GP appointment for 18 month old not walking?

[oaktree79]

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?!

Mine started walking on their 2nd birthday! They were always behind physically but very advanced in terms of understanding and speaking. When we were eventually referred, the physio and paediatrician said any child not walking by 18 months should be referred - even if they do all these things. In reality, they may be walking by the time the appointment comes through but they should definitely be referred.

My sister couldn't sit up on her own until she was 12 months and didn't walk until she was 20 months. Absolutely nothing wrong with her.

Sounds the exact same as my boy, his first steps after 18 months. He was absolutely fine and now a healthy 6 year old who goes for long walks and runs everywhere!

Way too early to panic. Wait till he is 2. If he is cruising then he will get there. He may just have a more cautious personality.

I also wouldn't worry just yet. Neither of mine were walking at 18 months but one day they just stood up and walked across the room, no tottering steps, and from that day forward would happily keep up with their peers who had been walking for 6+ months. Neither of them wanted to be rushed and just started walking in their own sweet time

I can’t believe how much bad advice you are getting on this thread!

yes, it’s probably fine and they will walk in their own time but NHS guidance is to start the ball rolling at 18mths. Definitely get an appointment with GP / HV so they can get a referral in. You can always cancel if they start walking in the meantime. But if you wait a couple of months and then kick off the process it will mean an unnecessary delay

I was a late walker and skipped the crawling stage completely!
My mum has said I was 18 months old before I wobbily walked my first steps.
She wept tears of joy!
I was a bottom shuffler for 18 months.
Like others have said, babies and toddlers develop at very different rates.

I bet he'll be walking this summer. Does he walk pushing stuff? My two brothers, they each walked at two yrs old.

It still completely within the range of normal, so no, I wouldn’t waste their time. Also it’s the HV you’d want to see, not the GP. I can’t imagine the GP would even know what to do.

My youngest didn’t walk til 18 months (older one at 15 months) and that was despite starting to crawl at 5.5 months. 🤷🏻‍♀️ He literally crawled for an entire year without walking. And then just got up and started walking. Dh didn’t walk til 2.5 (which is unusual and yes, he did see the GP because MIL was worried, but then one day he just started running around).

I’d give it a few more months and try not to worry. All sounds normal to me.

Gosh don’t worry. My DD walked on her knees until she was 2. Dr said it was fine, each child develops at different times.

I'd contact the health visitor rather than gp

I would have zero worry about the situation. I would also take the next available non-emergency GP appointment. You don’t have to be extremely worried to go to the GP, it’s routine care. And as a PP mentioned, it’s good to start the referrals even if you probably won’t need them.

As a few others have said have a chat with your health visitor in the first instance and see what they say. Then escalate to the GP if needed.

Do you have baby swimming classes nearby? Movement in the water can feel easier for some, and helps to develop gross motor skills.

I'd wait till 20 months. If there is a reason for delay picking it up a few months later is v unlikely to make a jot of difference. My money is on him walking by then anyway.

We had various concerns over mobility and we were advised that it was normal anytime until 18 months. If he reached 18 months and wasn’t walking, we were told to get in touch with the HV. It’s probably fine but I would have a chat with them.

My 17 and half month old is exactly the same without the clear speech. I'm not too concerned at this point, but I do understand why you might be.

He could just be a cautious baby! DS was cruising fairly early but it took him 4 months to finally walk independently! He was quite ingenious at finding things to hold on to, including a week of edging along the walls before finally letting go!

Other babies, who you think are nowhere near ready to walk, just seem to let go with totally abandon!

Your DS sounds like he is almost there. I'd give it another month before going to the GP.

Start with health visitor. Their full time
job is child development in that age range. It’s one tiny aspect of the broad GP role. Theyll also have the option of seeing child in their own home which is more realistic than in a GP surgery.

You can find the ASQ screening sheets online. They’re a helpful sense check.