Early walkers - harder work?

[WillYouDoTheDamnFanjo]

DD didn't walk properly until she was about 17 months old, by which time she was beginning to understand "no," "hot," "ouch," etc. She was also quite gentle in her movements.

DS on the other hand has been walking since 11 months and he's driving me crackers. He spends the best part of the day pinging from one accident to another, climbing onto inappropriate things, eating dangerous things, etc. If I carry him he twists and grizzles to be put down - he's heavy and strong, so I have to. When we go out he eats grass, sand and soil, really shovels it in, so I end up carrying him (which he hates) and then getting knackered and going home. Visiting people is completely out.

I am having some mobility problems myself and I'm really struggling with it, particularly as the weather is changing... it's gonna be a loooong winter!

I have just put him into the travel cot in the middle of the lounge so that I can come on here and ask for some advice. I have just had a big cry cos I needed a wee and could only just get up the stairs & carry him at the same time, then I put him in the (dry) bath as I usually do but he figured out how to start to climb out using the taps... so I had to use the toilet in a semi-squatting position with one hand over the bath trying to aim at the toilet & him screaming because he wanted to climb the taps...

How can I keep him safe and reasonably happy?

And use the toilet?

Have to go now, he is screaming full pitch because he is hemmed in. Help.

Ds took his first steps at 20 months and even then he was only confident on his feet at two and half years old. He had orthopedic problems and it was quite a bit of work doing the physio and having appointments with the community paediatrian, child physio, orthorist and daily exercises of physio. He was mobile at 10 months and good at climbing.

dd walked at 14 months without needing any professional help. She is hard work, but its much easier than her brother. I have more experience of managing toddlers than I did with my first. I am more relaxed when she puts stuff in her mouth (like dad's socks!) The socks might be disgusting, but aren't actually a choking hazard.

I dunno. It depends on what you mean by easy. DD1 crawled at 11mo and walked at 19mo. She was frustrated beyond belief by the time she could finally crawl because all her friends were mobile and she couldn't keep up! Then 8 long, long months of crawling, during which I got pregnant with DD2. She wore out all her trousers, she was always filthy, my back was about to give out from the finger walking. How I wished she could climb into her own carseat!

DD2 bumshuffled at 12 mo and walked at 17mo after some physio. From about 8mo until she could shuffle, she just sat on the floor and screamed. And sometimes fell over. Then the bumshuffling. You would not BELIEVE what a bumshuffling baby can manage to do and get into. Also, the filth. I think shuffling is actually filthier than crawling.

So it's pick your poison really, early walkers require constant supervision, late walkers need constant entertainment.

letsblowthistacostand
I'm surprised that your dd2 got physio
before two years old. Did you go private?

I think a lot depends on what is your definition of a late walker. There is no doult a child major special needs is more work than an early neutrologically typical walker.

Anyway what is considered late walking is all relative. I was told my son's physio that if a child can sit by two years old then they will walk by four years old. she did not start to seriously worry that a child might never walk until four and half years old.

When I started looking after my DS fulltime I was terrified of leaving him alone for just these reasons, driving myself to get up early to shower, use toilet or just stinking my way through the day or rushing everything madly.

Someone else's Mum took me to one side, pointed out kids will cry, and that I'd be a crap parent if frazzled, and suggested simply putting him in a Playden when I needed to go somewhere. He cried a bit, but soon became used to it and would play with toys in it. Maybe some help to the toilet problem at least..

Both mine walked early, and I have to say I was glad, because suddenly they became communicative even without language, capable of moving to things, taking what they wanted with them, pointing to cups for drinks etc. Was a key point in them becoming little people...

reallytired we were in the US at the time and had decent insurance. The physio was really helpful, DD2 was basically not using the right side of her body at all. The physio taught her how to crawl, pull up, twist, use both hands etc. I think DD1 could have used it too, but we were in the UK at the time and they wouldn't refer as she was crawling.

Only have one dc so nothing to compare, but DD walked at 9 months and she hasn't stopped since. I really envied friends whose children didn't walk until nearer 18 months. An extra 9 months of ease

My DS walked at 11 months and was into everything. Had to put everything away (including toilet brush) that might cause harm. Had great balance so didn't have that problem, but not only did he climb stairs early, he love whizzing down them head first at 18 months! It does them no harm to spend a bit of time in the play pen/cot while you go to the loo, or whatever. Take advantage of it while he's not climbing out of it!

DD1 and DD2 both walked at 11 months.
DD1 not at all clumsy, very steady and climbed well, rarely had accidents.
DD2 still bouncing off things at 2.8! I don't think its the age at which they walk, more to do with daring and risk taking I think we are less nervous with subsequent children so they get more daring and less cautious at a younger age. They also want to do what siblings do so try earlier to do things they can't physically do iyswim.

This thread has made me feel bettter as I got a on the babywalker thread when I mentioned my "babyproofed bit"! My DS crawled at 6 months (though was rolling round the room before then) cruising at 7 months and has been walking for about a month (he's nearly 1).

It's knackering!!!!!!

He's also a climber. He's absolutely determined, has no sense of danger, is magnetically attracted to anything he shouldn't be (loves wires, plugs etc) and pays no attention to his toys as a distraction. He can now climb out of the bath. I'm convined he could climb out of his cot without his sleeping bag on (monkey toes!).

We do still visit friends but I spend all my time chasing him round, trying to stop him from breaking things, climbing up things etc.

But part of me really loves that he's developing so well. And he wears himself out so he sleeps pretty well these days.

So I deal with it by having cupboards in the kitchen and bathroom that he can rifle though and empty out to his hearts content. I shower when he naps or before he gets up, and if I need a wee I don't take him with me but I leave him in the hallway so I can hear him and jump up if he gets into too much mischief. I've accepted he'll play with "inappropriate" things (he loves the hoover and my hairdryer). And the loo brush is on a high shelf.

Phew!!!!

If DCs are into everything make life easier and child proof it!
Start with gates at top and bottom of stairs and on kitchen doorway. Put everything on high shelves and out of reach.
Remove all potential steps so he can't use them.
Store medicines and dangerous stuff like detergeants out of reach.
Use cupboard locks, dvd cabinet locks, door stoppers (rubber). Put all things that won't break in low cupboards and breakables in high ones. Get locks for bedroom doors to stop him going in.
Put high shelves up for any nic nacs
don't let wires hang i.e. blind cords, phone, and use electrical socket covers.
Take him out of the cot if he can climb out, put a gate on the room. Pad the floor so he doesn't get hurt if he falls out.

A safety pack costs about 10 quid on amazon. If you can't afford equipment look on freecycle, speak to HV who may be able to get funding or know of a free rental scheme.

The travel cot is not ideal as they can tip if he tries to climb out.

All this should make life easier for you and him because he is constantly being told 'no' he is not listening to you. Only use no in dangerous situations. Let him briefly touch the hot tap (not water) and when he looks shocked say 'hot/ouch' 'don't touch' rather than no. Let him feel ice saying 'brr, cold' if you do this he will realise what hot is. Without experiencing it under control he won't understand what it is.
If he climbs and falls say 'I said you would fall, now you have fallen, ouch!' Then if he goes to do something where he will fall, say 'that will be ouch, you will fall'

If he goes to touch wires just remove, say 'don't touch'. Repeat as necessary and be consistent.

Letting small children play with anything that has wires is very dangerous

1. they wrap it round themselves and can get strangled
2. It gives mixed mesages about wires, they don't distinguish between the kettle wire/ phone wire or TV cables.

My advice is don't let them play with wires.

I echo what atomant said, lots of play with pasta, cups, rice and shakers. Lots of practicing walking will tire him out more.
Fetching and carrying, taking things to and from places, sorting laundry (passing it to you or putting it in a basket). Read at least once a day as this helps boys to develop concentration which they find harder than girls generally.