They seem to prioritise moving or communications. I wouldn't worry at all yet :)

Ha! Sounds like my DS who did everything exactly when he wanted too and not a moment before. Have faith and stop comparing him to others, it will be better for you and for him - I know that's hard, I'm not being flippant x

I'm really cross with myself about feeling like this.

Don't be hard on yourself, we are programmed this way. You did the right thing to come on here for the collective wisdom! My DS was also very confident once he did walk as others have said, strength and coordination was far more advanced, he actually skipped the whole crawling stage completely!

Try not to worry or be cross with yourself. I was impatient too when my daughter (also born 3 weeks early) was that age and not walking. What helped her was putting her in shoes. I know a lot of people say ohh you mustn't do that but it just gave her that bit of stability and she took her first steps (holding an adults hand) the next day. FWIW her first completely unaided steps were then taken barefoot. This all happened at 16 months so hope you don't have long to wait.