Worried baby isn’t walking

[babywprries]

Ds is 14 months (just) and seems nowhere near walking. He can stand but usually holding something, though he can stand alone and has done a few times. He will scale round the playpen and climb at soft play etc but has zero interest in walking at all. Should I be concerned? It says online the average is 12 months, does this mean he’s not going to be very bright? Or any other things? First time mum with not much partner support, worrying a lot.

My little one is almost 17 months and is only just starting to bear weight on her legs. She can’t pull up to standing either, and can only stand, holding something, for like 30 seconds. Im not too concerned, but we have been waiting for physio for about 6 months because she doesn’t hold her weight.

Sounds completely normal to me. And sounds like he’s standing so I’m sure he’ll be walking soon.

My kids both walked earlyish by 11 months, my niece was about 16 months, she’s in her 20s now, I just had a week’s holiday with her and couldn’t keep up with her pace!

Theres such a wide range of “normal” for walking, try to not get concerned

To be cruising and occasionally standing unaided at 14 months is well within "normal".

But also, walking and intelligence are entirely unrelated.

Mine were both late walkers. DC1 didn’t crawl till 14 months and it was a bum crawl then, walked at 18 months. DC2 crawled at 11 months, walked at 15 months. Both grown up now, both have first class degrees and high achieving jobs!

This is something my eldest would totally do and my son didn't walk until 15months. My dd also fetched things for him so he literally just had to point and it was collected and delivered to him 😅😅😅

Bloody chatty and now runs everywhere. Don't worry he will get there

I've got identical twins. One walked at 1 year 1 week, the other at 16 months! Their older sister walked at 7 months, her son walked at 8 months, her daughter at about 14/16 months. My girls are all in professional jobs in different sectors, makes no difference so don't worry.

The average is actually 15 months. Mine walked at 15 and 17 months. The 17 month one was crawling from 5.5 months, so literally crawled for a whole year before walking. I don’t think either ever stood independently without holding onto something before they walked. And dh didn’t walk or talk until he was 2 (he was perfectly fine).

all mine walked at 15 months,
24 months and later is the stage when i think they worry.

Mine walked at 15 months and 17 months - don’t worry.

Mine were 18 mths, 2 years and 14 mths. The first two were bum shufflers also.
If your child is already crawling I really would not be concerned. One of mine also refused to weight bear until 17 months.🙈😀.

All very healthy and very active. Never really sat still again after they walked!

Zero connection between age of walking (physical development) with intelligence (cognitive development). There are lots of studies but to give you anecdata, dd1 walked 19 months and got all 8s and 9s at GCSE, dd2 even closer to 24 months and gets 130s in primary school (independent school) CAT scores (gifted category).

Of course both of them were checked out by paeds at 18 months onwards and dd2 had physio intervention to help get her on the way - but if your child is pulling up to standing then you’re nearly there.

I really wish I could show dds’ school reports to those patronising cows at playgroups who did all head tilty concern at the girls lack of walking development.

be prepared for idiot comments from other people op, that would be my main advice (while at the same time getting referral from HV to community paeds if necessary as the months go on).

Try not to ever compare him to his cousins (I do know it's very difficult though).

My dd didn't start walking properly until 16 months old.

Interestingly I've heard that children who walk late are often better at language acquisition and fine motor tasks so I guess it depends on what you call bright?

My ds is highly intelligent has specific learning difficulties - walked by a year and started to lose his mobility at 8yo due to a genetic condition that wasn't diagnosed until he was 15.

Not walking at 14 months is no indication of future intelligence. But if you're concerned you can ask for a HV to visit.

Both of mine were late walkers, and neither of them really crawled (just shuffled on their bums). The younger one was getting a bit concerning at 23 months so we went to the GP and were referred to a paediatric orthopaedic specialist.

In between the appointments with the GP and the specialist she actually did start walking. We went along to the specialist appointment and he went ‘So I understand your daughter isn’t walking?’ and in she walked.

They’re both absolutely fine now with their development.

Please don't feel guilty. There is no reason to think you have done anything wrong or harmful so don't burden yourself with that.

For what it is worth I've heard from a mother who seems quite informed that crawling and rolling are more important for development. She practises this with her children and does not believe that encouraging or trying to get babies to walk is the correct thing. This was news to me and I wouldn't know but it may be something for you to consider or enquire further into.

If he’s standing and cruising around furniture and can stand alone unaided for a few seconds there’s nothing to worry about in terms of his physical development. Some babies will take a few steps as soon as they can others wait ages and then just get up and walk across the room. Both are totally normal.

Also babies at his age are making huge developments in several key areas. Some of those, including walking, take huge neurological power so they tend to happen in sequence rather than at the same time. If he’s making progress in other areas he might just start when he’s finished those.

My 15 month old is not walking. Not worried about it yet.

It's new territory as my 1st walked at 12 months. They get there in their own time, it really wouldn't worry.

Oh and @babywprries dd’s physio hated walkers. Really not recommended.

He can stand and climb. He is practicalky walking
24 months is "late"
18 months is normal
No need to worry! In six months time check again and get a physio check if still worried
Do you or his dad have flexible joints ?
Hypermobility can delay walking but not an issue usually

My DS didn't start walking until about 20 months. I think he could have done it earlier but was a bit lazy and perfectly happy to shuffle around on his bottom instead. He's now 10 years old and obviously walks and runs perfectly well! Try not to worry.