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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

GP appointment for 18 month old not walking?

43 replies

oaktree79 · 16/04/2025 07:52

Would I be unreasonable to book an appointment to check all is well? DS is not walking yet, so I’m torn between getting him checked or just waiting it out (he’s just turned 18 months). I’m wary of ‘wasting’ a slot someone else may need, but also know the NHS advice is 18 months.

For context:
-DS pulls to stand confidently and easily
-cruises along various furniture
-squats to pick up toys (whilst holding furniture for support)
-Is a very speedy ‘typical’ style crawler
-stands for a few seconds independently
-will take a few steps whilst holding our hands
-has very good language (maybe a ‘talker not a walker?!’)

He clearly wants to walk so it’s such a shame for him! What would you do in this situation?!

OP posts:
noworklifebalance · 16/04/2025 07:54

Sounds like they are doing all the right things so just a matter of time. I would have been concerned if they were not pulling to stand, cruising etc. Were all other physical milestones ok? Do they show hand preference?
If yes and no, then maybe a chat with the HV would be enough?

Genevieva · 16/04/2025 07:55

Give it a few months. My eldest wasn’t walking at 18 months either. Like yours, he had other ways of getting around.

underhedges · 16/04/2025 07:55

I wouldn't worry. My ds crawled for ages. He knew he was much quicker crawling so didn't want to slow himself down by walking. Your ds is showing all the signs of progress and I would just encourage walking with him by holding hands. He'll get it very soon!

pinkdelight · 16/04/2025 07:56

I’d give it a bit longer yet.

Bushmillsbabe · 16/04/2025 07:57

I would give it another couple months, and then ask gp for a referral to paediatric physio if no progress. And definitely avoid sit in baby walkers, but push along ones can be helpful to gain confidence

Loup19863 · 16/04/2025 07:57

I’d wait it out. I don’t think this requires a GP app in the kindest possible way. If he’s able to stand, cruise, walk holding hands etc I’d say very soon he’ll be off walking, sometimes it’s just a confidence thing. I’ve had 2 nephews who haven’t walked until 20 months and 22 months. If you’re really worried you could contact your health visitor? My guess is though he’ll do it when he’s ready 🙂

Original poster
oaktree79 · 16/04/2025 07:57

noworklifebalance · 16/04/2025 07:54

Sounds like they are doing all the right things so just a matter of time. I would have been concerned if they were not pulling to stand, cruising etc. Were all other physical milestones ok? Do they show hand preference?
If yes and no, then maybe a chat with the HV would be enough?

Edited

Thank you for replying! He was on the later end of rolling, sitting and crawling but not to this extent. He doesn’t have a hand preference as such yet, but his grip and mark marking are much efficient with his left!

OP posts:
SummerIce · 16/04/2025 07:57

Sounds like he is very much heading there so a GP appointment would be premature. Just give it time. DS is 17 months and very much in the same boat and I have no concerns about him, he’s just a few months behind, that’s all. Don’t worry too much about milestones and ages.

Lostworlds · 16/04/2025 07:57

He sounds exactly like my little one, some times they just need a bit more time. If he wasn’t standing at all and doing some of the things you’ve mentioned then I would take him but right now I’d wait a little bit longer.

ComeAsYouAreAsAFriend · 16/04/2025 07:58

He is walking if he is cruising just hasn't worked up the confidence to let go yet. That will come. My dd2 started walking holding toys in the air think she thought it was holding her up, she did that for ages before finally going it alone. The squatting suggests his legs are strong

Pottedpalm · 16/04/2025 07:58

To walk independently arms are needed for balance, so holding hands doesn’t promote that, though it gets them
moving. Just my observation, not a professional 🙂

TheBlueShark · 16/04/2025 07:59

first, see your Health Advisor. They can refer you to physio if there’s an underlying issue. If they think it’s more serious, send your GP so they can refer you to an orthopedist. My son was slow to walk and his nursery were more concerned than we were. He was doing all the things your little one is now and started walking at 18.5 months. I also recommended getting walker or push along toys to encourage them a little more

Original poster
oaktree79 · 16/04/2025 07:59

Thank you everyone, that’s reassuring! My brother and I were both very late walkers too. In fact my brother went for all kinds of tests before the doctor confirmed he was just a ‘lazy git.’ 😂 So I’m trying not to get too anxious!

OP posts:
Lascivious · 16/04/2025 08:00

I’d leave it for now.

Neither of mine walked until 17 months. Eldest was a bum shuffler, younger a speedy crawler.

And both were speaking in full sentences. So
maybe it is one or the other 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
oaktree79 · 16/04/2025 08:02

TheBlueShark · 16/04/2025 07:59

first, see your Health Advisor. They can refer you to physio if there’s an underlying issue. If they think it’s more serious, send your GP so they can refer you to an orthopedist. My son was slow to walk and his nursery were more concerned than we were. He was doing all the things your little one is now and started walking at 18.5 months. I also recommended getting walker or push along toys to encourage them a little more

Thank you! I did mention it to the Nursery as they’ve obviously seen a lot more babies than me. They weren’t concerned at all but I wasn’t sure if that was just them being kind!

OP posts:
MagAmberson · 16/04/2025 08:02

My son was 20 months before he started walking, I was worried but I just don't think he was bothered when he could crawl everywhere

BogRollBOGOF · 16/04/2025 08:03

I'd get it checked as a precaution. It's probably fine, but if there are other issues down the line, a paper trail can be useful.

DS spent 4 months looking ready to walk- pulling up, cruising, climbing but just would not let go and walk solo. Then suddenly he took 16 steps across the room at toddler group, nice and steady.
I think it was one small dot of what eventually led to his autism and dyspraxia dignoses years later. He is also hypermobile which I think explains why he wasn't a keen walker as a toddler- years later he explained that his knees hurt.

What did help him was getting a very flimsy dolls buggy to push. He would walk with the sturdy baby walker, but the buggy gave him the illusion and security of holding something but in reality was too light to give support. He was walking within days of getting it.

LuluDelulu · 16/04/2025 08:03

My DD was also a late walker and now at 20 months walks great — alongside speaking in full sentences and holding a full conversation. I really do think some do focus on language first over movement.

HateThese4Leggedbeasts · 16/04/2025 08:04

I took dd2 as she wasn't crawling either. She didn't roll until she was 1. The GP checked her hips, moved her limbs and looked for signs of pain or stiffness. He found nothing but I did feel better that he couldn't see any reason why she wasn't moving.

4 weeks later she got up and walked with barely no warning! Within 6 weeks she was scooting!

Now she's 9 and pretty active. She still takes her time to observe new skills rather than gung ho trying them out so I think it was her personality coming through early. (Plus she had an older sibling to get her toys if she pointed).

I would keep an eye on your DC but if they can move independently already and is doing all the right things like standing, wait a little longer.

TheDisillusionedAnarchist · 16/04/2025 08:05

I wouldn’t be worried particularly but I would book a non urgent appointment as that is the NHS advice. It allows time for referrals as needed. The vast majority of toddlers will walk between the initial appointment and physio review but if you delay the initial appointment and they don’t then walk you’ve delayed intervention.

itsgettingweird · 16/04/2025 08:08

Do you have a HV service near you? They’d be the first point of call.

However it sounds like he can hold it weight and has balance so I think you’re right that he’s developing language skills first. That’s quite common to develop mine before the other and also he’s a great crawler and that can mean they try and walk later as they can get to (as well as ask) what they want iyswim?

CurbsideProphet · 16/04/2025 08:08

@oaktree79 this was us 12 months ago. 18 months old, cruising etc, but very good language. Also had a left preference and was later for crawling and rolling! I rang the HV service as we already knew that DC is hyper mobile and wanted referral to Physio. HV came to see us and did the referral.

When we had the first appointment at 19 ish months DC had started walking holding hands. Physio confirmed hyper mobility and gave good advice. DC started walking independently at 21 months. Literally got up one morning and started running 😀

I haven't come across many other children who have done all the talking first. I had other mums actually comment on his lack of walking when I wouldn't dream of telling someone their child wasn't really talking compared to mine...

noworklifebalance · 16/04/2025 08:11

oaktree79 · 16/04/2025 07:57

Thank you for replying! He was on the later end of rolling, sitting and crawling but not to this extent. He doesn’t have a hand preference as such yet, but his grip and mark marking are much efficient with his left!

Show quote history

Absence of hand preference until now is a good thing

thejadefish · 16/04/2025 08:18

I'd ask your health visitor first for reassurance and advice if its worrying you. Nursery would say if they were worried and it sounds like he's on track / making good progress. Sometimes DC focus on one skill first so to speak, so there's nothing actually wrong they've just been working so hard on one thing something else seems slightly "behind" but with a bit more time it gets there. Sounds like he'll be fine x

beAsensible1 · 16/04/2025 08:19

Have you gotten him a walking trolley? He hey have those wooden ones everywhere. Get him used to it and encourage it for him getting around.